ACCESS Summer 2016

serving t h e i n t e r n at i o n a l community www.access-nl.org

The bicycle of tomorrow

30 years

2016

Summer

In this issue | Learning to bike as an adult | Sporty summer | Groningen: a little of everything | Goodbyes, hard for leavers and stayers | Refreshing raspberry popsicles | Editor’s picks for summer reading |

HELLO HOLLAND! The perfect holiday camp for new arrivals!

Looking for ways to help your kids settle in, meet new friends and generally have fun this summer? ‘‘Hello Holland’’ has the answer! ‘‘Hello Holland’’ - the newest addition to our summer programme - is aimed at introducing children to their new surroundings.

Whether it’s clog painting, cheese making or playing new Dutch games - there’s something for everyone!

Based in The Hague, our award winning holiday programme features exciting trips, workshops & activities all summer...

Visit www.holidaycamps.nl for dates & more info on this and our other theme camps!

• holidaycamps.nl • info@zeinchildcare.nl • 070 326 8263 •

Trusted partner to all International Schools in The Hague

Letter from the editor

PHOTO: LYSSA RAMOS PHOTOGRAPHY

Dear ACCESS readers

Mandie van der Meer-Danielski ACCESS Editor editor@access-nl.org

On New Year’s Day I biked with my husband, Jeroen, to his parents’ house – a good hourand-a-half one way from our place. This was considered a feat deserving of two thumbs up from my in-laws! It was a special occasion, to be sure, but even a reluctant cyclist like me had to appreciate the crisp, sunny afternoon cycling alongside De Kaag.

What about you? Are you a casual, ‘fair-weather biker’ like several of us at ACCESS? Or are you a hard-core cyclist – like 240,000 Dutch enthusiasts – with proper gear who rides for the journey, not the destination? Either way, summer is your season!

Given the prominence of the bicycle here, if we are to remain a part of the culture and landscape, then it behooves us to keep up with the innovations of bike designers, ­engineers and environmentalists who are developing a better life on two wheels. Gemma Gahan has the scoop about what the future holds for the bicycle in the cover story.

What if you haven’t yet learned to cycle? It’s never too late. Vera ter Beest got a first-hand account from brave souls who took up cycling as adults. Find your inspiration in the centerfold story and start enjoying the benefits of daily cycling. Plus, you’ll win points with your Dutch neighbors and family. They just love to hear when a foreigner has embraced the bicycle.

Read on for more in this edition where Tracey Taylor helps us stay active with other sports. Ute LimacherRiebold tells us what it’s like to say goodbye to friends, whether you’re leaving or s­taying behind.

Our pals at DutchNews.nl invite us to get to know them better. Don’t miss the news from ACCESS (hint: Amsterdam, we’re talking to you!).

And let us know how you liked Magdalini Zografou’s special recipe for raspberry sorbet popsicles – perfect for those hot days I just know we’re going to get this summer.

They just love to hear when a foreigner has embraced the bicycle.

Our readers’ feedback is always welcome: editor@access-nl.org. Share your memorable international experiences with the ACCESS community on facebook.com/ACCESS-Netherlands.

ACCESS | SUMMER 2016 | 3

Colophon

About ACCESS ACCESS is a volunteer not-for-profit

Publisher Stichting ACCESS Laan van Meerdervoort 70, 1st floor, 2517 AN The Hague Editorial content editor@access-nl.org

organisation that serves the needs and interests of the i­ nternational community in

Advertising 070 345 1700

the Netherlands. It is supported by Dutch,

fnd@access-nl.org

inter­national and e ­ xpatriate businesses and

Editor

organisations through donations and

Mandie van der Meer-Danielski

sponsorship.

Design & Layout M-space, Marek Moggré

What we do

Established in 1986 ACCESS is a unique volunteer-based organisation. Representing an impressive cultural and ­linguistic variety, its dedicated volunteers work to: • provide guidance, advice, information to help individuals with settling, and/or living and working in the Netherlands • promote friendship, understanding and wellbeing of the members of the international community in the Netherlands • contribute to community development through skill ­training schemes and courses • serve as a bridge between local and international communities • assist the HR departments of international employers in preparing for and receiving international staff

Printer

Executive Board

• Chairman: Gary Hays

, Valshebnik Consulting

Members • Koosje Ploegmakers,

ABN AMRO • Godelijn Boonman,

GMW Advocaten • Lowri van der Linden , the Netherlands Foreig n Investment Agency • Pauline O'Brien, Coun cil of International School s

Edauw en Johannissen Drukkerij Cover image TU Delft Bicycle Lab Contents images (clockwise) Mission Bicycle Company, Steven Pisano, Erik en Petra Hesmerg, Magdalini Zografou Contributors Steven Ecott, Gemma Gahan, Ute Limacher-Riebold, Aafke Mertens, Robin Pascoe, Tracey Taylor, Vera ter Beest, Deborah Valentine, Mandie van der Meer, Magdalini Zografou Thanks to Martha V. Costa, Antonio Gutierrez, Lyssa Gehenna Ramos, Katrin Windolf

0900 2 ACCESS (0900 2 222 377) local rate 20c per minute helpdesk@access-nl.org www.access-nl.org 4 | ACCESS | SUMMER 2016

Join ACCESS on

12 Summer 2016 Vol. 29 No. 2 Circulation: 3,500 Also available online at: magazine.access-nl.org

Contents 7 ACCESS News

20

Amsterdam, here we come!

9 What’s On for Summer 12 Cover Story The bicycle of tomorrow 19 International Community Get to know DutchNews.nl 20 Arts & Entertainment Sporty summer

23

23 Food Raspberry sorbet popsicles 24 Education Learning to bike as an adult

Retraction: In the Spring issue, “Choosing an international secondary school” (p. 41), the article states that “At Senior High school level, all international schools and internationallyminded foreign national schools offer the IB Program.” However, not all schools offer the IB Program. Please confirm with individual schools about curricula.

28 Health & Wellbeing Goodbyes are hard for leavers and stayers 33 Dutch Lifestyle The Dutch formula for cycling 36 Travel Groningen: a little

36

of everything 43 Reviews Editor’s picks for Summer reading 44 Orange Pages Classifieds from the community

Copyright ACCESS 2016 All rights reserved. No part of the ACCESS magazine may be used in any form without explicit permission in writing from the Publisher. Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this publication was correct at the time of going to press. However, ACCESS and its writers cannot accept any responsibility for the accuracy of the information included.

ACCESS | SUMMER 2016 | 5

ACCESS news

Amsterdam, here we come!

PHOTO: MARTHA V. COSTA

We are excited about working together with the Expatcenter Amsterdam to offer even better services to the international community in the Amsterdam region, and are looking forward to providing local internationals with volunteer opportunities there.

Another treat in our 30th birthday year. This time,

The ACCESS Helpdesk model is a tried and tested way for expats to help expats. The experience of those who have arrived before you is invaluable to navigating the waters of a new home. After all, when you are new somewhere and you do not know what you do not know, who better to help guide you than someone who travelled the same path? Some questions our Helpdesk has received in the past:

being able to serve and offer volunteer opportunities to internationals in Amsterdam.

“Help, I’ve lost my Dutch residence permit card! Who do I c­ontact to replace it and how long is the process?”

We are proud to announce the opening of a new ACCESS Helpdesk at the Expatcenter Amsterdam.

We have been at the Expat Center Utrecht since 2015, and at The Hague International Centre since 2010, and now our volunteers are in the capital – in person.

“There’s an abandoned bicycle chained in front of my house that’s been there for months. Any advice on how I can get it legally removed?”

Starting in June, ACCESS volunteers will be available at the Expatcenter Amsterdam on Monday and Wednesday mornings, Tuesday and Thursday afternoons and all day on Fridays to answer the questions new arrivals have about living and settling in Amsterdam.

Have a question? ACCESS volunteers are happy to help!

Drop in at one of our helpdesks, or send us your inquiry via helpdesk@access-nl.org. Want to know the answers to the most frequently asked questions? Take a look at our ACCESS Guides on www.access-nl.org/guides. «

ACCESS Helpdesk at Expatcenter Amsterdam World Trade Center Amsterdam D-Tower, second floor (entrance via Zuidplein) Strawinskylaan 39 1077 XW Amsterdam Monday and Wednesday 09:00 – 13:00 Tuesday and Thursday 13:00 – 17:00 Friday 09:00 – 17:00

“Where in Amsterdam can I buy memory foam pillows?”

ACCESS Helpdesk at Expat Center Utrecht Stadsplateau 1 3521 AZ Utrecht Tuesday and Thursday 09:00 – 17:00

ACCESS Helpdesk at The Hague International Centre City Hall (Atrium) Spui 70 2511 BT The Hague Monday through Friday 09:00 – 17:00

ACCESS | SUMMER 2016 | 7

Education | Partner feature

DISDH Holiday Programme

Great holidays guaranteed Summer, sun, beach and school? At the DISDH, a successful ​​ combination. When the summer holiday season begins in the Netherlands, the German International School The Hague remains alive. Participation in the Holiday Programme offers the children interesting and diversified activities including sports, cooking, crafts and lots of fun.

A wonderful time is guaranteed for all.

070 354 9494 www.disdh.nl

After two years of the DISDH Summer Holiday Programme taking place at Kijkduin Park, this year the programme returns to the school’s own premises. During this time, the children can again look forward to exciting and varied holidays. Besides excursions in the forest or museums in the neighbourhood, good weather will bring the children to the North Sea, within walking distance of the school.

It only remains to be seen which child will be able to build the biggest sand castle or find the most beautiful stones and interesting shells. In order to allow the children to optimally relax and enjoy, they are given the space and freedom of mind they need.

