The Magazine Dec 2016 / Jan 2017

the

Magazine DEC 2016 / JAN 2017 ISSUE

A bi-monthly publication by the Hollandse Club

Visit us online @ www.hollandseclub.org.sg

Features Kids Section

'Tis the Season to be Giving!

Off the Beaten Track Goes Volunteering!

Christmas Colouring Contest!

Kids Fiction: A Tropical Christmas

Sports Meet some of the Club's Sports Coaches!

SILVER SPONSORS

EDITORIAL COMMITTEE Magazine Director: Marloes Schoonenberg (sales@hollandseclub.org.sg) Writers: Nina Gunasingham Claire Wintraecken Karien van Ditzhuijzen Jennifer Koné

Art & Creative Editor: Fareeza A. Rahman (news@hollandseclub.org.sg)

Proofreader: Devina Singh

Photographer: Inge Kuipers

22 Camden Park, Singapore 299814 | Tel: 6464 5225 | www.hollandseclub.org.sg Email: info@hollandseclub.org.sg The Hollandse Club Magazine is released bi-monthly and distributed free to members of the Club and throughout Singapore.

For advertising enquiries, please email news@hollandseclub.org.sg © All Rights reserved.

MICA (P) 156/04/2009.

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 3

FACILITY INFORMATION

Club Opening Hours Sunday - Thursday: 7am - 11pm Friday - Saturday: 7am - 1am General Office Hours Monday - Friday: 9am - 6pm Tel: 6464 5225 (Reception) Web: www.hollandseclub.org.sg Lost & Found Items Please contact the Reception at 6464 5225 or Housekeeping at 6461 1114

FOOD & BEVERAGE OUTLETS Terrace (Jaxs' Bistro) Daily: 8am - closing Last food order for the kitchen: 9.45pm (Mon - Thurs) | 10.15pm (Fri - Sun) Beverages are available until closing

SPORTS & RECREATION Gymnasium Daily: 7am - 10pm Library Monday - Saturday Key available at Reception Multi-Purpose Sports Court Daily: 8am - 10pm Please check availability with Reception before using Squash Courts Daily: 7am - 11pm (Court bookings are required) Please call Reception at 6464 5225 or email reception@hollandseclub.org.sg Swimming Pool Monday - Friday: 8am - 10pm Closure times for competitive swimming: Monday - Friday: 5pm - 7.30pm (Two lanes will remain open)

4 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

Tennis Courts Daily: 7am - 11pm Booking is required.

For court bookings, please call Reception on 6464 5225 or email reception@hollandseclub.org.sg Kids’ Rooms Monday - Thursday: 12pm - 8pm Friday: 12pm -10pm Saturday: 9am - 8pm Sunday & PH: 10am - 8pm For children aged 2 - 11 years The Chill Out Room Monday - Friday: 4pm - 10pm Saturday & Sunday: 10am - 10pm For children aged 11 years and above

CONTENTS

6

7

8

12

14

18

Foreword

Welcome New Members!

Recent Events Highlights

Volunteer Appreciation

Members' Benefits

Kids' Interview

20

21

22

25

30

32

Kids' Colouring Contest

Kids' Activity Corner

A Tropical Christmas

'Tis The Season To Be Giving

Off The Beaten Track Goes Volunteering

Off The Beaten Track Goes To The Track

50

51

53

54

57

58

Hollandse Club Sports Schedule

Rotterdam Classes

Sports Contact List

Meet Some Of The Club's Sports Coaches

Swimming Report

Swim Expo Asia

59

60

64

66

70

74

Artist Of The Month

Savitar Tennis

Tennis Social

Squash

Merry Christmas & A Healthy New Year!

Make Your Own Gingerbread House

76

Jaxs' Festive Menu

DID YOU KNOW? This December & January, the following valued staff members celebrate their birthdays! Happy Birthday to: • Simerjeet Kaur d/o Raspal Singh (10th Dec) • Chin Lay Hoon (21st Dec) • Tashminder Hayley Kaur d/o Baintar Singh (23rd Jan) • Jennifer Astou Koné (31st Jan)

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 5

MAIN COMMITTEE

FOREWORD

President: Marte van der Hoeven president@hollandseclub.org.sg Vice President: Cecile Sturm vicepresident@hollandseclub.org.sg First Secretary: Daniel Gelinas Second Secretary: Rein Graat Honorary Treasurer: Johan Schoenmaker Member Sports & Events: Andrew MacDonald Member Commercial Affairs: Pooja Arora

Dear Members,

Member Property & Investments: Stuart Crow

It’s that special time of the year again. The festive season is about to kick off, thus making it the perfect moment to reflect on the past year and summarize our New Year’s resolutions.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS Finance Committee Chairperson: Johan Schoenmaker Members: John Williams, Sjoerd van Miltenburg, Ken Shohtoku, Andrew Rethary Marketing & Events Committee Chairperson: Pooja Arora Members: Amcke Becker, Niek de Rooij, Karen Bart, Charlie van Eeden Magazine Committee Members: Nina Gunasingham, Karien van Ditzhuijzen, Janene Johnson, Claire Wintraecken, Inge Kuipers Tennis Committee Sheila Bouwman, Tara Hassett, Jules Perkins, Karaline Loiterton, Karen Houtman Hockey Committee Youth: Willemijn Dorrepaal & Merle Raatgerink Men: Olaf Kwakman Ladies: Willemijn Dorrepaal Squash Committee Daniel Gelinas, Colin Bullock, James Spalding, Fred Saarloos, Ross Stokes, Erik Mul Library Committee Convenor: Hian Tan Members: Nina Gunasingham, Nihilan Pillai, Yvette Filipiak

This issue of The Magazine is all about giving and celebrating. You will find some festive and healthy recipes, along with the stories from several charitable organizations in Singapore, the holiday adventures several Members had, and the exciting events and activities we have in store for you in December and January. We will also be looking back on some memorable moments at the club such as the Halloween Haunt, the successful Movie Nights Under the Stars, and of course the New Members Evenings. Finally, we will update you on the latest developments at, and around the club.

We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of our volunteers for their great effort and input. Without their support, we would not be where we are today. To express our gratitude, we organized a volunteer appreciation evening where we shared experiences and cheered to the club’s future. Don’t hesitate to have a look at the report of this wonderful evening to find out more about the diverse committees and volunteering opportunities at the Hollandse Club.

We are looking forward to the new look and feel the club will boast after the holiday season. During the holiday period when most of you will be travelling, we will refurbish several areas, such as the fencing of the Multipurpose Court and Tennis Courts, along with upgrading the Reception, washrooms and pool area.

Our resolution for 2017 is to continue creating memorable adventures for each of our Members and Guests at the Club, to further develop exciting events and sports program and to achieve the objectives we have set for our new business model.

We wish you a beautiful festive season and a prosperous and happy new year. We hope your holiday is filled with plenty of joyfulness, unique moments and happiness.

Marte van der Hoeven President

6 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

Annemiek Kuijsten General Manager

CLUB MANAGEMENT

welcome

EXTENDING A WARM

TO OUR NEW CLUB MEMBERS!

• Terence Marrinan • Hanneke Marrinan-Ten Bolscher • Asje Christiaan Tempelman • Juud Irene Sassen • Mickael Le Gargasson • Charlotte Le Gargasson • Jonathan Pentzien • Janine Pentzien • Susanne Geerdink • Rudi Geerdink • Arjen Christiaan Gaasbeek • Mechteld van Koeverden Brouwer • Jeroen Lamers • Anne Lamers - van Kessel • Anton Wifger Mat • Sanda Anna Maria Koning • John Jeremy Lawson • Morwenna Lawson • Jeroen van Erven • Soo Yuen Foo • Jane Chia • Robert Fransson • Birgitta Olson • Steve Melhuish • Liz Barker • Saif Amin • Amna Khan • Marie Raymond • Pierre Arzel • Stephanie Bradshaw • John Bradshaw • Wilhelm Verhaagen • Jenneke Akse • Pieter Idenburg • Cheryl Idenburg-Chen • Matthew Green • Julie Green • Matthew Ross • Andrea Ross • Kimberley Williams • Angus Wippell • Winston Khoon • Anupam Verma • Aparna Verma • Nardia Stanistreet • Jason Stanistreet • Tanguy Morin • Charlotte Morin • Jean Pol Legrand • Vera Legrand

• Anne Kebebtchieff • Alenxander Kebebtchieff • Gregoire Mantoux • Charlotte Mantoux • Berbrand Ludovic Richard • Natasha Line • Pascal Debets • Tammy Debets • Joseph Ziegler • Weiwei Chen • Rachel Siok Koon Chua • Colin Tham • Vijoy Varghese • Michel Booden • Tania Villamarin • Thomas Triomphe • Anne Triomphe • John Halfweeg • Esther Halfweeg • Holger Rueth • Christina Rueth • Campbell Abbey • Bianca Abbey • Natalie Kalfus • Jack Fitzgerald • Pranay Gupta • Nupur Gupta • Christopher Lok Yee Leung • Rachel Chataway • James Chataway • Briony Blohm • Alex Blohm • Sander Hubbers • Patricia Hubbers • Jorge Luque • Diana Luque • Brendan Waldron • Ruth Waldron • Donagh Hourihan • Mary Raleigh • Erik-Jan Raatgerink • Merle Raatgerink • Maarten Burgers • Roosmaryn Burgers-Spliet • Jamie Harrison • Amanda Harrison • Shelley Kang • Tan Shao Pin • Kevin Verhoeven

General Manager: Annemiek Kuijsten gm@hollandseclub.org.sg Assistant General Manager: Martijn Boersma agm@hollandseclub.org.sg Sales & Marketing Manager: Marloes Schoonenberg sales@hollandseclub.org.sg Finance Specialist: Narimah Ma’at a.r@hollandseclub.org.sg Office Manager Rozita Abu Bakar officemanager@hollandseclub.org.sg Project Manager, Events & Membership: Devina Singh events@hollandseclub.org.sg Sports & Events Executive: Abdul Hafiz sports.exec@hollandseclub.org.sg Senior Marketing Communications Executive/Designer: Fareeza A. Rahman marcom@hollandseclub.org.sg Membership Executive: Rex Gillera membership@hollandseclub.org.sg

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 7

CLUB MANAGEMENT

Recent Events Highlights Halloween Haunt

By Devina Singh

(28th Oct, 2016)

Halloween this year was a fun affair. The Club's little Members arrived dressed up as everything under the sun, from superheroes to spooked up princesses.

The evening started with the kids decorating their trick o’treating bags with bucket-loads of glitter and stickers. There was also colouring and face-painting for those who preferred something more traditional.

Group by group, the kids started heading out to go trick o’treating around the Club. There were some monsters hiding around the premises waiting to scare them. Upon finding them, they received candy.

As the kids came back from being spooked, they were brought back into the Main Hall to enjoy a Mad Scientist show by Professor CJ. There were some seriously mindboggling tricks that the Professor played on the audience, from floating ice to overflowing test tube experiments.

The night ended with a dance party in the Main Hall.

I spotted a long train of kids giggling as they held onto the shoulders in front of them. Needless to say, everyone was pretty tired when the night ended.

If you have any ideas about exciting events that can be held at the Club, please do not hesitate to contact events@hollandseclub.org.sg.