The qualified staff at DISDH pay attention to regular rest periods where stories are read and quiet projects are worked on together. Experience has shown that many facets of the Holiday Programme have a positive impact on the development of the children who have the chance to make new friends and intensify existing friendships. Since the participants are of different ages, the younger ones benefit from learning from their “elders”. This strengthens the self-confidence and social skills of all children. The caregivers and organisers of the programme are all German or Dutch native speakers, giving the children a wonderful opportunity to improve their language skills.

All these factors ensure that the children are not only well rested but equally motivated to start the new school year.

The DISDH Summer Holiday Programme meets the prerequisites for a great summer. Students enjoy being in their familiar surroundings during their “school-free” time and the range of varied possibilities offered reinforces the positive association they have with DISDH. Field trips to nearby museums or climbing forests are considered true highlights during the students’ vacation time. We can only hope that the sun plays along and appears as much as possible in the blue sky over The Hague. «

8 | ACCESS | SUMMER 2016

What’s On

Special events in June Want to post a community event in this magazine? Contact ACCESS magazine at editor@access-nl.org subject: ‘What’s on’.

Museum Het Schip

Holland Festival

www.hetschip.nl/en

www.hollandfestival.nl/en

4 - 26 June - Amsterdam

12 March onwards - Amsterdam

Music, theatre, film, visual arts – the Holland Festival presents the most packed performing arts program in the country. Discover the Syrian National Orchestra for Arabic Music, engage with Chinese philosopher Tu Weiming, or watch the Wunderbaum actors’ struggle in the film Stop Acting Now, where they attempt to challenge their own idealism. The event spans the month of June in various venues in Amsterdam, so take a look at the programme online.

PHOTO: MICK OTTEN | NIEUWE WENDING PRODUCTIES

The Museum Het Schip reopened in March after an extensive renovation to celebrate 100 years of the “Amsterdamse School” of architecture. The museum reveals the fantasy, inspiration, and craftsmanship behind a movement that sought to break from the more utilitarian style of its time. Visitors can enjoy interactive features suited to both adults and children, such as soundscapes, touch screens and mirrors, or adventure out to see the real thing on a guided tour through Amsterdam.

Urban Farm De Schilde www.urbanfarmers.com/intro

Tours on demand

PHOTO: MARTIJN ZEGWAARD

De Schilde is a newly opened rooftop urban farm, housed at the top of an abandoned Philips building. Although home deliveries for some of their 50 tons of vegetables and 20 tons of fresh fish will only begin in September, the farm is now open to visitors. Book a guided tour to learn how food is grown responsibly inside cities, enjoy the views, and marvel at how the space has been repurposed in the greenhouse and aquaculture room.

Flag Day www.scheveningen.com/en/event/241/ flag-day-scheveningen.html

18 June - Scheveningen Flag Day, or vlaggetjesdag, is a long standing Dutch tradition. Don’t let the name mislead you – it’s actually a festival celebrating the arrival of the new Dutch herring catch! Flags are flown and people gather to enjoy the Hollandse nieuwe with music, traditional crafts, costumes, and games. Make sure to try your herring the Dutch way, covered in raw onions and eaten by knocking your head back and lowering a dangling fish into your mouth!

Vermeer is coming home www.prinsenhof-delft.nl/en

Until 17 July - Delft The location of Vermeer’s iconic Little Street has long been a matter of contention, but researcher Frans Grijzenhout has finally solved the ­mystery! More than an art exhibition, Vermeer is coming home takes us through years of Delft history in a fascinating artistic detective story. Follow the steps of the Delft master around the city with the museum’s free app to truly immerse yourself in Vermeer’s life and the places that influenced his work.

ACCESS | SUMMER 2016 | 9

What’s On

Special events in July Want to post a community event in this magazine? Contact ACCESS magazine at editor@access-nl.org subject: ‘What’s on’.

FASHIONCLASH Festival www.fashionclash.nl

Summer Carnival

Tilbug Kermis Funfair

www.rotterdamunlimited.com/en/ summer-carnival

www.detilburgsekermis.nl

22 - 31 July - Tilburg 30 June - 3 July - Maastricht FASHIONCLASH is a whirlwind of fantastic catwalk shows, exhibitions, and ateliers taking place throughout the city of Maastricht. More than just a show, the festival also spearheads initiatives such as LET’S (AD)DRESS THE PEOPLE, a social design project that works with the elderly to bring together crafts, heritage, and culture. And if you’re looking to update your style with some unique and eye-catching pieces, the market is a must!

29 - 30 July - Rotterdam Take to the streets of Rotterdam in a bold and bright celebration of international arts and culture. This huge summer carnival attracts more than 900,000 visitors each year with a myriad of live performances, parades, parties, and a street-food market. Get caught up in the wave energy that is this giant street party while you dance, eat, and gawk at gorgeous costumes. Performance highlights include a Battle of the Drums.

You can’t have summer without a ­funfair, and the Tilburgse Kermis is the biggest in the Benelux! For 10 days, the whole city becomes a playground with over 250 attractions, ranging from huge modern rollercoasters to old fashioned rides in the Willemsplein square.

If you visit on the 26th, make sure to wear something pink to take part in Pink Monday, a festivity promoting gay emancipation and integration. A fun experience any day of the week.

Four Days Marches PHOTO: PETER STIGTER

www.4daagse.nl/en

19 - 22 July - Nijmegen

The Art of Banksy www.theartofbanksy.amsterdam/en/ the-art-banksy

For four consecutive days, over 40,000 people from all over the world come to the historical city of Nijmegen to participate in the largest marching event in the world. Although registrations for the march itself happen months in advance, it’s well worth to witness the event as a bystander: thousands more gather in the streets to cheer the walkers on and share in the moment, and it’s especially impressive to see those in the military category tackling 40km a day in full kit.

Infamous for his challenging and subversive graffiti, Banksy is part street-artist part political activist. For the first time in the Netherlands, The Art of Banksy showcases a series of canvasses, ­paintings, sculptures and interactive ­storytelling charting Banksy’s rise to fame. The pieces presented come from both private collectors and the curator’s own collection, so this may be a o ­ nce-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see some of this artwork in person.

10 | ACCESS | SUMMER 2016

PHOTO: GER LOEFFEN | STICHTING DE 4DAAGSE

18 June - 30 September Amsterdam

What’s On

Special events in August Want to post a community event in this magazine? Contact ACCESS magazine at editor@access-nl.org subject: ‘What’s on’.

Fireworks Festival www.vuurwerkfestivalscheveningen.nl

PHOTO: DELFLANDDAG

12 - 13 and 19 - 20 August Scheveningen

Westland Floating Parade

The yearly fireworks festival in Scheveningen brings together competitors from across the world to give you a dazzling show. The sea and sky light up as fireworks go off from a pontoon at sea, creating a truly magical sight. Make it a full day out and enjoy the beach and boulevard beforehand! Since the event draws huge crowds, do make sure to look up the traffic restrictions beforehand and arrive early to get a good spot.

www.varendcorso.nl/en/Voor-bezoekers

5 - 7 August - Riverbanks across Westland

Pluk de Nacht Open Air Film Festival

Veerhaven Concert www.veerhavenconcert.nl

www.plukdenacht.nl/en/about-the-festival

27 August - Rotterdam 3 - 16 August - Amsterdam This free open air film festival boasts a mix of Dutch films, international features and shorts, documentaries, and even animation: the common trait being that none of the films have been acquired or released by local distributors. On top of film showings, there are talks, debates and parties. An exciting meeting place for any lover of cinematography.

There are blankets and even an indoor location reserved should it start raining!

Spend a relaxed, or maybe even romantic, evening listening to classical music while floating on the waters of a Rotterdam canal at the Veerhaven h­arbour at this annual free concert.

The atmosphere promises to be something special, with a repertoire of a ­classics and opera performed by world renowned musicians on a transparent open-air stage, surrounded by antique yachts. You can watch the concert from a free space at the docks or even bring your own boat!

Amy Winehouse: A Family Portrait www.jhm.nl/english

Until 4 September - Amsterdam In this exhibition of memories from Amy Winehouse’s family and earlier school days, the Jewish History Museum opens a door to the more intimate side of her life, away from the sensationalised media focus she received at the height of her career. The collection is a touching reflection on the hidden facets of an artist, and allows you to share in a special moment with her family, who wish to share her pride for her JewishLondon roots.

PHOTO: THE JEWISH MUSEUM

Two great Dutch specialities, growing flowers and canal-faring, come together in threeday long floating procession across the region of Westland. More than 50 boats decorated with flowers and vegetables will cruise by for your viewing pleasure, as people gather on the riverbanks to enjoy picnics and local parties. The parade is accompanied by music and activities at various points: for example, on the third day, or Delftlanddag, the boats make a one-hour stopover in Delft for you to examine them more closely.

ACCESS | SUMMER 2016 | 11

PHOTO: MICHAEL D. SPENCER

The bicycle of tomorrow

12 | ACCESS | SUMMER 2016

Cover Story

Today, I’d like us to talk about bicycles. As residents or visitors of the Netherlands, you’ll have noticed that the bicycle has taken pride of place in local hearts and day-to-day life, be it through leisurely rides in the countryside, the thrill of training for sport and races, or as the go-to mode of transportation. Despite the widespread appeal, the bicycle hardly comes across as the innovative vehicle of the future.

BY GEMMA GAHAN

Although the overall frame appears to have stayed the same since the end of the 19th century, major advances in the past 100 years have pushed the bike forward.

What exciting developments does the future hold for the bicycle? First, let’s remind ourselves of its past.

Omafiets: a timeless symbol of Dutch culture - or is it?

fact There are 18 million bicycles in the Netherlands

Despite the wheel being around for several millennia, the bicycle is a relatively modern invention. It’s progressed from the original skater-like velocipede into the iron-wheeled bone-shaker model in 1863, moving on to the first all-metal penny-farthing bicycle in 1870 and ending with the safety bike as we know it in 1890.

Since the bicycle is a symbol of Dutch national identity, many readers might assume that the modern bike must originate from the Netherlands. Indeed, the omafiets (grandma bike), whose classic design has barely changed since 1891, is now referred to as ‘the Dutch bike’ in some countries. However, it is originally an English Roadster design that was first produced around 1897. Dutch companies such as Fongers and Gazelle directly copied the English model and reproduced it in a smart marketing coup: they promoted a practical, cheap, and unremarkable bike that fell right in line with the Calvinist national character.

The omafiets remains a giant of the industry thanks to the durability of its design, both in aesthetic appeal and sturdiness. Its most notable feature is the low frame without a top tube between the handlebars and the saddle. You can stylishly hop on and off one in a crowded city, seamlessly transitioning from cycling to walking in one step.

Keeping up with the times

The bicycle has come a long way since the original roadsters, and Dutch streets are overflowing with e­vidence of its versatility. One can't help but notice safety improvements such as helmets, locks, jackets and lights to signal the wearer in the dark. Bikes with bags, baskets, even a bakfiets to ferry around preschool children for all your ­courier needs. Carbon fibre frames, racing frames, adjustable saddles, tires for different terrain and weather… Within the basic shape of two wheels ­connected by bars, every tiny component has been changed and specialised. The latest advances in cycling technology can often be seen during the Tour de France. It’s there that the first modern derailleurs were trialled in 1937, allowing riders to change gears without having to get off their bike and change the wheel round. It’s where clipless pedals, now a standard in racing, first premiered.

We can now choose not just to ride a bicycle, but how we want to ride it. Ethan Kaufman, long time mountain bike enthusiast, told us that “over the past five to 10 years it seems like the technology in outdoor recreational activities and biking has sky rocketed. Weight and durability play a tremendous role when using a bike for more than just commuting to work. These advances in bike comfort have not changed how I cycle but they have made it much more comfortable.”

While the cycling industry is constantly leaping f­urther ahead, there are many developments now available that aren’t yet widespread in use. Here are a few reasons why the future bike is a force to be reckoned with, from casual usage, to sustainability, and safety. » ACCESS | SUMMER 2016 | 13

Cover Story | The bicycle of tomorrow

This range of additional gadgets is enough to make anyone want to go for a ride!

E-bikes: tackling distance and terrain

fact 40% of imported bikes in NL come from Asia

Electric bikes, as with many first iterations of an invention, have a reputation for being a bit too expensive. New materials, techniques, and competition in the industry do, however, promise to drive prices down, which is great news: electric powered motors now blend in near seamlessly with your own effort, and batteries charge faster and last longer.

An e-bike adds between 7.5 to 20 kilometres to the range of a conventional bike, and allows you to cycle longer in hilly or difficult areas you may otherwise not have the stamina for.

The Dutch-made VanMoof Electrified S is a great example of a next-generation, optimised electric bike (although there are many more on, and preparing to enter the market). On top of all the usual features, such as integrated pedal assist, its efficient battery lasts up to 50km at the highest setting (120km when cycling on a flat road at low power) and only takes six

hours to charge fully. It is also smart and connected: the touchpad display on the front bar provides realtime information on speed, distance travelled and battery charge, and comes with an associated app which allows you to lock and unlock your keyless bike remotely, as well as track it in case of theft.

This range of additional gadgets is enough to make anyone want to go for a ride to try them all out!

If you want to explore outside city areas, the StarckBike M.A.S.S. collection by notorious French designer Philippe Starck offers an incredibly stylish attempt at more globally viable e-bikes ready to tackle all climates and terrain - mud, sand, snow and asphalt. The downside here is that they do clock in at a hefty amount of €7,000 minimum.

E-wheels upgrade

With millions of bikes already in existence, it makes sense for innovators to play with what is already ­rolling on the roads. The Copenhagen Wheel is an example of an add-on technology with an e-bike’s benefits. It was recently listed in a World Economic Forum report as an example of a top-10 urban innovation. Indeed the near-silent kit makes biking even easier and more appealing for everyday use, a sound example of “the next generation of mobility”.

PHOTO: RUUD BAAN

The Copenhagen Wheel learns how you pedal and integrates seamlessly with your motion, multiplying your pedal power by three to 10 times. As a result, distances feel short, hills feel flat. That latter point may not be so relevant for cyclists here in the Netherlands, but the Copenhagen Wheel is intended for international application, to reduce carbon emissions on a global scale. The Wheel started as a partnership between the mayor of Copenhagen and the SENSEable City Lab at Massachusetts Institute of Technology in the US in an effort to answer the question, “How can we get more people to cycle?”

Their answer is an easy-to-install, small red hub on a bicycle wheel, together weighing 5.9 kg (13 lbs), that turns your bike into a smart electric hybrid.

Currently priced at $949.

14 | ACCESS | SUMMER 2016

muters on the train or bus. Often they are somewhat clunky when folded, somewhat small when upright, yet they remain versatile.

One improved model to pay attention to (not yet available on the market, unfortunately) is Italian product designer Gianluca Sada’s folding bike, called Sada Bike. This bicycle provides a beautiful alternative for city living and commutes. Sada’s design allows the bike to fold to roughly the length of an umbrella, and it’s meant to fold into a backpack for ease of transport, despite its standard 66-cm (26-in) wheel size. The design of the Sada Bike is also remarkable because of the ‘hubless’ wheels, meaning no spokes. Could hubless bicycles be a wave of the future? That remains to be seen.

PHOTOS: R. BUCCHINO | FROZENLIGHT STUDIO

Forward-thinking sustainability

fact 21% of bikes sold in NL are electric.

Up from 10% in 2008.

Working with space, urban living and public transport

Today, design and technology blend together to c­reate bikes that fit into modern lifestyles in a way never before achieved by simpler bicycle designs.

The folding bicycle especially reflects such progress.

You’ve likely seen some folding models with com-

Read on

• Bicycle Design: the search for the perfect machine - By Mike Burrows | 2008| ISBN 978-1905005680

• Biography of the bike: the ultimate history of bike design - By Chris Boardman with Chris Sidwells | 2015 | ISBN 978-0760349892

• The Rider - By Tim Krabbé | 1978 (translated 2003 by Sam Garrett) | ISBN 978-1582342900

Matthew Wilkins and Christopher Deschenes, both avid cyclists, met at George Washington University in the US, and wanted, cliché as it might sound, to change the world. They’re now the leaders behind Pedal Forward, the company building a bamboo ­bicycle, a design that won the 2012 Clinton Global Initiative University Commitment Bracket.

Why bamboo? It’s cheap to produce, sustainable, and a durable alternative to current bicycle production methods. Pedal Forward’s method of framebuilding allows for the tubes to be grown locally (depending on the location), and to be truly renew­ able in nature (bamboo can grow as much as 99 cm in 24 hours!). Producing bamboo bikes also significantly cuts the amount of emissions associated with the manufacturing process, as compared with a conventional steel bike.

Right now proceeds from the purchase of each bicycle go to providing bicycles in the “Global South”.

However, Pedal Forward intends to set up production facilities there, thereby creating employment opportunities in the areas where bikes are most needed.

“Our long-term goal,” say Pedal Forward on their crowdfunding page on Kickstarter, “is to shift gears » ACCESS | SUMMER 2016 | 15

Personal training

Upbringing

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Nutrition

Yoga for children

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Mindfulness

Coaching

Posture

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Massage

Yoga

Kinetics advice

WWW.BLOOMdenHaag.nL

Cover Story | The bicycle of tomorrow

from our current philanthropic model... eventually turning each facility over to be managed and employed by members of the local population.”

Having succeeded in raising funds, Pedal Forward have introduced the bamboo bicycle to market. It does seem to be a comfortable choice for cyclists; treated bamboo is strong but lightweight, and four times more shock absorbent than carbon fibre.

Currently priced at about $400 for the frame; $600 for a full bike, various sizes available.

Safety first

Safety is a concern for cyclists who compete for space on the road, even in the Netherlands. Arend Schwab, professor of Biomechanical Engineering at Delft University of Technology (pictured on cover), runs a bicycle dynamics lab where he and others are working on ways to make cycling safer still. At TEDx Delft this past April, Schwab shared some of the advances engineers are testing, such as bicycles with built-in sensors. If a car drives too close to the left of the cyclist, for example, then the left handlebar will vibrate as a warning. If a car comes too close from behind, you’ll ‘feel it’ in your saddle.

Schwab was joined during a panel discussion at TEDx Delft by representatives from Vodafone who introduced the Vodafone Smart Jacket for cyclists.

The jacket, engineered with TU Delft and still in prototype phase, links up with the route indicated on your smart phone’s Google Maps. While you cycle, the jacket’s lights signal your direction to fellow road users, indicating turns to the left or right with bright, electronic arrows. What happens if you suddenly change direction during your trip? Well, Vodafone is working out the kinks.

Finally, designers at Mission Bicycle Company wanted to build a bicycle using reflective technology that was previously only available in 2D, on flat street signs, for example. Mission have proudly introduced Lumen, a bicycle designed specifically for night time city riding with integrated retro-reflection. Whenever

light hits the frame or rims of the Lumen, light bounces back to the source. This effect is something like a cat’s eyes, which boomerang light, creating an intense glow. On the road, cyclists can be seen from as far as 300 metres (or 1,000 feet) thanks to this 3D retro-reflection technology.

Mindful cycling future

In the future, the bicycle will be an essential tool for combining technology with mindfulness, moving humanity towards sustainability and health.