Did You Know?

Photography by Inge Kuipers

Our Halloween party was a great success, more than 120 kids participated in the trick or treat and danced like zombies in the disco!

8 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

Sinterklaas Arrival (19th Nov, 2016)

By Marloes Schoonenberg On Saturday, November 19th, Sinterklaas and his Petes arrived by boat to Marina Bay South Jetty. More than 300 children, H.E. Ambassador Mr. Jacques Werner, Principal Meino Meines and our President, Marte van der Hoeven welcomed them.

Petes arrived at the Club where the party continued.

The magician, Donovan, kicked off the party at the Club with some magic tricks. The children danced liked nobody was watching and had so much fun with the crazy Petes.

The Hollandse School’s band played many songs and the ambiance was, despite the cloudy weather, very cheerful.

After the party, everyone enjoyed the Sinterklaas buffet at the Terrace and had a chance to take some selfies with Sinterklaas.

The first thing everyone noticed was the color of the Pete’s faces. Apparently they had been eating some sweets before arriving and all their faces changed into the different colors of the rainbow.

In the upcoming weeks, the Sinterklaas events will continue at the Club with the “Leave your shoe out and movie” on the 1st and 2nd of December and the “Pepernoten baking workshop” on December 5th. There are still slots available so email Devina at events@hollandseclub.org.sg to join us!

Photography by Inge Kuipers

After a bus tour through Singapore, Sinterklaas and

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 9

CLUB MANAGEMENT

Movie Under the Stars Star Wars (22nd Oct, 2016) The Little Prince (12th Nov, 2016)

By Hafiz Wahid As usual, every month we’ll pick out a movie and screen it at our Club. There really is nothing better than enjoying a simple night with popcorn hanging out through the evening.

We have screened the Star Wars movie and The Little Prince during October and November’s sessions in our Main Hall. A large amount of adults and kids turned up for the Star Wars movie and it was fantastic. The kids were dressed up as their favourite Star Wars characters, and the evening ended with awarding a light saber to the best-dressed kid.

The Little Prince also showcased a great movie, with comfortable bean bags and a cosy atmosphere for all those who attended. Join us at our next movie nights, showcasing Finding Dory and Batman vs Superman on the 10th of December 2016 and 7th of January 2017, respectively. Block the dates and come by with your family for a chill out night!

If you have any suggestions for movies you would like to show during Movie under the Stars, please email events@hollandseclub.org.sg.

Did You Know?

We are also looking for creative writers and bloggers who would like to contribute to the magazine!

Congratulations, Maarten!

Maarten is going to Phuket with his friend, sipping cocktails in a hammock. How? The only thing he did was referring his friend to sign up for our Social Membership!

Missed your chance? Fret not! If you refer a friend before 30th November, you will be in the running to fly off to Bali!

10 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

MEMBERSHIP

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 11

MEMBERSHIP

Volunteer Appreciation

By Marte van der Hoeven In appreciation of our GREAT volunteers!

We are very grateful for your commitment to the Hollandse Club and would like to sincerely thank all of you.

Our active Members that volunteer with us have proven time and time again to be the true backbone of the Hollandse Club. It makes us proud to say that we had nearly 100 energetic volunteers who have supported us over the past year.

Additionally, there have been good results, a large amount of activities offered, and a steady increase in Memberships. We truly feel blessed to have such great volunteers around strengthening our community.

There are many sports at the Hollandse Club that keep the activity level high.For tennis, we would like to thank the former and new Committee Members along with the convenors for the ladies and men's tennis socials. You’ve done a great job initiating many events for everyone, and we wish you a great year ahead with fun tournaments, the Davis Cup, the ladders and of course the very popular WITS competition!

Squash has a small group of players whom are tremendously active in both competitions and friendly matches. They love having fun, and have had many successes amongst other Singapore leagues.

Our squash courts are always put to good use, so thanks to the welcoming Squash Committee for that!

More behind the scenes, we have important Committees that support our Club as well.

We would like to thank the Finance Committee for advising the Main Committee and coaching our financial department. Furthermore, the Maintenance Committee, consisting of loyal engineers and architects of this Club, are another great group of volunteers we would like to thank. A temporary and important Committee, the Members Loan Committee is applauded for their success in helping the Hollandse Club put a unique financial support structure in place. Thank you!

Field-hockey has about 175 children and nearly 100 adults training and competing in several leagues. A big thank you to the Committee and all volunteers for their hard work in keeping this sport alive for the many hockey enthusiasts in Singapore and turning the fields orange!

With a Club repositioning itself in the Singapore Club market, a highly-experienced Marketing and Communication Committee was installed. They helped the Hollandse Club with various strategies, thank you all for that.

12 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

MEMBERSHIP The Magazine Committee does a great job in helping to bring out wonderful bi-monthly issues.

Whether the future holds an online or offline magazine, for now, we are very proud of our colorful Magazine as it stands today. Thank you!

the past year. Also, I would like to thank our management team that is very passionate about our Club and put many extra hours in that are highly appreciated.

On behalf of the Main Committee, I thus quote William Shakespeare who once wrote: "I

can no answer make, but thanks and thanks And thanks and every thanks".

Marte van der Hoeven President

Volunteer Appreciation Evening (10th Nov, 2016) Our F&B Committee was ceased after many years of involvement. Their loyalty and passion showed in the way they professionally supported and guided the outsourcing process of the restaurant.

We would also like to thank the many volunteers initiating and helping at events, or the Members providing professional advice in for example the field of Legal, IT, HR, hospitality and finance. You have helped breathe life in our Club. Thank you all so much!

A special thank you in this respect for the Members Ambassador group who has been helping the Membership and sales department in following up with trial Members and spreading the word about our Club across Singapore.

Finally, I’d like to thank my fellow Main Committee Members, for the conviction, leadership and dedication as shown to our Members and staff over WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 13

MEMBERSHIP

We have partnered up with a sele some of the best dea

*Don’t forget to take your Members

14 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

MEMBERSHIP

ection of merchants to bring you als beyond the Club!

ship card to enjoy these promotions

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 15

'Tis the season

16 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

to celebrate!

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 17

Of Christmas Wishes &

Freddie Taylor (9), Amelia Taylor (6) & Nelly Sayer (9) Hello, kids! So tell me - what do you want for Christmas?

Freddie: Haha! I’m not sure yet… I want so many things!

Amelia: I want a pet dog.

Nelly: And I want a cat.

Wow, that’s really cool! But what if you, Amelia, you take your dog to Nelly’s place? Do you think dogs and cats can get along?

Amelia: Haha no! Because I’ll keep him on a leash!

Very clever! How about you Freddie; have you thought about what you want this year?

Freddie: I think I’ll ask Santa for a Lego Mindstorm EV3!

What is a Lego Mindstorm EV3?

Freddie: It’s like a robot with many features that you can control with a remote control.

It sounds really cool! But have you kids been good this year to deserve all these presents from Santa?

All: Yes!!

Excellent! You can be proud of yourselves. Do you have any new year's resolutions?

Nelly: I want to become better at football.

Amelia: I want to become better at swimming.

Freddie: Me too, I want to swim faster!

18 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

Hans Heilig (5) & Kimani (6) Hi boys! Tell me, what did you ask Santa to get you for Christmas?

Hans: Hmm… I haven’t really asked for anything yet!

Kimani: I know what I want for Christmas! I want Playmobils, I love them!

Oh great! Which theme did you choose? The pirates? The knights?

Kimani: No! I chose football, that’s the best one!

Hans: Oh, I know what I want now, I want Lego! I think it’s better!

I'll let you debate, boys! However, let me ask you the most important question - have you been good this year?

Hans: Yes! Kimani: I don’t know… I think so.

Do you have any good resolutions for the next year?

Kimani: Maybe I’ll listen to Dad and Mum a bit more!

Awesome! With such a promise, I’m sure Santa will bring you your gifts. Thank you Kimani and Hans!

New Year's Resolutions

By Jennifer Koné

Minnie Hockley (7), Willa Hockley (5), Mia Davies (7) & Grace Mithen (7)

Loïc Arzel (5) & Erwan Arzel (6) Hello, boys! Have you been good this year?

Loïc: Yessssss!

Erwan: Me too!

Great, so you deserve awesome gifts for Christmas? Which presents did you choose?

Erwan: I want a pokeball!

Oh, do you like Pokemon Go? Erwan: Actually, I’ve never played it but I want a pokeball… Oh no wait, I’ve got a better idea! I want a skateboard! I’m sure I can skate very well!

Don’t forget your helmet and knee pads! What about you, Loïc. What do you want Santa to bring you this Christmas?

Loïc: I want a mobile phone, like yours! But with games… And a skateboard too, to play with my brother.

Erwan: I also want a telescope, so I can look at the stars.

That’s amazing! So, do you have good resolution for the upcoming year?

Erwan: No! Loïc: I’m gonna listen to mummy, like a big boy!

She will be happy to hear that, no doubt! Thank you boys!

Hello, girls! What would you like for Christmas?

Minnie: I’ll be getting a big roller coaster set.

Mia: I know what I am going to get. It’s a Lego hotel.

It has an elevator where you can fit 4 or 5 five people, including vehicles.

Grace: I'm getting something similar!

Willa: I’m getting a toy hamster with a cage and a little wheel on it!

Those gifts seem really cool! Don’t you want a real pet?

Willa: No, I don’t! Haha!

Mia: I had one before and I love her!

Willa: I do, but I can't. We’re not allowed to have one because we travel a lot and we aren't able to take it with us. I think it’s better not to have one.

Have you all been good girls this year?

All: Yes! Mia: I must be a good girl because my mum is quite strict with me. Every time I do something wrong or play roughly, she looks at me disapprovingly. I will even get punished for misbehaving!

Do you girls have any resolutions for next year?

Mia: I want to be better at running!

Minnie: I want to be better at swimming. I came first at my school!

Willa: Me too, I came first at the last race.

Grace: I want to be better at painting.

Thank you girls! I wish you a Merry Christmas!

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 19

Christmas Colouring Contest

Hey kids!

Join our Christmas Colouring Contest and win one of many cool prizes! Submit your best colouring at the Reception by 10th January.

Winners will be featured in the Feb 2017/Mar 2017 issue. Ready, steady, go!

Full Name:_____________________________ Membership No.:__________________ Age:____________ HP:___________________ Email:_____________________________ *Extra copies of this colouring page are available at the Reception & the Kids' Room.

20 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

KIDS’ ACTIVITY CORNER

COLOURING CONTEST WINNERS!

Olivier van Paradiis Age 6

Keanu Mathieson Age 11

Ng Rei Xin Age 8

Congratulations to the winners of the Halloween Colouring Contest!

Winners will be notified by email. Keep up the good work, kids!

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 21

A Tropical Christmas

By Karien van Ditzhuijzen

Holly hates that they had to move to Singapore. It’s all dad’s fault, dad with his stupid job.

cocoa, the fuzzy feelings, the loved ones, they will come too.

One night in bed, not long after the move, Holly cries quietly in her bed. Mother comes in, and sits down beside her.

One day, after school, she runs into the room and almost bumps into a large, weird plant. It looks a little bit like…

But no. It can’t be, can it?

‘What’s the matter, honey?’