Although the Dutch enjoyed a particular set of favourable circumstances to boost their cycling culture, new technologies, infrastructure, and policies can have the same effect long term nearly everywhere else around the world. Compensating for geography, attacking pollution, and promoting better physical health and safety, the bikes of tomorrow promise to make tackling social change a whole lot easier. And you know what’s even better? That people will be able to enjoy themselves and share the thrill of cycling in the process. «

fact 25% of home-work commuting in NL is done by bike.

About the author Gemma Gahan is an artist, crafter, and storyteller based in The Hague. Find her illustrations at Ginger’s Atelier: www.facebook.com/gingersatelier

ACCESS | SUMMER 2016 | 17

Lifestyle | Partner feature

Experience the city by water with The Hague Boat pating in sailing competitions. Jan’s love of boats comes from these experiences while growing up.

He even spent his first three years of life on a vessel.

His father was a skipper, he lived on a freighter, and now boats are a central part of his life.

From building a boat behind our family home, to the restoration of a 26-metre Dutch barge, it started with these wonderful projects as a hobby. Gradually, Jan was asked to build a motorboat for an uncle and then to design and build a new tour boat for another company. The hobby was developed professionally. The combination of marine knowledge, and years of experience restoring old ships and designing new boats has paid off – and now the logical next step was to start our own boat tour company in The Hague.

We are Leonie and Jan Persoon, natives of The Hague who have dedicated much of our lives to boating and sailing. Our familyrun business, The Hague Boat, provides a fresh

We built our boat Daisy last year and enjoyed hosting our boat tours during the beautiful summer, with Jan as the Captain and Leonie as the friendly guide. Our daughter Laurien also joins us this summer, extending the family business.

experience of the city from the water with our English-speaking tours explaining the hidden histories and special highlights of The Hague.

06 39 82 35 46 www.thehagueboat.com

18 | ACCESS | SUMMER 2016

Our love of boating goes back through generations of Persoons who have worked as sailors in the Dutch region of Westland. They managed farmer ships which transported fresh fruit and vegetables to ­auction, and also sailed a special Westlander ship bringing peat to the village of Vinkeveen. We honour these authentic ships today, and we still enjoy partici-

Come join our unique boat tours for a pleasant cruise through the canals, or join one of our many special events. The 75-minute canal cruise costs €11 per person and departs from Mauritskade 10 (Caesar Fitness & Spa Resort) daily from Wednesday through Sunday.

Our boat Daisy is open with 28 seats and is also available to be hired privately, whether for a corporate event, family reunion, birthday, brainstorming ­session or a VIP transportation service. « Welcome on board!

International Community

Get to know

DutchNews.nl The 10 Questions section on the DutchNews.nl website offers a fascinating glimpse into the huge variety of expats and internationals in the Netherlands. The website turns 10 years old in

5

What’s your favourite Dutch food and why?

The typical Dutch office lunch of cheese sandwiches and butter milk of course, plus Limburgse vlaai on birthdays. Okay, serious answer… the bitterballen at networking events.

August, so we decided to turn the tables and ask DutchNews.nl to spill the beans.

6

How Dutch have you become and why?

If we become Dutch, we’ve failed at our job.

1

How did you end up in the Netherlands?

Our founder Robin Pascoe had been living here for 15 years when she realised there was no comprehensive source of Dutch news in English and decided to create one.

2

How do you describe yourself - an expat, lovepat, immigrant,

­international, etc.?

International – because we have readers all over the globe. Around 25% are outside the Netherlands and a good 15% are Dutch.

3

How long do you plan to stay and why?

As long as our readers support us. We are funded purely by advertising so please, don’t use ad blockers!

4

7

Which three Dutch people (dead or alive) would you most like to meet?

Prime Minister Mark Rutte, anti-Islam campaigner Geert Wilders and Social Affairs Minister Lodewijk Asscher have all rejected our interview requests.

8

What’s your top tourist tip?

Check out the features section of our website and read up on some of the more unusual places to visit. Forget overcrowded museums. Veere, Wiuwert, and Eext are among our favourite places.

9

Tell us something surprising you’ve found out about the Netherlands.

We are constantly being surprised. For example, all those tulips you see in the fields in the spring are being grown for their bulbs and the flowers get chopped off by machine. The tulips you buy in bunches are mostly grown in greenhouses.

Do you speak Dutch and how did you learn?

You have to speak Dutch to do this job, because a lot of what we do is providing background and context.

How else can you explain what an ATV day is or who is entitled to Wajong?

10

If you had just 24 hours left in the Netherlands, what would you do?

Pay our bills, thank our readers and make sure our farewell headline is the best one ever. «

ACCESS | SUMMER 2016 | 19

Arts & Entertainment

Sporty summer Summer is fast approaching. She has booked a ticket, packed her bags and is due to land here very soon (pending no unforeseen delays!). When she arrives she brings along special outdoor opportunities to run, walk and play your favourite sports. Get your running shoes ready for events in North Holland, South Holland and Limburg.

BY TRACEY TAYLOR

the event. Activities will be open to young and old, families, sports clubs and businesses whereby e­veryone gets a chance to participate in an array of fun and challenging team sports.

The organisers from Olympic Experience say, “[There] will be over 30 different sports such as beach volleyball, hockey, swimming, sailing, waterskiing, archery, cycling, BMX, running, athletics, golf, basketball, horse riding, racing, Judo, Aikido, boxing, rowing and surfing.” All of the activities will be organized under the expert guidance of more than 25 different sporting associations.

Rio comes to Scheveningen

This summer is set to be extra special as we eagerly await Rio de Janeiro to play host to the 28th occurrence of the modern Olympic Games. For most of us, the magic of the games will only be experienced via the wonders of television, live streams and online commentary but, all is certainly not lost. For those of us who may not have a ticket to Brazil, there is a rather unique event taking place right here in the Netherlands. Allow me to present, the Olympic Experience in The Hague!

Yes indeed… I said, The Hague. Some rather clever and enterprising folks have come up with the novel idea of transforming the seaside town of Scheveningen (in the province of South Holland) into its very own Olympic Park – encompassing a whopping 40,000 m2! – from 6 - 21 August.

Get tickets for the action!

Scheveningen’s Olympic Experience will be offering a diverse programme of sports-themed activities – Rio style! – all of which are set to appeal to the ­myriad of Olympic fans expected over the course of 20 | ACCESS | SUMMER 2016

So what does a ticket get you? “If you buy a ticket to visit the Olympic Experience, you can join all sports, no signing up or extra payment needed. Some sports are individual, some in groups, no need to create a team yourself but of course it is fun to come with your sports team... So basically you buy a ticket at the door, and you are able to join sports, watch sports and experience the Games in Rio all together!”

Watching the Games on the big screen

At the Olympic Experience at 18:00 each evening (hopefully with an impressive sunset offering a ­stunning background), the Plaza Maracaná will be the place-to-be whereby visitors can come together for some great music, food and drinks while watching the Olympic Games live from Rio de Janeiro on the (very big) Big Screen. There will be a choice of entertainment to enjoy, plus many former and ­current Olympians are expected to visit Scheveningen over the two weeks. A rather remarkable atmosphere and setting from which to cheer on Team Oranje! www.olympicexperience.nl (Dutch only) or write to info@olympicexperience.nl for information in English.

Ready, set, go!

Now while on this sporty theme, let me give a quick shout-out to other events coming up soon for those looking to stay active. The first in South Limburg is Maastricht’s Mooiste. Now in its 13th year, this popular event will be held on Sunday, 12 June.

Starting at the Markt in the centre of Maastricht, this also offers a choice of a 5km, 10km and, new to this year, 10 (English) miles run. Each of the three courses follows a different route across the city, and varies in degree of difficulty. www.maastrichtsmooiste.nl/en/ A similar item taking place is the Canal Run (Grachtenloop) in Haarlem (about 20k west of Amsterdam) which will take place for the 22nd time this year. On Friday, 24 June, Midsummer’s Eve, walkers and runners will, with the support of an enthusiastic audience along the way, follow a stunning trail along the canals of Haarlem which takes in local tourist attractions in the old city. The Canal

Run has three different running distances (1km/5km/10km) from which to choose. www.grachtenloop.nl (Dutch only) So whether you are planning to walk, run or just ­happily coast your way through the summer of 2016, be sure that you make it a memorable one.

• Maastricht’s Mooiste - 12 June, 2016 Registration fee varies.

Grachtenloop, Canal Run - 24 June, 2016 • Registration fee varies.

Olympic Experience - 6 - 21 August, 2016, • 10:00 - 24:00 daily Adults: €10 | Under 18: €5, Children under 4: Free (Note: Children under 18 should be accompanied by adults.) «

About the author Tracey Taylor is a freelance writer who loves food, wine and life in Limburg. Originally from Ireland, now residing in beautiful Maastricht with Dave and their fancy cat, Tubbs.

ACCESS | SUMMER 2016 | 21

Education | Partner feature

It is wonderful to see so many expats take up the tradition of cycling to school.

Dutch lessons about cycling

High on my list of some of the amazing things people do and see in the Netherlands is that cycling is such a popular form of transport.

The tradition of cycling at ISH

In our Dutch lessons the students in Primary learn about traffic and specifically about cycling. Bicycles are brought in for observation to promote and learn the language. The teachers also discuss the rules in traffic and areas cyclists need to be careful about, e.g., the blind spot for both trucks and cars. Keeping safe on a bicycle is the first priority.

Cycling camp in Texel

Our Year Five camp is a cycling camp where the children cycle around Texel. This allows students who may normally come to school by car to experience the pleasure of cycling. To support good cycling for the camp the children have practice sessions within the school playground to go around cones and follow instructions. Each year this trip is a big success.

In other news: ISH builds a new wing!

BY JULIETTE VAN EERDEWIJK, PRINCIPAL PRIMARY

070 328 1450 www.ishthehague.nl

22 | ACCESS | SUMMER 2016

Cycling is concept that is alien to many countries, and it certainly was a positive aspect of returning to the Netherlands. It therefore is wonderful to see that so many expats take up the tradition of cycling to school. Every morning when the Principal of Secondary and I are outside welcoming the students and parents into the school, we see so many of our students and parents as well as staff cycling to school, including the ‘bakfietsen’ with the younger children. We encourage this form of transport as it is both positive for our bodies as well as the environment.

The International School of The Hague has been p­reparing for the exciting building of a new wing.

Our new wing will cater for Reception to Year Four and will be specifically designed to support the outstanding learning practice that we have within the school. Our younger children will be able to continue with the dynamic learning environment which supports a free flow method and access to a speellokaal especially designed for our younger students.

The school wishes to have the same open feeling to the new wing as the current building. We are certain that we are going to have another amazing learning facility for all our students. «

Food

Raspberry sorbet popsicles Ah, summer. When all we can think about is the beach, the refreshing drinks and the neverending sunshine. Cooling off with a bowlful of ice cream, sorbet or granita is another one of life’s simple summer pleasures, especially when the icy treat is a homemade one.

RECIPE AND PHOTO BY MAGDALINI ZOGRAFOU

This sweet and sharp raspberry sorbet with the vibrant flavour and colour of the small fruit is ­guaranteed to satisfy your sweet cravings on a hot summer day. Enjoy!

Make the sugar syrup

ts Ingredienles

In a small saucepan, add the water and sugar and place over medium heat. Stir until the sugar has dissolved and turn heat up to medium-high. When the syrup comes to the boil, turn heat down to medium and simmer for 3-4 minutes. Then take the pan off the heat, put the lid on and allow the syrup to cool completely before adding it to the sorbet.

opsic Yield: 9 p ch) (90 ml ea

ar syrup For the sug l water • 250 m ster sugar • 110 g ca lsuiker in Dutch) ( fijne krista et For the sorb erries es fr h raspb • 400 g zed u freshly sq ee • 1 Tbsp lemon juice p l sugar syru • 200 m

Make the sorbet

In a blender or food processor, add the raspberries, the lemon juice and 200 ml of the sugar syrup. Blend until smooth and pass through a fine sieve to get rid of the seeds.

Not all raspberries were created equal, so taste the mixture to see if it needs more sugar syrup in case it is sour, or a little more lemon juice in case it is too sweet for your liking,

Sorb keeps et in freeze the r one m for onth. bearing in mind that when sorbets freeze, they become less sweet.

Empty the mixture into popsicle moulds or vodka shot glasses, filling them by 3/4, and place in the freezer. Once the sorbet begins to set, add the wooden sticks. Leave the popsicles in the freezer for 3-4 hours or until completely set. To take the popsicles out from their moulds/shot glasses, run the sides of the mould/shot glass under cold running water and holding the wooden popsicle stick with your hand, twist and pull the popsicle out. You’ll probably feel some resistance at first, but it will eventually come out. «

About the author Magdalini Zografou, a Greek girl cooking in her little expat kitchen in the Netherlands, blogs at mylittleexpatkitchen.blogspot.com.

ACCESS | SUMMER 2016 | 23

Education

It’s Monday morning, 9:30. Fifteen women and a couple of men, all from different backgrounds, are practicing how to ride a bike on the playground of the Schalk Burgerplein in The Hague. Some make a first attempt to stay on the bike, others already know the basics of cycling and try to stay between the white road markings that are drawn on the ground.

Never too late: learning to bike as an adult

BY VERA TER BEEST

Forty-year-old Hatice Koçak is standing with her legs apart, hands at her sides in the middle of the playground. She is one of the eight volunteers giving adult cycling lessons to this group of internationals.

“I mostly give tips on technique,” she says. “How to keep balance, what the best position is to sit on a bike…”

Learning how to cycle: basic steps

Tamme Hansma, a certified cycling instructor, was an instructor for the adult cycling lessons organised by the Dutch Refugee Council (VluchtelingenWerk Nederland). He was so passionate that after these classes were put to a stop, he and some other volunteers sought to partner up with de Paardenberg, a community centre in Transvaal. Now Hansma has been giving adult cycle lessons for over 10 years and he’s still very enthusiastic.

He makes clear that for an adult learning how to ride a bicycle, the process is quite complicated, because an adult thinks too much about the steps.

Technique is an important aspect when it comes to learning how to cycle and he gives these basic tips to get started: 24 | ACCESS | SUMMER 2016

• Use a bike with a low frame when you’re just starting. This way you can still easily touch the ground with your feet.

Once you know how to ride, switch to a bike with a frame that best fits your height.

• First just sit on your bike and use it as a ‘walking bike’. Get used to the feeling and then place one foot on the pedal.

Try to keep your balance.

• Once you feel comfortable, check the position of

• To stop the bike, stop pedalling and lift your

your pedals. The pedal your foot is on should be in an upright position. This way, once you push this pedal the bike will gain some speed. Use the other foot, the one that’s still on the ground, to push off.

Make one fast step, lift this foot and push the pedal with the other foot.

• Stay in an upright position. For most cycling learners the steer is their guidance and they hold on to it too tightly. Avoid looking at the ground and loosen up a bit. Sit up and look straight ahead for best control and comfort.

weight from the pedal that is down. Use the brakes and slide off your seat, putting one foot on the ground.

• Once you know how to pedal and stop, it’s time to learn cycling with one hand, indicating directions and looking back. This last part is especially difficult as your whole body tends to move when you look back, meaning you can’t check what’s happening in front of you.

From cycle learner to cycle teacher

Koçak had the basic skills when she moved from Turkey to the Netherlands. When she was young, her father taught her how to ride a bike, but now, after more than 20 years she wasn’t completely comfortable anymore. Then she heard about the adult cycling lessons organised by Hansma and his team. She passed the cycle exam of both the beginners’ and the advanced course quite effortlessly.

She was such a great example for the other students that immediately after her exam Hansma asked her if she wanted to help instruct adult cycling lessons. She accepted because she likes helping others and wants to share what she has learned. At the same time, she adds, “It gives me the opportunity to practice cycling on the road in a group, because cycling alone still makes me feel insecure.”

Did you k now..

At ma .­ ny

schoo ls in N childr L en tak e a cy cling exam at age 10.

Gaining confidence

ILLUSTRATIONS BY AAFKE MERTENS | CURLYSKETCHES.NL

One of the female adult learners affirms what Koçak says. She likes the possibilities that a bike affords.

She doesn’t have to depend on anyone and it’s ideal for short distances, meeting a friend, going to an appointment. Besides, it’s relatively cheap. The only thing is, riding a bike on this playground or practicing in the street with a group of other » ACCESS | SUMMER 2016 | 25

‘Excellent ‘ across all criteria: Independent Schools Inspectorate British Curriculum and IB Programmes Ages 3 -18 Discover more - www.britishschool.nl

Internationally British

Our goal is to solve your problem +31 (0)70 361 50 48 - info@gmw.nl

Education | Never too late: learning to bike as an adult

cycling students is quite different from cycling all alone. Then it’s all up to you to keep cycling at the right speed, to give directions while paying attention to others. Especially in busy intersections full of tram rails, drivers opening their car doors, pedestrians crossing, etc. Even in the Netherlands cycling can be dangerous.

Hansma recognises that many adult cycling learners hardly have any trouble cycling on the playground as there is no other traffic and they can concentrate solely on the cycling. Even when students practise in the streets, they feel safe as long as they are in a group and wear the fluorescent shirts handed out by the volunteers. But once they are on their own, they become nervous.

Therefore, in the lessons, the volunteers not only teach the learners the techniques to ride a bike, they also work on their confidence. The eight volunteers are enthusiastic and encourage every single student in a personal way. The students themselves encourage and advise each other, too. It’s not just a one-hour class, but also a way to socialise and create connections.

Teaching yourself

When Olga Mecking moved to the Netherlands seven years ago she was eager to become part of the Dutch community. To really fit in she would need a bike.

Her father even joked that if she didn’t get a bike in Holland she would get arrested!

Buying a bike was a lot more difficult than she expected, because she needed a bike with a short frame, best to fit her height. The shop owner let her try out different bikes. The last time Mecking had cycled was when she was a student back in her home country Poland, so she started cycling a bit wobbly.

“The shop owner made a funny comment about my cycling style. I laughed along; I was just so happy that I was finally buying a bike.” Mecking, now 33 years old and the proud mother of three children, mainly uses the bike in her free time to cycle together with her family.

Where to go for lessons

De Paardenberg offers a course of 12 lessons (one hour each) for €15; beginners’ course and advanced.

You can follow the courses at your own pace based on experience. The main language used is Dutch, but the group of students is very international and instructions can be translated.

Low-frame bicycles are provided so you can still easily reach the ground with your feet. Classes take place rain or shine.

STEK De Paardenberg Paardenbergstraat 1, 2572 XH The Hague, 070 380 1667 info@stekdenhaag.nl, attention Paardenberg In Utrecht, the organisation Harten voor Sport organises adult cycle courses in Dutch and/or English. You can sign up for 10 lessons for €15.

The next courses start in September.

Harten voor Sport Various locations throughout the city.

030 820 1130, utrechtfietst@hartenvoorsport.nl For more information adult cycling lessons Elsewhere, contact the ACCESS Helpdesk at helpdesk@access-nl.org or 0900 2 222 377. «

About the author Vera ter Beest, born on a bicycle and raised in Delft, is the founder of Verita’s Visit. She organises cycle tours through the Dutch countryside and events around local festivities and Dutch products.