Holly sniffs, and tries to swallow the tears. ‘In Singapore it never snows. So there won’t be a Christmas this year.’

Christmas is Holly’s favourite time of the year. She loves the long, dark evenings, lighted up by a tree full of candles. She loves the cold, that makes her cheeks glow red, and the warmth that she feels when she steps back into the house. Last year, she had sledged all of Christmas morning with her grandfather and cousins. Afterwards, they sat round the tree, singing, drinking hot cocoa. A snowman peeped in through the window. Just thinking about it makes her feel warm and happy.

Would they even have Christmas trees here?

‘This year, we’ll get a palm tree,’ dad joked. Holly did not laugh. Christmas is no joke to her. Without a chimney, Santa could not bring presents. He would never fit through the air conditioner vent with his big belly. Holly sobs again.

‘But sweetie, we can have Christmas without snow and cold. We’ll make it really special. We’ll have a tropical Christmas,’ mother says.

Holly shakes her head sadly.

Mum continues, ‘Christmas is about more than snow, isn’t it? It is about getting together with yummy food.

And peace on earth. Back home we did not always have snow. Sometimes it rained, remember? And we’ll get a tree, with lights and tinsel. Trust me, it will be great.’

‘A palm tree is not a Christmas tree,’ Holly grunts.

She looks at mum angrily.

‘And who can we get together with? We don’t know anyone here.’

Mum sighs. She gives Holly a big cuddle.

Holly falls asleep that night dreaming of reindeer, and the jingling of bells. She wakes up with that tingle in her tummy she always gets when Christmas is near. She writes a very short letter to Santa this year.

‘Please Santa, can I have some snow?

You have more than enough in the North Pole.

I don’t need anything else.’

Holly thinks that with the snow, the singing, the hot 22 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

Holly runs to the kitchen, and yells at her mother.

‘Please tell me that is not the Christmas tree!’

Mother’s face turns purple. ‘Sorry sweetie. I went to five garden centres today, all over the island. The spruces were sold out. It seems you need to order them months ahead. This was the best I could do.

It was this tropical pine or a palm tree. Once we decorate it, it will look just like a real Christmas tree, I promise.’

Holly feels her already hot face turn hotter. ‘That is not a Christmas tree,’ she shouts. ‘I hate it. I hate you.

I hate Singapore!’

Holly refuses to help, and mother decorates the tree together with dad.

She hears them whispering. ‘How could I know the spruces would sell out so fast? They cost a fortune too, like everything here. This one is in a pot. It will last for years.’

Now, Holly feels even worse. The stupid tree will curse them for years to come.

Christmas comes closer, and Holly gets more worried. One night, she sees a button that looks just like a snowflake on the air conditioning remote. She pushes it, again and again, and sets the temperature as low as possible. She lies down on her bed in her woolly Christmas jumper, reading her favourite Christmas book.

Holly’s mother comes in and shivers. She holds out a piece of paper.

‘I have a surprise for you. We are going to see snow tomorrow!’

Holly’s heart makes a little cartwheel. Snow? In Singapore? Did Santa get her letter? The flyer promises a Christmas Wonderland in the park, with a snowstorm and snow fountains. The tingling feeling slowly coes back in Holly’s tummy. She cuddles under the covers, and dreams of snow.

The next day, they reach the park when it is almost dark. There is a huge Christmas tree in the middle of the field. Holly touches the needles. Plastic. But still, Holly starts feeling a bit Christmassy. Machines sit in a circle around the tree. Holly looks at them curiously.

Will they make the snow?

Christmas songs ring around, and children flock to the machines. Many wear bathing suits. Bathing suits in the snow? Won’t they get cold? Suddenly, the machines start to hum. Fans turn, and white flakes swirl up in the air, around the plastic Christmas tree, and then drop down. Everything gets covered in a layer of white. The children jump, catching as much as they can. Holly too jumps, and catches a flake in her hand. As she holds it in front of her face, she senses it is not cold. It is not snow.

Before she can think about it, the machines hum again, and spit out thick layers of white, on the floor this time. She looks over her shoulder to her mother.

‘It’s foam,’ she mouths.

Her mother nods encouragingly.

The children dive into the bubbles, they pile it on their heads, and throw it at their friends. Holly looks at the foam, unsure about what to do. Suddenly she feels a cold blob land on her head.

‘Hi Holly,’ a girl giggles.

Holly turns around. ‘Lizzy!’

Lizzy lives in the same condo as Holly. Holly likes Lizzy, and would like to be her friend. Holly grins, and rubs a pile of foam all over Lizzy’s black hair.

The girls frolic, roll, and dance in the foam snow.

They make beards and weird hairdos of froth. Holly forgets that it is not real snow, because she is having the best time. Ever.

During the bus ride home Holly shivers with her wet clothes under the air-conditioning.

‘I’m cold,’ she says.

Her mother looks at her beaming.

‘I know the perfect solution for that.’

When they get home, they sit around the tree, Holly and Lizzy’s families together. They have a good laugh about the funny Christmas tree. Then, they listen to Christmas songs, and sip on their hot milo. Holly smiles. Christmas in the tropics certainly is different.

But friends can make it a lot of fun.

Did You Know?

We have reached 710 memberships and almost reached our end of year goal!

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 23

FEATURES

24 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

FEATURES

'Tis the Season to be Giving

By Nina Gunasingham With the season of giving upon us it is a good time to consider 'giving back' to the less fortunate via charities either in terms of donations or by volunteering your time and effort. There are many, many worthwhile charities out there; here are just a few examples of those operating within Singapore.

Association Française de Singapore (AFS) 22 Camden Park, S299814 https://afsingapour.com Jennifer Koné interviewed Alexia, who helps to coordinate the AFS volunteer corps.

My name is Alexia Allonsius, I’m French and I’ve been living in Singapore for 3 years and I have three kids. I joined the Hospital Volunteer Program of the French Association of Singapore two years ago and I’ve been working in tandem with Anette Horn since April. We’re in charge of the organisation of our 47 volunteers’ work: we create and manage the schedule. We all work together and the group dynamics are a really important aspect in the association. We all have different skills, speak different languages; we are complementary and that is our strength.

We are called the dames chariot (trolley dollies) because our role is to collect magazines in as many languages and on as many different themes as possible which we offer to the patients of more than twelve departments of Mount Elizabeth Hospital every day. We usually take them on a trolley, which is why we got this nickname, and chat with the patients if they want to. We visit around twenty to forty patients a day. Since Singapore is a medical hub we have patients from all over the world who could have been repatriated in an emergency from a country nearby. We are just here to be sure they are not facing that moment alone and, if necessary, we assist them in administrative or logistic tasks.

Every volunteer usually visits the hospital twice a month. We also work with the ladies from the American Women's Association of Singapore; we visit every day for the first two weeks of the month and they visit the patients during the last two weeks.

We have common premises for the magazines and we do the same work. But, actually, we hardly ever see each other. It has been working very well for more than 25 years. Let’s hope it will go on this way

for a long time!

Volunteering with sick people is good, if you have time to offer them. I would just say: if you do it, don’t expect anything in return, and you will see that you can have really enriching meetings.

AWWA 9 Lorong Napiri, S547531 https://www.awwa.org.sg Originally known as the Asian Women's Welfare Association, AWWA provides education for children and young people with special needs and helps people with disabilities live more independent lives.

They have a variety of fundraising and volunteer opportunities for individuals over 16 years old and for companies.

Expats Making a Difference in Singapore https://www.facebook.com/groups/1672420409684335/?fref=ts

Jennifer Koné interviewed Crista Sprengers, who volunteers with the charity.

My name is Crista Sprengers. We moved to Singapore in 2011 from the Netherlands with our two kids; Liv is 6 and Melle is turning 3 very soon.

I run two businesses, Baby Signs with Crista (where I teach infant sign language to parents of 6-18 month old babies) and Ever Summer Boutique (where I custom make fabric buntings, storage baskets, cushion covers and other items).

There are many great charities out there raising funds for causes outside Singapore. Looking at Singapore (especially when you're new to the city) with its shiny buildings, clean streets and efficient everything, it seems people here all live a privileged life. However, there are many people in Singapore who could really use our help. After our summer break this year I contacted Yen Siow, who runs volunteer projects through the Facebook page 'Expats Making a Difference in Singapore'. I've been involved with a few of these projects and am now also an administrator for the page. I'm currently in charge of decorations for an upcoming Christmas party at a crisis shelter for eighty to a hundred women and children.

'Expats Making a Difference in Singapore' is very hands on and practical. Projects are posted on our WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 25

FEATURES Facebook page where people can donate goods or volunteer their time on an ad-hoc basis. Wherever possible we try to find projects where kids can help out too, so you can get involved as a family. Come and check us out on Facebook!

It feels good to give back to the less privileged in our community; women and children coming from an abusive background, struggling to make ends meet, often not being able to support themselves and not having anyone to fall back on. Especially with Christmas around the corner, we try to bring some light into their lives. Some of the things we are doing this festive season: • giving out one hundred and fifty Christmas food and toiletry boxes • organising three Christmas parties for the residents in different shelters • sponsoring a Christmas wish list for an abused teens centre • hosting three workshops to empower women escaping domestic violence to build sustainable businesses • providing MRT and NTUC vouchers as Christmas presents to mothers Recently three sisters were reunited at the teen shelter after having lived in separate shelters for years. They were so happy to finally be together again but mentioned during a session that they'd never really gone on an outing together. Asked what they'd enjoy doing, one of the sisters said she'd love to go to Universal Studios. As a surprise, a question was posted on Facebook to see if we could get enough funds to send them there. Within a day, we raised enough to get them each a one-year pass, including express lane, and money to spare for lunch and a souvenir!

What we are currently looking for is an organisation willing to sponsor or help raise funds for a playground worth $15,000 for the many children living in these shelters. There is no money for extra curricular activities so these kids tend to spend their afternoons at the shelter. A playground would give them a safe place to go to where they could spend time with their friends. If your company can help out, please get in touch!

The Netherlands Charity Association (NCA) 22 Camden Park, S299814 http://www.nca.org.sg/about-nca

26 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

Singapore seems to be a city where everything is golden and everybody lives well, but this is not the case for many people. There are a lot of Singaporean associations that help those people. Our role is to bridge the gap between Singaporean charities and the expat community by raising money for the local charities who can do a better job than we could.

The NCA helps five charities: • The Breadline Group - helps more than 200 under-privileged families and elderly people in need by visiting them and giving them food supplies and cash.

• HOME (Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics) - helps domestic workers and foreign workers who have been abused. HOME helps them to get out of the situation and find legal help.

• The Good Shepherd supports Singaporean women and teenagers who have been abused.

Despite the global impression of safety in Singapore, people should be aware that domestic violence happens everywhere.

• Singapore Leprosy Relief Association takes care of ex-leprosy sufferers who have been rejected by their families because of their disease. We visit them once a month to play bingo. We really love going there because they are so joyful.

• Project Pari, which we started supporting this year. They ask schools to nominate girls from underprivileged backgrounds who perform well at school and give them a $50 a month allowance which they can spend as they want. Even though education is free in Singapore, uniforms and books can be very expensive for those families. With this extra allowance those girls can be like any other kid at school and also have access to courses which give them the tools to have a good start in life.