ACCESS | SUMMER 2016 | 27

Health & Wellbeing

Goodbyes are hard for leavers and stayers

BY UTE LIMACHER-RIEBOLD

We can find a lot of practical advice for people leaving for a new country; how best to organise a move, what to pack first and last, what documents we need, etc. But what about preparing for the

The stages a staying person is going through are very similar to those of the person who’s leaving. To help us recognise what expats and their community are going through, let’s consider the classic model of the typical transition cycle that David Pollock describes in the chapter ‘The Transition Experience’ in the book Third Culture Kids: growing up among worlds, by David C. Pollock and Ruth E. van Reken (Nicholas Brealey Publishing, 2009, pp.66-73). The phases he defines for those moving country, the leavers, can easily be applied to the stayers.

PHOTO: LYSSA RAMOS PHOTOGRAPY

emotional experience?

Before, during and after a move to a new country, we go through several phases. Understanding these phases can help us to cope with the change – and help our family and friends whom we leave behind.

After all, those who stay usually get told much later in the process and don’t have time to prepare for this new phase of life.

28 | ACCESS | SUMMER 2016

1 - Involvement

This first stage of transition is quite comfortable as everyone still feels settled and contented: “We feel a responsibility to be involved in the issues that concern and interest our community, and we’re focused on the present and our immediate relationships rather than thinking primarily about the past or ­worrying about the future” (p.66). Leavers don’t yet know for sure whether or when they will be leaving – and their friends still don’t know about the big step.

So in this involvement stage everyone behaves more or less in the moment, going out for lunch together, playing football, performing at work as usual.

2 - Leaving

In this second stage, daily life begins to change.

The leavers learn that they’ll be leaving and start to prepare. If the departure date is not too close, they begin loosening the emotional ties. Leavers will start to deny feelings of sadness or grief at this point in order to avoid painful moments. They back away from relationships and responsibilities. They call less frequently and don’t start new projects at work.

This detaching process is really hard for the stayers.

They are confused and can feel anger or frustration.

The feelings of resentment and rejection – of both parties – can produce anger and cause conflicts.

As stayers, we already feel the loss and tend to exclude the leavers from decisions about future events. This kind of behaviour is often related to the fact that leavers don’t involve us in the process.

Instead of helping each other through the process, leavers and stayers start letting go altogether.

Therefore, it’s important to let each other know about these feelings, as well as others in your support network. Pollock writes, “Failing to acknowledge that we are beginning to feel like outsiders (and that it hurts) only increases the chances that we will act inappropriately during this stage” (p.68).

If the community pays special attention to the leaver at this point, through ceremonies of recognition, thanking them for being part of a team or a group,

for example, this recognition helps everyone acknowledge that even if “they promise to never f­orget each other, already there is a distance developing between [them] and those [they] will soon leave behind” (p.69). Acknowledging each other, talking about what we appreciated and cherished about those who leave – and those who stay! – is an important aspect of leaving and being left behind. Leavers need to have a proper closure in order to be able to start afresh in the new place. The same goes for the stayers: if they can find closure, they can start the new phase without resentment.

This detaching process is really hard for the stayers. They are confused and can feel anger or frustration.

3 - Transition

The transition stage begins the moment leavers leave one place and ends when they arrive at their destination and make the decision (more or less consciously) to settle in and become part of it. If we are leavers, usually we “lose our normal moorings and support systems” and this sense of “chaos makes us more self-centered than normal” (p.69). The only things that matter to us in this first part of the transition stage are our health, finances, close relationships, personal safety, etc.

Family conflicts are very frequent in this stage because it’s the stage of highest stress and insecurity: How are we going to take care of our everyday aspects of life like housing, banking, buying food, cooking?

What will the school be like, the new working environment, the neighbours, etc.? Especially in crosscultural moves adults have to learn life practically from scratch: “As teenagers and adults, probably nothing strikes at our sense of self-esteem with greater force than learning language and culture, for these are the tasks of children” (p.70). » ACCESS | SUMMER 2016 | 29

De Boer Financial Consultants (FVB)

is a financial consultancy agency with a focus on servicing the Expat community in The Netherlands.

We are here to help and guide you every step when you buy your Dutch home for instance For our private (Expat) clients we offer: • Financial planning • Mortgages • Home insurances

And for our Corporate clients:

• Staff insurances • Business/commercial financing

Contact us and you will find out that we really care! What are your immediate wishes, and what are your wishes for the (near) future? We help you to map your financial needs in relation to your personal circumstances.

Moreover, we have managed to secure special deals with leading banks for the international community in the Netherlands.

Whether you have an EU passport or not, temporary or indefinite residence permit, we can almost always find you the most suitable financial solution, since this is where our expertise lies. We try to take the stress out of buying a home. All you have to do yourself is find your dream home. But it is always a good idea to find out what your financial possibilities are before you take this big step.

T The Hague office: +31 (0)70 511 87 88 • T Amsterdam office: +31 (0)20 664 55 78 • E info@fvbdeboer.nl • I www.fvbdeboer.nl

Health & Wellbeing | Goodbyes are hard for leavers and stayers

If we are the stayers: This stage is the first stage that the stayers are not directly involved but they are affected nonetheless. They may try to cheer up their friends who left by calling, Skyping, etc., but they can’t really help them in practical ways anymore.

Stayers feel the grief: their friends are gone and it is a sad and difficult period. Because it is grief that we feel! We grieve for a time that is gone and that won’t come back. We grieve for the things we wanted to do with this person who is no longer part of our daily life.

PHOTO: PETER LEGGETT

Sometimes, our cultural and linguistic mistakes embarrass us or make us feel ashamed or even ­stupid. We easily feel upset, angry and some may even experience depression.

Did you k now..

Enjoy .­ ing

During the entering stage, leavers start to accept that it’s time to become part of the new community and they begin to figure out how to do it. They are still vulnerable. People feel a lot of ambivalence in this stage. They start to learn the new job, the rules at school, the new language. “Emotions can fluctuate widely between the excitement of the new discoveries… and the homesickness that weighs us down” (p.72). We feel how different we are in this new place and wish to go back where we were ‘normal’. At the end of this stage, hope begins to grow and we feel the first sense of belonging with the new community.

For stayers, this is a sort of entering phase too.

The phase where they have to go back to their lives without their friends. In this phase they will also have moments of homesickness. They will miss their friends and wish for them to come back. It will be an up-and-down flux of emotions, but they’ll finally adjust.

strong relatio can re nduce deme risk o ntia, d f epres high b sion, lood p ressur e and m ortalit y!

ships

4 - Entering

Some may even feel a sense of belonging, of intimacy and that their presence matters in the new group.

Stayers will have achieved a new balance, too, without their friends. They will have found new friends and carry on. As Pollock says, “Time feels present and permanent as we focus on the here and now rather than hoping for the future or constantly reminiscing about the past” (p.73).

Knowing about this normal process of transition helps us to prepare, to recognise where we are and what will come next. It also helps with making decisions so we benefit from the new experiences “while dealing productively with the inevitable losses of any transition experience” (p.73). «

5 - Reinvolvement

This stage is like the light at the end of the tunnel: reinvolvement is possible. Every leaver will need some time and willingness to adapt before becoming part of the permanent community in the new place.

About the author Ute Limacher-Riebold is a Trainer at ACCESS. She supports Internationals during their life abroad and helps them through transition at Ute’s Expat Lounge. A version of this article was originally published on her website www.utesexpatlounge.com.

ACCESS | SUMMER 2016 | 31

Education | Partner feature

The very best people, deploying the very best skills - every day Every day we are affected and inspired by the people who surround us. Whether they be our role models, politicians, peers or colleagues - these people help define the lens through which we see the world. So, shouldn’t we endeavour to surround ourselves with people who aspire to be the very best they can be?

This is especially true within school systems. It is a given that we want the people who teach our children to be the very best at what they do. We trust them to inspire the next generation to want to do great things, to enjoy life and give them every tool they need to succeed. This is why the continued development of teachers and school support staff is so essential.

Admissions Department 070 315 4077 Email: admissions@ britishschool.nl

“The students’ experience is purely predicated on the professionalism of the people they come into contact with,” explained CEO and Principal of The British School in the Netherlands (BSN), Kieran Earley.

“It’s purely about the very best people deploying the very best skills, in the best way - every sin-

32 | ACCESS | SUMMER 2016

gle day. We want our staff to feel committed, purposeful and ready to be challenged… and that doesn’t just happen. That has to be supported and on top of that, it has to be expected.”

And so, the International Leadership Academy was born

The BSN’s International Leadership Academy (ILA) is an in-house facility that will employ experts to teach and develop current staff members, so that they can be their very best professional selves. While these kinds of programmes have long been part of the BSN’s ethos, the ILA will add strategic direction and a centralised (and physical) base of operations.

Its goal is to stream-line a number of pre-existing development programmes and to find ways of improving and adding to them. After all, what better way to encourage constant self-evaluation and development in your staff, than by leading by example?

By prioritising staff needs and ensuring career progression, the BSN and its new ILA make sure that each and every member of staff will contribute to the continued development of the school, and ultimately its exceptional standards of education. « For more information on the ILA, please visit kieranearley.co.uk/2016/04/ keep-taking-the-red-pills-embracing-change-in-education/

Dutch Lifestyle

It is becoming more and more important to find affordable, efficient methods of transport compatible with today’s demanding, non-stop urban lifestyle. From cars and trains to skateboards and rollerblades, the wheel has established itself as a potent symbol of engineering and innovation, and this is no more apparent than the transport of choice for the Netherlands: the bicycle.

The Dutch formula for cycling

BY STEVEN ECOTT

The daily appeal

I spoke with Vera ter Beest, who has established her own tour organisation ‘Verita’s Visit’, offering cycling trips throughout the Dutch countryside.