The NCA sells Singapore Memories greetings cards and Christmas cards

games,

Jennifer Koné interviewed two NCA members: I am Sheila Bouwman, I am the Vice-President of NCA and I’ve been living in Singapore for a bit more than two years. I’m a HR professional, but also trainer and coach and what I like is challenging and inspiring people to improve themselves and give their best, personally and professionally. After learning about the hidden poverty, I decided to join NCA to raise awareness and make the Association grow to help the less fortunate in Singapore. Because giving really makes a difference in people’s lives.

My name is Pleun, from Holland. I came to Singapore three years ago and started working for NCA almost immediately. I started as the webmaster to change

FEATURES and update the website and Facebook page.

We raise money from the sale of NCA merchandise and we also organise fundraising events like Christmas Charity Fair and Garage Sale. People can support by buying our merchandise, buying tickets for lucky draws or for sponsored Black & White and Chinatown tours. Donating good quality items for the Garage Sale is always great and, of course,volunteering for bingo, dance classes and so on. You can become an NCA member for $75 per year.

We also have an online charity shop where people can donate to help specific people in need; they can “feed hungry families for a week” for $75 or “give a child hope and happiness” for $45, for example.

It is an easy way to donate and people know exactly where their money goes. On 16th February next year we will be organising an Awareness Evening with several speakers, at the Hollandse Club, about poverty.

Our volunteers are a very important part of the Association and we are glad to have them by our side. We welcome everyone; no need to be Dutch or speak Dutch to join the Association. If you have a couple of hours or days during the week and you would like to do something that helps people around you, do not hesitate to let us know and join us! We would be very happy to see you helping at fairs, organising an event, joining the NCA board or helping the local charities directly. If you are a teacher, you could teach English in shelters. There is always something to do, always a way to help people, no matter where you come from, no matter your background. And it is also an opportunity to meet people from other worlds, to grow, learn and create bonds instead of staying in the “Singaporean Bubble” where everything seems perfect.

The happiest people are not those who are getting more but those giving more.

HOME (Humanitarian Organisation for Migration Economics) 304 Orchard Road, #06-22 Lucky Plaza, S238863 www.home.org.sg Jennifer Koné interviewed Karien van Ditzhuijzen who volunteers with HOME: I'm Dutch by nationally, but as an expat child grew up all over the world. I moved to Singapore in 2012 with my husband and three young children. Growing up the Middle East and Malaysia we always had

domestic workers in the house. At the time I never wondered why they left their own families and crossed a sea to look after us. When I got older this type of migration intrigued me, especially after I hired my own domestic worker who has become an important part of our lives. As a writer I wanted to find out more about these women. This led me to finding out about HOME.

The Humanitarian Organisation for Migrant Economics (HOME) was founded in 2004 by Singaporean Bridget Tan, initially to support domestic workers. Now we have several help desks in town assisting about 5,000 migrant workers per year. These workers range from human trafficking victims to construction workers. We aim to empower, provide justice and well-being for all victims. We offer legal support, direct assistance, vocational education, health education and dental services amongst other things. We also raise awareness on migrant and human trafficking issues through social media and campaigning. Do find us on Facebook if you are interested in hearing about our ideas.

HOME also runs a shelter for runaway domestic workers while the police or MOM (Ministry of Manpower) investigates their case. These cases range from physical and sexual abuse to non payment of their salary, illegal deployment and general ill-treatment. Under general ill-treatment we count things like verbal abuse, malnourishment, isolation, lack of privacy and not being allowed out of the house.

Over the years I have fulfilled many roles at HOME. I started out as a help desk assistant, organised events and later started teaching empowerment classes WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 27

FEATURES and creative writing at a HOME shelter.

I set up many projects at the shelter and for a while even managed the whole place. When that became a bit too much to handle I stepped down from the day to day management of the shelter and now I am in charge of all the volunteer projects. Examples include our team of psychologists and counsellors, the medical team, and teachers. We also run a sewing project at the shelter; you may have seen the colourful bunting for sale at one of the fairs or at the Reception. Recently we started a new project where volunteers help residents in finding new jobs.

Apart from my activities at the shelter I write articles for the HOME website and I have founded the 'MyVoice' blog at www.myvoiceathome.org which is a website that gives a platform to migrant workers to share their stories. Together with my editor Juliet - a domestic worker herself - I manage the site and I tutor domestic workers to improve their writing.

Raising funds to support our work is always a big challenge for HOME. We do not receive any government funding, so are dependent on private donors and grants. Direct donations are possible via our website and we are always looking for volunteers.

My favourite contribution is teaching the empowerment class, which we call the 'Dream Class'.

We spend two hours with women dreaming about their future and encouraging them to forget their problems. We also touch on serious matters like 28 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

entrepreneurship and financial literacy, but mostly it is just a lot of fun. I see them come in looking shy and sad and we usually finish with laughing and hugging.

I have also done these workshops in Europe and it is interesting to note how much more family oriented and how much less materialistic the women in HOME shelter are. The sacrifice migrant domestic workers make for their families never ceases to amaze me.

I often come away from these classes feeling I have learnt as much from them as they did from me.

Through HOME I made many friends outside of the usual expat wives scene. I met strong women who don't give up on life just because it is hard and who are a true inspiration to me. Sometimes people ask me whether it is a depressing place to work, hearing about all the horrible things these women have encountered all the time. But, for me, it actually gives me energy knowing that I have been able to help them or give them hope, even if it is just a little bit.

We are always looking for new volunteers. Do please email us at volunteer@home.org.sg for more information. We hold regular volunteer orientation sessions with more information, details and dates of which can be found on our website.

Riding for the Disabled, Singapore (RDA) 5 Jalan Mashhor, S299174 http://rdasingapore.org Riding for the Disabled is a worldwide organisation which provides horse riding therapy for mentally and/ or physically disabled children and adults. The horses provide a tool for physical therapy and cognitive improvement in a way that is fun. RDA Singapore was established in 1982 and provides free sessions to both schools and individuals. They accept volunteers from the age of 16 years.

Volunteers can be • side walkers, walking by the side of a horse and rider to ensure safety and security and to guide them in games which are designed to stretch the riders' physical and mental capabilities; • leaders, who tack and untack the horses, warm them up and lead them in the ring; • assistant instructors (AIs), who design the games, oversee sessions and help the main instructor; • coordinators, who plan the sessions, put together the teams, make sure there are enough side walkers, leaders and AIs to cover the sessions and keep notes on the variations of gear the riders use; • volunteers can also do stable work.

It takes quite a team to run each session!

FEATURES From personal experience I can tell you that it is rewarding; though progress can occasionally be frustratingly slow, it is amazing to look back at a rider's first session and see how far they have come by even half way through a term.

RDA is also open to donations and to sponsorship of their horses. It takes $12,000 for the care and maintenance of each horse for a year - but donations of any amount are welcome (donations of $10 and upwards are tax deductible).

RDA Christmas cards are on sale in the Hollandse Club Reception and in the Library.

Willing Hearts Soup Kitchen: 11 Jalan Ubi Blk 6, #01-51 Kembangan – Chai Chee Community Hub S409074 http://www.willinghearts.org.sg Willing Hearts provides about 5,000 meals to over 40 locations around Singapore every day; they also provide some medical, legal and tuition aid to those in need. Willing Hearts is run almost entirely by volunteers. You can volunteer to help prepare meals, pack lunch boxes or clean up. You can also volunteer as a family unit, including your young children. Please have a look at Claire Wintraecken's article on page 30.

SOSD (Save Our Street Dogs) 22 Pasir Ris Farmway 2, Swift Singapore, Block C, Unit 13/14, S519325 http://sosd.org.sg SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Singapore) 50 Sungei Tengah Road, S699012 http://www.spca.org.sg I hope, during this season of celebration and beyond, that you are inspired to help those in need.

However you celebrate, I wish you all the best for the season and a joyous and healthful New Year!

Did You Know?

You can gift a Christmas present this year to the underprivileged children in Singapore? See page 24 for more info!

Advertisement

Animal Welfare Charities There are also many charities which focus on animals, which would appreciate support in the form of financial donations, donations of food or your time.

You could also consider adopting, fostering or sponsoring animals.

Some examples are: ACRES (Animal Concerns Research and Education Society) ACRES Wildlife Rescue Centre (AWRC) 91 Jalan Lekar, S698917 http://acres.org.sg Animal Lovers League 61 Pasir Ris Farmway 3, S518232 http://www.animalloversleague.com

Presents

DUTCH

NEW YEAR'S DIVE Saturday 14th of January 2017 3pm till late, official dive @3:30pm Location: Sandbank 920 East Coast Parkway, #01-28/32 Parkland Green Singapore 449875

More info See Dutch Drinks Singapore on Facebook or our LinkedIn group for more info and the monthly editions in 2017.

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 29

FEATURES

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK GOES VOLUNTEERING

By Claire Wintraecken On a rainy Tuesday morning, I went to Geylang East. My 12-year-old son and I were introduced to a group of fellow volunteers. We had signed up to help in the Soup Kitchen. The Soup Kitchen was established in Singapore in 2003 by Tony and Mary Tan. The Tans started collecting and thereafter distributing unsold bread and buns from a bakery.

basis, want to donate money or perhaps are just interested in one time experience, volunteering at the Soup Kitchen is the perfect opportunity to give back (and get back so much more too). There is no need to sign in; you can simply walk in. Willing Hearts has an easy online system where you can sign in, which day, morning, afternoon you would like to help. Just go to their website www.willinghearts. org.sg and check it out. Doing good is feeling good and is just one click away.

Nowadays, the Soup Kitchen is mainly run by volunteers and distributes about 5,000 daily meals to over 40 locations through Singapore. The Soup Kitchen is operated by Willing Hearts.

2017 will be all about giving. Volunteering our time whilst leaving our smart phones behind, to meet real people. Whether it is driving the disabled, being a soccer coach, cooking in the soup kitchen or working as a librarian in the Hollandse Club, believe me, volunteering is fun and rewarding. You will learn new things, get a different experience and you may even stumble across a new friend!

Most people recognize the warmth felt from helping out, through either donating clothes, toys for the needy, canned items, or donating money to a good cause online. My desire to give (a tiny bit) back to the community was aimed at showing my son another world away from his comfy life in Singapore.

Advertisement

In three hours, I felt like a contestant on Master chef. I had fried over 250 kg chicken nuggets for the elderly, the disabled, some low-income families, children from single parent families and migrant workers in Singapore. By the time the last chicken nuggets sizzled in the oil, I had reached the so called “helper’s high”. This is a powerful feeling you experience when directly helping others, coined by Allan Luks.

This season, gift a home.

My partner in crime was helping out with the distribution of the food. Although he was a bit reluctant in the beginning, he quickly began to take his job very seriously and finally completed it with a big smile. The crowd of volunteers was rather diverse. From local men in their 60s to students completing community-service, and corporate individuals, the dynamic worked well. We all came together to help cook and pack the thousands of packet food for the less fortunate.

As we all need food on a daily basis, the Soup Kitchen is open and busy all year round. Their philosophy is simple – Just come with a warm smile, two helping hands, an open and willing heart, and one simple question “ How can I be of help today?”

Whether you are looking to volunteer on a regular 30 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

WeatherHYDE is a reversible all season tent designed to protect homeless families from extreme weather.

Gift a weatherHYDE at www.billionbricks.org/shop

weather a life-saving shelter by

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK GOES TO THE TRACK

By Nina Gunasingham

Thomson ('Murder') Mile With September being F1 season and the Singapore (formerly Malaysian) Grand Prix track being five minutes down the road from us, we decided to tackle it ourselves. Oh - you are thinking the glitzy night race around the Padang and the Esplanade?

No, I am talking about the gritty Formula Libre version that existed at the time Singapore was going through the throes of burgeoning nationhood (hence the name change), which eventually claimed eleven lives. Though we would not have qualified as entrants, Formula Libre being anything with four wheels and an engine, whereas we decided on two wheels and pedal power.

'Murder Mile' to Circus Hairpin The route that the track took still exists; you may know part of it. If you are one of those of the groups of mad cyclists we see who ride around Singapore on weekends. The Thomson mile, affectionately known as the 'Murder Mile' for looking deceptively easy, starts from about where the present day SLE exits onto Upper Thomson Road and heads south to turn at what used to be Sembawang Hills Circus and is now a traffic light junction with Yio Chu Kang Road - and where you can find the famous roti prata stall at the line of shops there. About a third of the way along the 'Mile' was the start/ finish line.

Upper Thomson is now a dual carriageway through the reservoir catchment area, but in the days of the Grand Prix used to be a single track in either direction (with bus stops along the way). At the Circus Hairpin, the race track turns and dives deeper into the jungle - a twisty section that used to be known as Snakes, but which our family calls 'the Monkey Road'.

'The Monkey Road'/ Snakes There are two points of entry onto our 'Monkey Road'.

The first is just before the junction of Ang Mo Kio Avenue 1, heading north on Upper Thomson, and this section winds between Lower Pierce Reservoir Park

on one side and houses on the other. While pretty, you do not always get to see monkeys on that route.

The second entry point is from the Yio Chu Kang/ Circus junction and from here you are guaranteed sight of at least two families of monkeys at some point.

Sometimes we drive along that route on the way home as a breather from the rest of built-up Singapore and to see the monkeys in their natural habitat rather than in a zoo. We love seeing the mamas with their tiny babies, the mischievous older siblings and the proud papas.

Though we stop and look, my children have learned that we never feed wild animals, for their safety and ours. The monkeys do not need to learn to depend on humans for food that is not natural to their diet, and we do not need them chasing us or ending up under our tyres.

Devils Bend, Long Loop, and So Home Then comes a hairpin bend that used to be known as 'Devil's Bend', which currently holds the gated entrance to the Upper Pierce Reservoir Park, before the track starts a on a slight incline downwards to where it does a more gentle volte-face through the Long Loop and thence a steeper slope turning at Peak Bend down to the Range Hairpin. This was where the paddock and the pits were located, and you can still see aborted driveways off the main road. Today, you have to turn left onto the dual carriageway at this point, but this was where the race track turned right onto the Thomson Mile again.

I have to confess that our first Grand Prix attempt was a bit of a bust. We waited until the cool of the evening to set off but suffered an early casualty with an absolutely flat tyre on one cycle. We finally set out, one rider down, and eventually only rode the Thomson Mile. What is only a couple of minutes in a car is a lot harder on a bike; you don't even notice the undulations when driving, which morph into steep hills when you have not cycled in a while! But the 'Monkey Road' undergoes a transformation at dusk, turning into the 'Wild Boar Road', and I really didn't fancy my family meeting a wild boar family while we cycled through the jungle. Of course, when we drive through in a car, wild boars are a lot shyer than monkeys and a sighting is not always guaranteed, but I preferred not to risk it.

We will give it another go another time!

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 31

FEATURES

Your

? e r e h d e c n event annou

Be an initiator!

Organise an event at the Hollandse Club!

Please email events@hollandseclub.org.sg for more information

FEATURES

angbao

Advertisement

Dentists

FAMILY AND GENERAL DENTISTRY Specialists

Dr Gareth Pearson MSc BDS - UK

Dr Edwin Heng

Dr Andrew Lui

Specialist in Periodontics BDS MSD Oral Biology - Boston Cert in Periodontology - Boston

BDS - Melbourne

FAMS - Singapore

Dr Linda Yen

BDS (Hons) - Sydney FRACDS

W e b s i t e :

Dr Sun Din Loo

Dr Damini Chawla

Specialist in Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery MDS (OMFS) - Hong Kong ; BDS (NUS) FAMS - Singapore

BDSc (Hons) - Western Australia

w w w . d e n t a l e s s e n c e . c o m . s g

127 Tanglin Road, Tudor Court Shopping Gallery, Singapore 247922 583 Orchard Road, #02-31, Forum The Shopping Mall, Singapore 238884

6733 9433 6733 2234

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 33

DAR N E L CA in the issed ry!

a m Janu o be not t ember & egister s t n Eve r to r f Dec t! ths o remembe ointmen mon p o p d a s i e Pleas o avoid d t early

1-23 1 1-2

DECEMBER

The Giving Tree

Lobby

New Members Evening

Thurs | 7pm - 8.30pm Outdoor Lounge Free Admission Sinterklaas Leave Your Shoe Out

1st Dec | Leave Your Shoe Out (Drop it off between 8am - 5pm) 2nd Dec | Sinterklaas Movie & Collect Your Shoe | 4pm - 6pm ChillOut Room | (Members only)

2

Pepernoten Tournament

Fri | 4pm - 6.30pm | 4 - 10 yrs Red/Orange/Green Stage 6.30pm - 9.30pm | 10+ yrs Yellow Stage

34 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

5 10 16 31

Pepernoten Baking

Mon | 4pm - 6pm (M) $10 (Members only) Indoor Lounge Movie Under the Stars: Finding Dory

Sat | 6pm - 7.30pm (M) Free | (NM) $10 ChillOut Room Aquaducks Present: The Christmas Pool Party

Fri | 5.15pm - 7.15pm FREE (Members only) New Year's River Cruise

Sat | 10.30pm - 12.30am Hollandse Club | Clarke Quay Jetty River Cruise tickets: $70

JANUARY

at a glance...

3-5 14 15

Tennis Camp

Tue, Wed, Thurs | Tennis Courts 9am - 12pm, 1pm - 3pm

Movie Under the Stars: Batman vs Superman

Sat | 7pm - 9.30pm (M) Free | (NM) $10 Main Hall Welcome Back Drinks & Party: Bring Your Own Float!

Sun | 2pm - 5pm (M) FREE | (NM) $10 Poolside/Terrace

19 22 29

New Members Evening

Thurs | 7pm - 8.30pm Outdoor Lounge Free Admission

Scuba Try Dives

Sun | 1pm onwards ($42(Members only) Pool

Bubbles Show

Sun | 3pm - 4pm (M) $15 | (NM)$25 Indoor Lounge

*LIVE Music at Terrace 5pm -7pm

*Events Cancellation Policy: For fee-based events, any cancellation (and refund) will be accepted up to maximum 48 hours in advance of the event.

If the cancellation request is received after the deadline, we cannot issue a refund and your account will be charged.

In case of 'no-show', paymet will not be refunded WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 35

UPCOMING SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS

36 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

UPCOMING SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 37

UPCOMING SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS

Pepernoten Baking Mon 5th Dec | 4pm - 6pm | Indoor Lounge $10 (Members Only)

Hey ki

ds!

Come

and ba

pepern

our ch

to be s

ke som

oten w

ef! It’s

o much

Please RSVP to events@hollandseclub.org.sg by Fri, 2nd Dec!

38 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

ith

going fun!

e

UPCOMING SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS

Movie Under the Stars Sat 10th Dec Chillout Room | 6pm (M) Free | (NM) $10

Please email events@hollandseclub.org.sg to RSVP by Thurs, 8th Dec!

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 39

UPCOMING SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS

40 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

UPCOMING SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 41

UPCOMING SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS

42 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

UPCOMING SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 43

UPCOMING SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS

Bubbles Show Sun Jan 29th | 3pm-4pm (M) $15 | (NM) $25 Indoor Lounge

Come

experi

magica

and

ence th

l world

bubble

s!

Please RSVP to events@hollandseclub.org.sg by Fri, 20th Jan!

44 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

e

of

UPCOMING SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 45

UPCOMING SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS

46 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

UPCOMING SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 47

UPCOMING SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS

48 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

"Those who have no

imagination

have no wings."

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 49

HOLLANDSE CLUB S MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURS

9am - 10am Alignment Hatha Yoga

9am - 10am Adults Swim Training

9am - 10am Adults Swim Training

9am Adults Swim

9am - 12pm Tennis Ladies Social

10am - 12pm Parent & Child / Pre-school

9am - 10am Yin Yoga

2.30pm - 5pm 30 min Parent & Child / Pre-school/ Learn to Swim

2.30pm - 5pm 30 min Parent & Child / Pre-school/ Learn to Swim

10am - 11am Parent & Child / Pre-school

5pm - 6pm Ballet (Kids)

Higher Level LTS / Dutch Awards B, C, (Zwemvaardigheid)

5pm - 6pm

Higher Level LTS / Dutch Awards B, C, (Zwemvaardigheid)

5pm - 6pm

6pm - 7pm Water Polo (8 yrs & above)

2.30pm - 5pm 30 min Parent & Child / Pre-school/ Learn to Swim 5pm - 6pm

Higher Level LTS / Dutch Awards B, C, (Zwemvaardigheid)

6pm - 7pm Dutch Dolphin’s Stroke & Development

6pm - 8pm Hockey (Youth)

6pm - 7pm Dutch Dolphin’s Stroke & Development

8pm - 9pm Adults Swim Training

7pm - 9pm Squash Training

6.30pm - 7.30pm Karate (All belts)

8pm - 9pm Pilates

8pm - 9pm Hockey (Ladies)

8pm - 9pm High Intensity Workout

8.15pm - 9.15pm Alignment Hatha Yoga

(Mom in Balance)

9pm - 10pm Hockey (Men)

Rotterdam Room Hockey - CCAB (21 Evans Road) Squash Court Brabant Room Swimming Pool Multi-Purpose Court Tennis Court 50 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

10am Parent & Child

2.30pm 30 min Pare Pre-school/ Le

5pm -

Higher Le Dutch Awa (Zwemvaa

6pm Water Polo (8

7pm Squash

SPORTS SCHEDULE

SDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

10am m Training

9am - 10am Vinyasa Flow Yoga

9am - 10am Dutch Dolphin’s Stroke & Development

9am - 10am Dutch Dolphin’s Stroke & Development

12pm d / Pre-school

9am - 12pm Tennis Ladies Social

9.30am - 10.30am Judo (4 yrs to 7 yrs)

9am - 12pm Tennis Family Social

m - 5pm ent & Child / earn to Swim

9am - 12.30pm Bridge

10am - 12.30pm 30 min Parent & Child / Pre-school/ Learn to Swim

9am - 12pm Hockey (Youth)

10.30am - 11.30am Judo (7 yrs to 10 yrs)

10am - 12.30pm 30 min Parent & Child / Pre-school/ Learn to Swim

11.30am - 12.30pm Judo (9 yrs to 12 yrs)