“Cycling is part of daily life in the Netherlands.

According to research… the bicycle is used to get from home to work, from home to an appointment, from home to a restaurant or café. The distance made is usually between 3 to 7 kilometres,” she explains . But for Vera, the true strength in the ­bicycle’s longevity is its adaptability; it’s for more than just getting around.

“A bike is a mode of transportation but also a mode to transport things. After shopping you can hang your bags full of groceries in your bike bags, in a ­basket at the front... You can take your children in a seat at the front or at the back, you can even attach a child’s bike »

PHOTO: KEVIN MCPEAKE | HAAGSEFIETSCHIC.NL

ACCESS | SUMMER 2016 | 33

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Dutch Lifestyle | The Dutch formula for cycling

to the rear of your cycle. There is special equipment to tie the leash of your dog to the bike... I think the bike is slowly transforming into an object on which everything can be attached and added onto.”

Cyclists’ union

The bicycle’s versatility is one of its biggest strengths and this hasn’t gone unnoticed to the Dutch Cyclist Union, the Fietsersbond, boasting an impressive 35,000 members. The Fietsersbond campaign for better cycling conditions in the Netherland, promoting the creation of long-term solutions to ensure that cycling remains at the top of the mobility agenda.

They aim to keep cycling as an affordable, economic and accessible method of transport, as well as improving practical elements such as security, parking and traffic regulations. Amsterdam, the world’s #2 ‘cycling city’ (Copenhagen is #1), already has 250,000 spaces for bicycle parking – but by 2020 they will need 40,000 more.

Supportive infrastructure and government

The country’s success with cycling caught the attention of Kevin Krizek, the first ever Professor of Cycling here, who joined Radboud University in Nijmegen as a visiting professor from Boulder, Colorado. Krizek works towards identifying sustainable and practical travelling solutions for urban areas, and there is no better place to analyse and find correlations in this field than here.

Why? Firstly, the Dutch approach to road design eliminates conflict of interest among road users, by prioritising cyclists over motorists. For example, by purposefully restricting access to certain populated areas, deterring motorists from entering and encouraging more cycling. Cycle paths are a seamless part of the road network with their own regulated set of rules and signals, meaning cyclists form an efficient, flowing part of the infrastructure. Dutch law also gives priority to cyclists involved in collisions with a vehicle, with a form of strict liability that legally binds the motorists insurers to paying for all damages (in most cases).

International influence

The Fietsersbond is an active member of the Dutch Cycling Embassy, which collaborates on a wide scale with authorities across the Netherlands. The Embassy is also a major focal point for knowledgesharing and acts as a ‘middle-man’ between nations to allow for collaboration on certain aspects of cycling. They assist authorities around the world by sharing information about cycling such as improving infrastructure, turning away from car-centric urban planning and offering guidance on initiatives such as bike-sharing, which in particular has its roots in the Netherlands. The first bicycle-sharing scheme was introduced in Amsterdam in the 1960s

by Luud Schimmelpennick, using a model far from the futuristic cycling systems that now live in major cities such as in Paris, New York, and Hangzhou, China.

Did you k now..

Rick C .­ ree

The Dutch Cycling Embassy has welmers comed partners from as far away as the Utrec (22, fr ht) is om cyclin US, where students from the University g the for en globe vironm ental of Arizona engaged in a study tour ness t aware hecyc lingdu to analyse cycling behaviours. The tchman.c om Embassy also organised sessions with authorities in Austin, Texas, and Boston, Massachusetts, to demonstrate the practicalities of two-wheeled transportation. Further, the Embassy wrote an article for the United Nations regarding the transportation situation in South Africa, and how cycling could potentially alleviate the commuting situation faced in the booming urban sprawls that have begun to dominate the country.

With a future that will be more focused on and c­oncerned about the environment than ever before, the Dutch way of life with the humble bicycle could be the answer to the world’s transportation woes. «

About the author Steven Ecott is a freelance journalist based in the UK, with a dream of moving to the Netherlands. Follow him on twitter: @stevenecott

ACCESS | SUMMER 2016 | 35

PHOTO: MANDIE VAN DER MEER

Groningen: a little of everything

BY MANDIE VAN DER MEER

In the words of a good friend of mine, “Groningen has a little of everything.”

I second the sentiment! Take a weekend off, leave the crowds behind in the major cities and travel up north to the charming city of Groningen.

The city’s attractions entice enough, but with its proximity to beaches, the islands, and to Germany, Groningen makes a great stopping-off point during your summer excursions.

36 | ACCESS | SUMMER 2016

At the centre

Make your first stop the tourist office, located at Grote Markt 29, for maps, open times for attractions, and advice from the friendly staff. One of the representatives there told me Martini Tower, just a cross from the office, is a must-do, for the history of the tower and for the view from above. Named not for a drink but for Saint Martin, Martini Tower has been around for over 500 years (building began in 1469).

It’s open to the public a few hours each day and ­visitors are welcome to climb up! Be prepared for a challenge – it’s 251 steps to the viewing platform (56 m / 184 ft high).

Groningen Tourist Office (VVV), Grote Markt 29, 0900 202 3050 toerisme.groningen.nl/

Travel

PHOTO: ALLIE CAULFIELD

Once you’ve taken in the sights from up top and return to street level, enjoy a borrel in the Grote Markt.

Step into what the tourist office says is Europe’s ­largest bar called De Drie Gezusters, or The Three Sisters, popular any time of year. Or indulge at Het Goudkantoor, The Gold Office, a well-known caférestaurant on the other side of the Stadhuis. It was originally a tax collection office, hence the name, and is house #81 in KLM’s souvenir miniature houses.

Both restaurants offer outdoor terrace seating on fine days. Also check out Grote Markt for its daily market (except Sundays and Mondays), or the large general goods market on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Nearby, just walk southwest a bit, is Vismarkt. It’s a smaller, more intimate square than Grote Markt..

Here you will find typical chain stores like Kruidvat, H&M and Albert Heijn (in the neoclassic Korenbeurs building). Don’t let those put you off from the local attraction of the fresh market stalls with fruits, vegetables, cheeses, meats and of course, fish! (Closed Sundays and Mondays.)

Alternatively, explore around the campus of the University of Groningen for some down time. Valia Papadopoulou, a former Master’s student there, tells me that De Uurwerker is a creative café-restaurant popular with students and locals alike. “It’s amazing

PHOTO: MAARTEN TAKENS

PHOTO: ROB DE VRIES

for summer and winter,” she says. “In the summer you can just sit outside in one of their big picnic tables and have a beer. They are famous for their wood oven baked pizza (which indeed is amazing).”

Address Uurwerkersplein 1.

Award-winning shopping experiences

Throughout the streets of the inner city you’ll find delightful boutique home and garden shops, ­tempting antique shops, unique clothing and accessory shops, fun children’s toy and games shops, and numerous small art galleries – all within easy »

Plan around these summer events Swingin’ Groningen 16 – 18 June 22nd edition of this jazz and soul music festival. Enjoy your choice of more than 20 bands and musicians performing on five different stages throughout the city. Performances also in local bookstores and retail shops! www.swingingroningen.nl (Dutch only) Op Roakeldais 23 – 26 June Op Roakeldais is a folkloristic dance festival. International dance companies delight from Russia to Colombia, New Zealand to Togo, Indonesia to Panama. www.oproakeldais.nl (Dutch only) DelfSail 29 June – 3 July Sixth edition of the second largest sail event in the Netherlands, welcoming over 850,000 visitors each year for a parade of foreign and Dutch Tall Ships. www.delfsail.nl/schips/

ACCESS | SUMMER 2016 | 37

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Travel | Groningen: a little of everything

walking distance of each other. In fact Folkingestraat was voted in 2014 as ‘Leukste winkelstraat van Nederland’, the nicest shopping street in the Netherlands, in the NL Streets Awards. (www.nlstreets.nl/EN/) Amongst the many intriguing storefronts on this street you won’t miss Het Binnenste Buiten, meaning ‘the inside out’, a cosy shop chock full with handmade furniture and decorative items from China, Tibet, Mongolia, Indonesia, India and other exotic lands. Looking for colour or that one item that will pop? Then amuse the senses here.

Folkingestraat 22, 050 311 2659 hetbinnenstebuiten@hotmail.com www.hetbinnenstebuiten.nl Laif & Nuver is one of my top favourite shops in the city, conveniently located at Vismarkt and a welcome original. It’s a lifestyle and household furniture and accessories shop with refreshingly creative choices and a carefully designed and warm showroom. The store is aptly named for, as co-owner Pier Tjepkema told me, laif and nuver are two Groningen words meaning sweet and beautiful, exactly what you’ll find here. They sell distinctive candleholders, unusual paperweights, colourful blankets and pillows, ­beautiful mugs and glasses, curious lamps and rugs, special frames, inspirational posters, oddly-shaped mirrors… The surprises continue as you turn each corner of the 200 m2 shop. Ask advice if you need to; staff are helpful and friendly.

Vismarkt 40, 050 850 0562, info@laifennuver.nl, www.laifennuver.nl

Facts and figures

• Population: 200,000, with the youngest average population in the country.

• Natural resource: The natural gas field in Groningen province is the largest in Europe.

• Schools: University of Groningen, founded 1614 (about 30,000 students); Hanze University of Applied Sciences, founded 1986 (about 26,000 students).

High point: Martini Tower stands 97 m/318 ft. tall.

Coming in 2017: Groninger Forum, a 10-storey building at Grote Markt. New home of the tourist office as well as a public space for exhibitions, films, talk shows, demonstrations, plus rooftop restaurant.