4pm - 6pm Tennis Mixed Social

2pm - 5pm Tennis Men Social

3pm - 4pm Karate (Beginner)

2pm - 5pm Squash Social

4.30pm - 5.30pm Karate (Intermediate)

- 6pm

evel LTS / ards B, C, ardigheid)

- 7pm 8 yrs & above)

- 9pm h Social

2.30pm - 5pm 30 min Parent & Child / Pre-school/ Learn to Swim 5pm - 6pm Higher Level LTS / Dutch Awards B, C, (Zwemvaardigheid)

5pm - 6pm Judo (7 yrs & above) 6pm - 7pm Dutch Dolphin’s Stroke & Development

SUNDAY

2.30pm - 5.30pm 30 min Parent & Child / Pre-school/ Learn to Swim

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 51

Rotterdam Room Classes The Hollandse Club is providing the following weekly classes in the Rotterdam Room

52 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

SPORTS CONTACT Sports & Recreation Contact List LIST Day

Class

Time

Venue

Point of Contact

Contact

A

Alignment Hatha Yoga

Monday

0900 – 1000

Rotterdam

Nadja Pizzo

9145 4408

B

Bridge (Duplicate)

Friday

0900 – 1230

Brabant

Franciska Ho

Ballet (Kids)

Monday

1700 -1800

Rotterdam

Brian Baek

6259 3864 / 9766 0610 8777 5438

H

Hockey (Ladies) Hockey (Men) Hockey (Youth) Hockey (Youth)

Wednesday Wednesday Tuesday Sunday

2000 – 2100 2100 – 2200 1800 – 2000 0900 – 1200

CCAB* CCAB* CCAB* CCAB*

Willemijn Dorrepaal Olaf Kwakman Willemijn Dorrepaal Willemijn Dorrepaal

9715 0938 9822 1461 9715 0938 9715 0938

I

High Intensity Workout

Tuesday

2000 - 2100

Multi-Purpose Court

Rozemarijn August de Meijer

9465 9796

J

Judo (7 years & older) Judo (4 years to 7 years) Judo (7 years to 10 years) Judo (9 years to 12 years)

Friday Saturday Saturday Saturday

1700 – 1800 0930 -1030 1030 – 1130 1130 -1230

Rotterdam Rotterdam Rotterdam Rotterdam

Gerald Lim Gerald Lim Gerald Lim Gerald Lim

9750 6305 9750 6305 9750 6305 9750 6305

K

Karate

Wednesday Sunday

1830 – 1930 1630 – 1730

Rotterdam Rotterdam

Peter Roberston Peter Roberston

9837 8637 9837 8637

P

Personal Training

By Appointment

Gym

Ashraf Youri Marilou

8180 6610 9739 7610 8112 8856

Pilates Mat

Tuesday

2000 – 2100

Rotterdam

Christina Ang

97631181

Squash (Training) Squash (Social) Swimming Lessons/Competition

Tuesday Thursday Saturday Mon - Sat

1900 – 2100 1900 – 2200 1400 – 1700 Various

Squash Court Squash Court Squash Court Swimming Pool

Daniel Gelinas 9725 4198 Daniel Gelinas 9725 4198 Daniel Gelinas 9725 4198 David Verlinde hollandse@aquaducks.com.sg

Tennis (Ladies Social)

Monday

0900 – 1200

Tennis Court

Tennis (Mixed Social)

Sunday

1600 -1800

Tennis Court

Hafiz Wahid sports.exec@hollandseclub.org.sg Klaus Wulf 8118 0300

Tennis (Ladies Competition) Tennis (Men’s Social)

Friday Saturday

0900 -1200 1400 -1700

Tennis Court Tennis Court

Tennis (Free Family Court)

Sunday

0900 – 1200

Tennis Court

Reception

6464 5225

Tennis Lessons (Savitar) Tennis Lessons (Mr. Wee)

Mon – Sat Mon – Sat

Various Various

Tennis Court Tennis Court

Scott Johnston Mr. Wee

9038 9348 9673 4851

W

Water Polo (8 years & above)

Tuesday Thursday

1800 -1900 1800 -1900

Swimming Pool

Y

Yin Yoga Vinyasa Yoga

Wednesday Friday

0900 -1000 0900 -1000

Rotterdam Rotterdam

S

T

Pauline Welten: pauline.welten@gmail.com Mike van Breugal hcmensocialtennis@gmail.com

David Verlinde hollandse@aquaducks.com.sg Christina Ang Christina Ang

97631181 97631181

*CCAB (Co-curricular Branch, MOE Hockey Field) For more information, feel free to email sports.exec@hollandseclub.org.sg

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 53

SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS REPORTS

Meet some of the Club's Sports Instructors

By Jennifer Kone

Rozemarijn August De Meijer, Trainer, Mom in Balance Outdoor Workouts High Intensity Workout | Tues | 8pm - 9pm | $25 per session (Members only)

Hi Rozemarijn! Could you introduce yourself please?

Hello! I’m Roze, I have been living in Singapore for a little over a year with my husband and our three children. It’s our first time living abroad as a family and it’s been a great experience! We really love Singapore as everything is so organized!

When did you start working for Mom in Balance?

I started working for Mom in Balance before arriving in Singapore. I became a trainer in Holland when I met the founder, Esther van Diepen, in France, during the holidays. She told me there was a branch here in Singapore. I was already involved in many sports so I was really eager to join! I’m now the managing director of Mom in Balance Singapore, and I love my job.

Tell us more! What does Mom in Balance do better than others?

As a trainer, I love my job because my office is outdoors. Also, our members are all women, and all very positive. They come to socialize as well as work out in our small groups. I like giving them a chance to be more satisfied with themselves and give it their best. This applies especially to pregnant women or new mothers. When you come to the Mom in Balance sessions, you’re not only engaging your body, but your mind too to achieve a balance.

Is it only for moms or future moms?

Initially, Mom in Balance was really focused on new mothers and pregnant ladies. However, at the Hollandse Club, we really want to encourage all women to join us! All women deal with many daily tasks including her work, family, herself, her mind, her body, etc. All that needs to be balanced, but it starts with her. We now have a new session on Tuesday evenings from 8 to 9. Ladies, you’re more 54 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

than welcomed to join!

Let’s talk about how to balance your mind now! You’re also actively involved in the Bloom Personal Development sessions, right?

Yes, I started almost six months ago, and I did two Bloom sessions, and the last one – which was really amazing – was more about how to balance your life… Totally related to Mom in Balance!

What did you personally learn at these sessions?

The Bloom sessions taught me to focus on important things such as effective communication, balance, and how you fill your “glasses”. I like that metaphor.

Your job, friends, family, partner, religion, etc., they all represent a glass in your life, that you decide to fill or not. Sometimes, we’re more inclined to fill the glass “work” at the expense of another glass.

How are the sessions conducted? How many people usually take part?

There are usually around 10/20 people from different backgrounds. It happens during lunch time, and a great opportunity to meet new people. The fantastic speakers give us the tools and teach us how to use them.

Any last words?

Just join us! Also, we are trying to see if we can partner up with Bloom Personal Development Lunches. Watch this space!

Did You Know?

Mom in Balance conducts high intensity boot camps at the Club for men and women? Come try them out!

SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS REPORTS

Nadja Pizzo, Hatha Yoga Instructor Alignment Hatha Yoga | Mon, 9am - 10am Wed, 8.15pm - 9.15pm | (M) $21 | (NM) $35

Eileen, Dance Instructor Ballet by Luminous Dance Academy | Mon | 5pm - 6pm (M) $21 | (NM) $35

Hi Nadja, kindly introduce yourself.

Hello, my name is Nadja. I’m 47 years old mother of 4 amazing teenagers and I have been blessed to live in a variety of countries, including, Switzerland, the USA, the Bahamas and for the past 10 years, Singapore.

Hi Eileen, please give us an introduction of yourself.

Hi, my name is Eileen and I'm a Singaporean. I've been teaching dance for about 10 years.

When and why did you start practicing yoga?

I started yoga in my 30s when my children were young. I was looking to strengthen my body and mind and I was immediately impressed with the joy I feel when my body was properly stretched, physically challenged and my mind was calm and centred. This was the start of a long love story with physical health, as well as a holistic approach to a healthy lifestyle. At the age of 45, I decided to take my passion to the next level and I became a certified Health coach through the Institute for Integrative Nutrition as well as a certified 200 YTT alignment based hatha yoga teacher with the Yoga Alliance.

When did you join the Club as an instructor?

I joined the Club in August 2016. I have had the pleasure of meeting a wonderful group of members and truly enjoy sharing the benefits of the practice with them.

What excites you most as an instructor?

As a teacher, the best gift I can ask for is to see my students open their hearts, minds and bodies as they develop body awareness and consciousness. I’m excited to share my practice with the members of the Club and hope to initiate a few new members to the joys and uplifting experiences yoga can bring.

Yoga is my doorway to making life fun, exciting and fulfilling and I am thrilled to share the energy and light.

When did you start dancing?

I first started dancing at the age of 10 in my primary school dance club. However, I didn't have my first real ballet class until I was 14 years old. I started teaching here at the Hollandse Club in October 2016.

What excites you most as a dance teacher?

The most exciting thing for me when I'm teaching is when the students are excited about learning, new movements or just about dance in general.

Passion can be very infectious and it makes teaching a breeze. I'm also love watching students make progress. Sometimes for a long time, you don't see anything change, and then all of a sudden one day a student could come into class completely different. I think a lot of times, that change is gradual yet sudden, influenced by a change of mindset or something that clicks. I'm always very happy to see this happen.

Are there any exciting new projects we can look forward to?

I hope that in the future, the girls at the Hollandse Club will be able to put on a small showcase.

Did You Know?

We have a drink with our new Members every 3rd Thursday of the month?

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 55

SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS REPORTS 2017 will be big events, Weekly Mens Social on Saturday and Womens Social play on Monday and Friday mornings are great ways to continue regular play and meet new friends. We will also be holding more beach tennis events at Sentosa which are a lot fun.

Scott Johnston, Tennis Coach, Savitar

Hello, Scott. Please give us an introduction of yourself.

Hi, I’m Scott Johnston and I am a 41 year old Australian. I have been in Singapore and working at the Hollandse Club for 6 years now.

How would you rate this year?

This year was very positive with an increase in junior participation in lessons and competition. We had many new enrolments in our junior tennis lessons with players starting from four years old and above learning new skills, playing games and having lots of fun. Competitively, we had many juniors compete in the the Lacoste Junior Team Tennis League. Within the club, we had an excellent response of 30 new juniors added to the Junior Team Tennis format on Friday nights.

When and how did you start playing tennis?

I first started hitting tennis balls against the wall in the backyard of my house and started taking lessons when I was 12. Soon after this, I started playing matches for my tennis club on a weekly basis.

What do you like about your coaching?

There are many rewarding and fulfilling aspects of being a tennis coach, such as watching junior or adult players having fun during their tennis lessons to watching a student improving. For adults, in many cases, they be starting as a new player to the game and have always wanted to learn to play so watching a player progress from total beginner to joining a tennis team or play for fun with friends is a rewarding aspect of the job.

In a competitive environment it’s always rewarding to see a player learn about themselves in match play or tournament. There are many life lessons to learn from playing matches in competitions such as perseverance, patience, sportsmanship, fighting spirit, concentration, and the list goes on.

What's happening in 2017?

Next year is looking to be a very exciting year at the Hollandse Club with juniors having many different opportunities to participate in lessons, regular team tennis, junior singles and doubles tournaments, training and inter-club tennis with the Lacoste Junior Team Tennis League. Adults in 2017 can participate in Monthly Social Tennis on the first Friday of every month, The Annual Club championships and Davis Cup in the first half of 56 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

Savitar also continued its Discovery Tennis Program for Adults on Wednesday evenings which is perfect for players wanting to learn technique and tactics on the tennis court. The WITS (Womens Inter team Tennis Singapore) competition also has attracted more than 40 members to join teams, train and play for the Club. Beach Tennis Events throughout the year at Sentosa saw members Junior and Senior get their feet sandy. Looking forward to a bigger and better 2017.

Did You Know?

We will organize a Welcome Back Drinks Pool Party on Sunday, 15th January!

Don’t forget to bring your own float!

SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS REPORTS

SWIMMING

By David Verlinde

Dear Swimmers, The month of December & January will be considered safety month. We will be conducting swimming practice with clothes on. The older children will learn about safety awareness.

Poolside Tips: • Always keep an eye on your children • Don’t let them swim unsupervised • 1 person at the time on the diving board • 1 person at the time on the waterslide • No running around the pool • No glass items around pool area

children, and provided fun competitions where participants practiced turns, dives and analyzed their progress through video footage.

2. Neptune league 4 November On Friday 4th November we organized the Neptune league at the HC. There were many exciting races which took place. Some of the races were cutting it very close, and the winners won by a mere 0.05 seconds. The Dutch Dolphins won a lot of medals.

Great job guys.

Have a fantastic month ahead.

Christmas Holiday As December/January is approaching, some members will leave Singapore for good, or will be going off on vacation. To cancel the swimming classes, please fill in the cancelation form on time on the Hollandse Club website. Please note that there is a one-month cancelation notice.

Swimming Events The last couple of months have seen some great swimming events, including the following: Swimming Camp During the school holidays, we organized morning swim camps. They were a great initiative for the LTS

AquaDucks Schedule at Hollandse Club as per 1st Dec 2016 MONDAY

TUESDAY

WEDNESDAY

THURSDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

9am - 10am Dutch Dolphin's Stroke & Development

9am - 10am Adults Swim Training 10am - 12pm Parent & Child / Pre-school

10am - 11am Parent & Child / Pre-school

SUNDAY

10am - 12pm Parent & Child / Pre-school

10am - 12.30pm

30 min Parent & Child / Pre-school / Learn to Swim 2pm - 5.30pm Parent & Child / Pre-school / Learn to Swim

2.30pm - 3.30pm 30 min Parent & Child / Pre-school / Learn to Swim 3.30pm - 5pm Pre-school / Learn to Swim 5pm - 6pm Higher Level LTS / Dutch Award B, C, ZWEMVAADIGHEID 6pm - 7pm Dutch Dolphin's Stroke & development

6pm - 7pm Water Polo (8 years & above)

6pm - 7pm Dutch Dolphin's Stroke & development

6pm - 7pm Water Polo (8 years & above)

6pm - 7pm Dutch Dolphin's Stroke & development

8pm - 9pm Adults Swim Training

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 57

SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS REPORTS

SWIM EXPO ASIA

By Sophie March

This year for the first time, the Hollandse Club sent a team of swimmers to the the Swim Expo Asia on November 5th. This is an annual open water swim with multi distances. This year's team included Priya Dewan, Thijs Hupkes, Sophie & Nick March.

The youngest member of the team, Nik Hupkes, was 6 yrs old! The older swimmers were competing in the 1.5km swim where Thijs and Nik swam in the parentchild 100m swim.

The event was held at the NSRCC near Changi Airport and it was a very rainy morning with planes taking off overhead. Thankfully, there was no thunder and lightning so all the swims took place. There was a 3.8km swim, 1.9km, 1.5km, 750m and 400m swim, in addition to the parent-child swim. Some of the participants swam all of the races for a total distance of 8.35km. However, the Hollandse Club's swimmers saved their energy for the 1.5km swim! It was Thijs and Nick's first official open water swim. It was a water start, which meant all the swimmers entered the water and then bobbed around until race started.

At this point, it looked like a flurry of limbs and splashes to the audience! The route was designed along the shoreline, and then turned back toward the start to complete the lap. The return swim was very choppy but the team achieved a good timing. Thijs came in 16th out of 96 swimmers with a time of 34.47, and Sophie came in 23rd place with 36.54, followed

by Priya who placed 37th with 42.23, and finally Nick came in at 56th with 48.36.

By the time Nik and Thijs started the 100m parentchild swim, the waves were even bigger. Nik swam brilliantly in these conditions, considering it was his 58 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

very first open water swim. He powered through his swim with his dad, whilst his mum and brother cheered them on. Well done, Nik! If you are interested in joining in any open water swims with other Hollandse Club swimmers, then please do get in touch at sophs55@hotmail.com.

Advertisement

SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS REPORTS

Artist of the Month: Sonal Mathur

By Martijn Boersma

Painting for the Soul Sonal was born and brought up in the bright and colourful city of Jodhpur (also called Sun City). She grew up in the vibrant culture of Rajasthan in western India. Sonal has been painting for last 12 years. She has always been inspired by colours and she started painting when her daughter Akanksha came into her life – literally bringing colours to life!

Sonal believes her paintings speak to her and others and make her alive and live in the moment. She combines oils, palette knife and brush strokes to bring to life the compositions. Her paintings are inspired by the Nature: representing Life itself and the possibilities it presents – moment by moment.

Sonal found her calling in landscapes after experimenting with folk art, portraits, abstracts and miniature.

Sonal, along with other art enthusiasts, started a community of artists called Love for Art (www.facebook.com/LoveForArt_sg). She organizes workshops, exhibitions and meet-ups for upcoming artists and crafters. She started exhibiting her art recently, being encouraged by her friends and family.

She can be reached through her Facebook page (www.facebook.com/PaintingForTheSoul).

Upcoming Exhibition February 2017 Symphony In Colours Exhibitions at The Visual Arts Center, Singapore

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 59

SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS REPORTS

SAVITAR TENNIS

By Scott Johnston

Coaches Corner Add some Variety to your Game Many club players tend to play against the same opponents all the time and, after a while, you get to know their strengths and weaknesses and they get to know yours. This is probably why you keep playing each other, because you have a predictable game.

However, are you the one on the losing end most of the time? Well then, this is for you!

It is very easy to fall into the trap of playing the same sort of game over and over again and then find yourself wondering why you never seem to beat some players who you know you should win against. Chances are they can easily predict your type of play and therefore adapt their game to win easily.

the way you are playing. Are you always staying back on the baseline and missing the short balls? Or are you running up to the net like a “kamikaze pilot� and being passed or lobbed?

Once you have analyzed your game, you will need to make a conscious effort to add some variety. Very soon you will see that the more you mix up your game, the harder it is for your opponents to settle into their game.

Variety comes in many forms, for example to change the pace of your shot, hit some short balls to get them to the net, serve and volley every now and then, and mixing up the spin on your shot.

The first step out of this trap is to take a good look at

So add some variety to your tennis and see the difference. Good luck!

Junior Team Tennis

WANT TO JOIN THE NEXT SEASON IN 2017?

Congratulations to all the juniors that participated in the recent season of Junior Team Tennis played on Friday afternoons and evenings at the Hollandse Club.

40 players participated in the 7 week team competition which has weekly matchplay in three different age categories. We had an exciting finals night with singles and doubles matches being played with great effort and sportsmanship, more importantly the children learned more about themselves in a competitive environment and having fun playing tennis.

The new season will start on January 13th. Players can join as part of a team of 3 players or register individually and we will find a team for you where available. Age categories will include under 10, 12 and 14. Minimum standard is able to serve and rally from the baseline.

Registrations close on 6th January or when player quots are filled to register early to avoid disappointment.

For more information please contact scott@savitar.sg

10 and under Final WINNERS: GRIP N RIP Maxi Perkins / Jake Hassett / William Clark RUNNERS UP: TEAM FEDERER Julius Leendertz/Stijn van Diepen 12 and under Final (B Division) WINNERS: SPINMASTERS Alex Nicholson / Luuk van der Wiel RUNNERS UP: HIGH FLYERS Zara Le Roux / Carmen Zielinski 12 and under Final (A Division) WINNERS: TOPSHOTS Adrian Leendertz / Jan van Diepen / Jules van Deur RUNNERS UP: HOTSHOTS Julia Westerbeek / Meike van Diepen

60 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS REPORTS

Savitar Tennis Camp at Hollandse Club

Lunch & Afternoon Option Available!

Tues 20th - Thurs 22nd December 2016 (3 days) Tues 3rd - Thurs 5th January 2017 (3 days) All camps are from 9am - 12pm

2 DIFFERENT “SUB CAMPS” TO CHOOSE FROM:

HC Mini Tennis Age: 4-7 years Level: Beg/Int Red Balls

HC Junior Development Age: 7-14 years Level: All Levels Orange, Green, Yellow Balls

Young players will learn key tennis fundamentals using lower compression balls, 1/4 court & mini nets. Emphasis on technique, rallying & fun.

Introducing and enhancing basic fundamentals with emphasis on technique, footwork & rallying.

All Sub Camps will be divided into groups based on their skill level & age. We can assess on the irst day to place in appropriate group.

(Ratio 6:1)

Additional Extras (Afternoon options only available for those participating in the morning camp) Lunch+ Skill Builders (Predominantly Indoors)

Skill builders is a fun based program, focused on developing motor skills in young children. Students will participate in a variety of games and exercises incorporating throwing, catching, striking and movement. These are all valuable attributes that are essential for all sports.This is a great way to continue to build the child’s sports skills whilst also building their confidence, teamwork, concentration, problem solving, and communication skills. Examples are: Frisbee, Football, Touch Rubgy etc. (Ratio 8:1) Lunch will be provided/supervised in the main restaurant and will include 1 x childs meal from the club menu.

Price: Note:

9.00am - 12.00 noon (No Lunch): $225+GST

9.00am - 3.00 pm (Lunch + Skill Builders): $395+GST

• All camp registration will be confirmed 48hrs prior to start date • Once registered, members’ account will be charged prior to camp start date • Special prizes, giveaways, and awards will be given out to all participants on final day of camp

REGISTRATION: Please go to www.savitar.sg, click ‘Locations’, ‘Hollandse Club’ For further enquiries on the camp or tennis, please contact Director of Tennis, Scott Johnston at Scott@savitar.sg or H/P 9038 9348

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 61

SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS REPORTS

SAVITAR JUNIOR TENNIS PROGRAMME -SCHEDULE-

Development

Tuesday Thursday Saturday

4:30 - 5:30pm 4:30 - 5:30pm 8:00 - 9:00am

Tuesday Thursday Saturday

4:30 - 5:30pm 4:30 - 5:30pm 8:00 - 9:00am

Performance

RED STAGE (Age 4-7) Development

Monday Tuesday Thursday Saturday

4:30 - 5:30pm 4:30 - 5:30pm 4:30 - 5:30pm 8:00 - 9:00am

Monday Tuesday Thursday Saturday

4:30 - 5:30pm 4:30 - 5:30pm 4:30 - 5:30pm 9:00-10:30am

Performance

ORANGE STAGE (Age 7- 9)

Development

Monday Tuesday

4:30 - 5:30pm

Thursday Saturday

5:30 - 7:00pm 5:30 - 7:00pm 9:00-10:30am

Thursday

5:30 - 7:00pm

Performance

Saturday

9:00-10:30am

GREEN STAGE (Age 8-10)

Development

Monday Tuesday Thursday

Saturday

5:30 - 7:00pm 5:30 - 7:00pm 5:30 - 7:00pm 9:00-10:30am

Saturday

10:30-12:00pm

Performance

YELLOW STAGE (Age 11-16)

Season 2: Starting from Monday, 9th January until 30th March 2017

COST: $25.00/session (60min), *$37.50/session (90min) or **$50.00/session (120min) Players will be split into stages & levels based on age and ability.