• •

The first place award was won by Ariola Delicatessen (not their first time winning). This small, unpretentious shop prepares authentic Italian specialties fresh from the open kitchen, and sells quality food products imported from Italy. Grab one of the small tables in the front and enjoy an espresso while watching the passersby. (Closed Sundays.)

Folkingestraat 54, 050 318 1948 »

…laif and nuver are two Groningen words meaning sweet and beautiful, exactly what you’ll find here.

PHOTOS: MANDIE VAN DER MEER

Among the top 10 ‘nicest shops’ in the national NL Streets Awards 2015, the bakery Broodje van eigen deeg on Brugstraat won the second place spot for their fresh, additive-free breads in the French tradition, and classy, cozy atmosphere. Considering they only opened in Spring 2015, it’s an impressive accomplishment. (Open daily.)

Brugstraat 11, 050 553 5593

ACCESS | SUMMER 2016 | 39

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Travel | Groningen: a little of everything

Groninger Museum and more

An exhibit of particular interest that’s on display now until the autumn season is Rodin – Genius at Work with plaster and bronze sculptures such as The Thinker and Balzac, and never-before-seen photographs by the famous French artist.

Groninger Museum is across from Central Station; a 12-minute walk from Grote Markt.

Het Groninger Museum, Museumeiland 1 050 3 666 555, info@groningermuseum.nl www.groningermuseum.nl/en While the Dutch Comics Museum (Nederlands Stripmuseum) has its nostalgic and colourful qualities – my husband appreciated a surprise visit down memory lane with Suske en Wiske and even the more contemporary Fokke & Sukke – the exhibits here are only offered in Dutch. Unless you are comfortable with the language, you may get more out of other museums, such as the GRID Graphic Museum (sorry I missed this one as it seems very hands-on and English-friendly); or University Museum Groningen on the campus; or the Northern Maritime Museum (Noordelijk Scheepvaartmuseum).

PHOTOS: ERIK EN PETRA HESMERG 2014© GRONINGER MUSEUM

Earlier this year my husband and I travelled up to Groningen specifically for the impressive and extensive David Bowie Is exhibit at the city’s largest and most attractive museum, Groninger Museum. It’s a museum that’s not to be missed, for as the museum curators boast, “it is bursting with artistic energy”.

In fact you’ll feel charged by that energy from the ­outside in. I was captured immediately by the remarkable design by chief architect Alessandro Mendini, amongst other architects and designers. The buildDid you k ing reopened in 1994 with three now..

Gronin .­ gen is separate building ‘volumes’ in the bir place th­ of trip le Oly the water of the cham m p ic pion in swimm Verbindingskanaal – in the water!

Ranom ing i ­Krom owidjo – connected through corridors, jo (age 2 5 ) .

2 making a total of 5,000 m of exhibition space like none other in the country.

There’s hardly time to appreciate all that this small, hip city has to offer with its history, culture, architecture, art, museums, eateries, bars and specialty shops. Plus memorable locals who are warm and welcoming. And I didn’t even get to mention what more there is in the beautiful surrounding province!

Groningen doesn’t disappoint. «

About the author ACCESS Magazine editor Mandie van der Meer writes You don’t know what you don’t know, a ­column for internationals living in the Netherlands. She lives in Noordwijk with her husband and her magazines.

ACCESS | SUMMER 2016 | 41

Law | Partner feature

Proof of cohabitation:

it remains difficult!

It remains a frustrating situation when you are almost positive that your ex-partner is cohabiting but you cannot actually prove it, and

tional relationship. The ex-husband is of the view that there is cohabitation following section 1:160 of the Dutch Civil Code, and that therefore his duty to pay maintenance has ended. To support his argument and to prove that the ex-wife is cohabiting, ­following the above section, the ex-husband had an investigation bureau prepare a report based on their observations of the cohabitation, or in other words, of the fact that the ex-wife and her new boyfriend are in an emotional relationship and often spend the night together. A report on cohabitation can be ­helpful but it is definitely not a simple solution and certainly not cheap.

In this recent case, the ex-wife’s new boyfriend also had separate accommodation. Once again the court made it very clear that for cohabitation as referred to in section 1:160 of the Dutch Civil Code to exist, it must be established that there is mutual care and that there is a shared household on a long-term basis. The partners must therefore provide in each other’s care.

so you must continue to make

BY SUSAN MEIJLER

maintenance payments (partner alimony). Anyone can imagine that this frustration is hard to swallow.

070 361 5048 www.gmw.nl/en

Section 1:160 of the Dutch Civil Code determines that the duty to pay maintenance ends if the ex-partner (having been married) cohabits with another person as if they are married. When reading this section, nearly everybody envisages an emotional relationship where the ex-wife lives with another man (this can of course also be the other way around or relate to same sex partners) and has an emotional relationship with that person. Legally, however, having an emotional relationship and living together, or being together often, is not really important.

A recent ruling of the Court of Appeal ArnhemLeewarden in February 2016, makes this clear once again. What is at issue? The ex-wife is in an emo-

42 | ACCESS | SUMMER 2016

A report on cohabitation can be helpful but it is not a simple solution and certainly not cheap.

This is very hard to prove. The simple fact that the new partners spend the night together, go shopping together or go on holiday is not sufficient. The request of the ex-husband to end maintenance payments was rejected by the court as it was not proven that there was a contribution to the costs of running a joint household.

Such a situation can be frustrating for anyone making maintenance payments, but according to Dutch law, the burden remains on him or her to prove cohabitation. «

Reviews

Editor’s picks

ACCESS is proud of the international authors who create works worth sharing, inspired during their time living in the Netherlands. This summer our editor recommends two very different books from two American authors. Their years observing and appreciating life here, respectively, have led to entertaining, touching books you’ll want to pick up this summer.

The Dutch and their bikes - Shirley Agudo

Hardback with dust-jacket 352 pages XPat Scriptum Publishers ISBN: 978 90 5594 899 4 www.dutchandtheirbikes.com

Shirley Agudo’s latest photographic journey through the country is an impressive hardcover book titled The Dutch and their bikes: scenes from a nation of cyclists, filled with almost 700 of Agudo’s photos documenting and celebrating this nation of bikes. Agudo has lived here for more than 15 years, keenly observing the entertainment rolling by. There are spotted bikes and spotted bikers. A Zwarte Piet on a unicycle. Riders in business suits and riders in birthday suits (yes, completely naked bikers!). Bikers transporting luggage, furniture, instruments and ladders. Bikers in the rain and on the ice.

Even if you’ve lived here for many years, you’ll appreciate the surprising variety of cyclists here, plus the quotes from cycling experts and fans of cycling. You’ll get to know the writer-photographer, too, seeing the Netherlands as she does: a country that leads handsomely by example when it comes to the bicycle lifestyle.

Old Heart - Peter Ferry

O ld Heart

Don’t let the title or cover of this novel mislead you. Author Peter Ferry’s second novel is an insightful, moving story of a widowed, retired schoolteacher on a mission to reclaim love and autonomy. The novel is told from unexpected perspectives, crafting a touching and ­layered meditation on what it means to lose, to love, to grow, to learn, to fear, to act, to age. a novel And to paint chairs pink.

Ferry, a high school English teacher from the Midwest, was a Fulbright Exchange teacher in Veldhoven in the early 90s. His main character in Old Heart, Tom Johnson, returns to Veldhoven after 60 years, to search for a Dutch woman named Sarah van Praag whom he fell in love with as a soldier in World War II. The bravery of an American coming to the Netherlands for love – at age 85 – is a journey many of Paperback | 256 P epages ter Ferry us expat and immigrant readers can embrace, but it’s Ferry’s talent for storytellUnbridled Books ing, the revealing of Tom’s personal history that will capture all audiences. Old ISBN: 978 1 60953 117 1 www.peterferrywrites.com Heart is a deftly constructed book about life’s limitless potential to surprise.

ACCESS | SUMMER 2016 | 43

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GMW Advocaten

*

British School of Amsterdam

True Colors

Global Living Magazine M

Legal matters

Big Ben Kids

Kindergarden

Utility Provider A

Bloom House of Health

Dutch News M

American International School of Rotterdam * American School of The Hague *

Expat Events A FIGT (Families in Global ­Transition) A

***

International School of The Hague **

*

City of Rijswijk

British School in the Netherlands *** Zein Childcare

Holland Expat Center South *

Check-NL A

Media Partners M

Women’s Business Initiative International M

There are many ways in which you can support the work ACCESS does: as a Partner, Associate and Advertiser. Contact our Relationship Management Team at fnd@access-nl.org for our Helping ACCESS 2016 Media Pack for opportunities.

The Real Estate Match Makers

Looking for a new home?

Let us assist you!

No more stress! We are the real estate match makers. Whether you are looking for fully furnished, unfurnished, a studio, apartment or a villa, we will find the home that matches your needs. We offer homes in all budget ranges. If we do not have the right home in our own database we can offer you the Infinitas tour. Professional advice combined with a personal & friendly service is what you can expect from us.

Our expat services ∞ Rentals ∞ Purchase ∞ Relocation ∞ Styling & Design ∞ Infinitas Tour

Professional Advice

First Class Service

Quality

No Cure No Pay

Full service in home finding!

www.infinitasrealestate.nl ∞ info@i-re.nl ∞ 070 - 711 38 11 ∞ Statenplein 2, 2582EW Den Haag

How to buy a house in the Netherlands..

Save time and trouble.

Buying a house can be a smart move for expats.

Interested in knowing more about tax benefits, mortgage types and monthly costs? We’ll be happy to help. Read more on abnamro.nl/house and schedule a free orientation meeting with one of our mortgage advisers.

At our International Client Desk we can help you in English.

Or 25 other languages. So you feel at home in the Netherlands.

Contact us any time. We’re here for you 24/7.