ONLINE REGISTRATION: Please go to www.savitar.sg, www.savitar.sg click ‘Locations, ‘Hollandse Club’ For further enquiries, please contact Director of Tennis, Scott Johnston at: scott@savitar.sg or HP: 9038 9348

62 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS REPORTS

HOLLANDSE CLUB

Junior Team Tennis Competition 2017

Age Groups: 10/U, 12/U, 14/U

Start Date: January 13th, 2017 Finals: March 24th, 2017 Day/Time: 10/U: Fridays 5-7pm 12/U & 14/U: Fridays 5-7pm/7-9pm To register, contact Director of Tennis, Scott Johnston at scott@savitar.sg (9038 9348) * Minimum standard required - Must be able to rally and serve 10/U Age group will be using lower compression Green Dot balls * Registration closes Friday, January 6th, 2017, places are limited so register as soon as possible to avoid disappointment. * Price not including GST

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 63

SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS REPORTS

TENNIS

By the Hollandse Club Tennis Committee As we prepare for the renovation of the tennis courts, we have some great tournaments and socials to get involved in before the new year. Register your interest by email. Don’t be afraid to come and play at one of the social weekly games, you may be surprised at your level. No matter how you play… a beer or gin and tonic will make you feel better afterwards!

To get onto the Tennis mailing list, please email us at tenniscommittee@gmail.com Sheila Bouwman, Tara Hassett, Jules Perkins and Karaline Loiterton

TENNIS SOCIALS MONDAY

FRIDAY

SATURDAY

Ladies Social 9am - 12pm

Tennis Ladies Competition 9am - 12pm

Men Social 2pm - 4pm

(All levels welcome!)

Family Social 9am - 12pm

(All levels welcome!)

(Advanced & Intermediate Levels)

Play 2 or 3 sets with a mix of ladies for fun!

SUNDAY

Email pauline.welten@ gmail.com

Email hcmenssocialtennis@ gmail.com

Book through Reception

Vacancy The Monday morning Ladies Social is a great way to meet new people and play. You can simply turn up and join, all levels are welcome. We are looking for a new organizer or a duo organizing team.

Please contact us if you are interested!

TENNIS LADDER And we're off! Positions were randomly allocated so even though you may have finished at the top, you may need to work your way up again this season. Start contacting and challenging those one to three positions above and take your place at the top before the finals on 4th & 5th March!

2016 – 2017 - Women’s Doubles

2016 – 2017 - Men’s Single

1. Sarah Davies & Jemma Chapple 2. Aleid Schoenmaeckers & Marjolein Hermsen

1. Wouter Moorman

16. Andy Fairfoull

3. Geke van Eck & Karen Stuurman

2. Lambrecht Wessels

17. Greg Davies

4. Cecile Strum & Susanne Geerdink

3. Pieter Le Roux

18. Paul Kennedy

5. Tara Hassett & Julie Perkins

4. Martin van Leeuwen

19. Steve Dawson

6. Angelique Roeten & Merel Schwaanhuyser

5. Simon Perkins

20. Mike van Breugal

7. Merle Raatgerink & Willemijn Hamaker

6. Stuart Crow

21. Bertrand Richard

8. Fiona Schaefer & Danielle van Wees

7. Rogier Lankamp

22. Andy Beer

9. Suzan van de Kerk & Els van Poucke

8. Justin Reynolds

23. Oliver Zeller

10. Rinske Bloemendal & Julie Beusmans

9. Peter Bloemsma

24. Byron Askin

11. Hang Groeneweg & Sarah Raynolds

10. Douglas van der Wiel

25. Mickael Le Gargasson

12. Rebecca Byrne & Michele Royliston

11. Robert Fransson

26. Joost den Herder

13. Mirjam van Rooij & Karen Houtman

12. Jeroen van Erven

27. Frank van Deur

14. Pauline Welten & Boon E. Prabhu

13. Mark Jordon

28. Peter van Buren

15. Eugenie van Paradijs & Celine Peek

14. Sjoerd Miltenburg

29. Thorsten Ohm

16. Karaline Loiterton & Corine Hepkema

15. Rein Graat

30. Joen van Driel

17. Sheila Bouwman & Ingeborg Brondsted 64 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS REPORTS

CLUB TOURNAMENTS DECEMBER ADULTS

KIDS

FEBRUARY

MARCH

Davis Cup

Ladder Finals

10th, 11th, 12th

4th & 5th

MAY Adult Club Championships 14th - 21st

Junior Pepernoten Tournament

Junior Club Championships

2nd

12th & 13th

Junior Pepernoten Tournament: 2nd December Let your kids (all levels!) join the yummiest tournament of the year. It doesn’t matter if they can't serve properly, its great practice to start. And they can also win prizes by playing the challenging tennis games afterwards…

2nd Dec | 4pm - 6.30pm for ages 4 to 10 (red, orange and green stage) 6.30pm - 9pm for ages 10 & above (yellow stage) Davis Cup: 10th, 11th & 12th February The Club's version of the World Champions Cup, we want your International Spirit to come through with teams from Australia, England, France etc joining.

Hunt out your fellow countryman or lady and sign up. Dressing in your country colours encouraged.

With only 25% of members now Dutch, the other countries might take the Cup from the name sakes!

Junior Club Championships: 12th & 13th May They practiced in the December tournament so are now ready and excited for this one with no bribing necessary - all ages and levels welcome.

12th May | 6pm - 9.30pm for ages 10 and up (depending on their level) 13th May | 2pm - 6 pm) for ages 4 to 10 (red, orange and green stage) Adult Club Championships Singles and Mixed: 14th - 21st May You've been annoyed with how you played ever since the January Championships or your WITS or LTA team didn’t do so well so are coming back to take home the trophy! *Dates & times subject to change so check closer to date.

The WITS season has drawn to a close. Congratulations to our Hollandse Club Beta Team “Mostly Orange” who won their division

PLAYER PROFILES BEGINNER You didn’t play much as a kid but are keen to maximise your Expat Experience by improving your game. Your serve is erratic and you're a little scared to come to the net but your competitive drive and amazing legs in your tennis skirt or shorts over shadows your lack of experience.

INTERMEDIATE You've recently gotten back into the game or have now invested so much with Mr Wee or Savitar your game has improved leaps and bounds. You favour either your forehand or backhand but do the occasional wild shot and your serve is hit or miss…literally!

ADVANCED

You've either re-invigorated your childhood tennis passion or now have so much more spare time with a helper you've taken your game to a whole new level with hours spent weekly on the court. The occasional Ace, you might even throw in some top spin and slicing. You carry a big tennis bag with a few airline tags but actually only have one racket.

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 65

SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS REPORTS

SQUASH

By Colin Bullock

The COSMO league is now well underway. The Hollandse Club are defending champions and this year’s organiser (James organises the league and Chris the weekly team line up). The season started well and by the turn, we were tied in 2nd place with SCC 3 points behind the leaders, SICC. There were a number of fantastic performances of 3-2 victories that were quickly forgotten when the beer started flowing.

However, as we go to press, the first match of the second half (captained by yours truly) resulted in a resounding loss to previously 4th placed American Club, with Ram as the only victor. In defence of the captain’s performance there were a number of mitigating factors including not being Tasmanian and simply playing appalling squash – in which he was not alone – no names mentioned but elephants never forget – floating or otherwise. The upside is that 4 team members will move down the ranking and if chosen again (unlikely) might stand a better chance of winning (unlikely). Chris is now learning the true folly of delegating the team organisation to Ross (however neither are Tasmanian).

Sad news of a few departures; Eric “I love to move it move it” Mul was transferred to Jakarta, probably just as well because we now no longer serve Heineken in preference for Asahi (which Gus uncharacteristically does not criticise); and John “no I haven’t just had a shower, I sweat a lot” Yates is now gainfully unemployed and taking time out to contemplate life, the universe and everything – which since his last day on Friday has consisted mainly of playing squash and drinking beer – activities which should become the motto of the HC Squash Section. Although Eric was too busy to attend his own leaving party (we will send him the bill anyway), John was in fine form – and yes we waited for Fred and Ross to leave before taking the photo.

Just recently, we have finished a very successful 66 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

HC International Veterans Tournament 2016 held from 4th to 6th November. We had 35 Vets in groups 35+, 45+ and 55+ from clubs across Singapore. Many thanks to Fred, Daniel and Hafiz for the organisation and to Kim for the t-shirts.

The winners were:

35+ Cup - Bill Hickey / Runner-up – Craig Doel 35+ Plate - Kim Hine / Runner-up - Brian Van Ginkel 45+ Cup - Sarat Chandran / Runner-up Ross Stokes 45+ Plate - Robson Yeoh / Runner-up – Alfie Goh 55+ Cup - Fred Saarloos / Runner-up - Colin Robertson 55+ Plate - Harvey Glick / Runner-up – James Ng

The standard of squash was superlative only to be surpassed by the standard of the marking – not wishing highlight the skills of any particular individuals. Looking forward, we have the COSMO dinner on 10 December. Not forgetting the Elite Players Training camp in Manila from 25th to 27th

November where they will face stiff competition from agile playing partners. In addition to recently retained Gautam Cup for the annual match against the SCC, we owe return matches against the American Club (probably in January) and Singapore Swimming Club, and we have been asked to give dates for an annual match against the British Club.

We also have the box matches to finish – hopefully this side of Christmas, so with this much squash, who has time for work – a dichotomy constantly debated by our roaming philosopher Colin R. There is always room for more players in the section, which is probably the best squash section in Singapore, so come down for a hit on Saturdays at 2 pm and a beer shortly thereafter.

SPORTS & SOCIAL EVENTS REPORTS

Golf Day

By Hafiz Wahid

12th November, 2016 On the 12th of November 2016, we had a PGA professional golfer, Eddy Rawlings, host a short and simple session to introduce golf to the kids of the Club. Kids staggered in and out and the consensus ultimately was that mini golf is actually a lot of fun!

It’s a great open session for kids to spark their interest in golf. Families came by too to had a fair share of their own fun!

With this, the Club and Eddy have bigger plans to bring golf to our Members. Anyone keen on organizing an adult or kids competition? Feel free to email sports.exec@hollandseclub.org.sg .

Did You Know?

We have changed the parasols at the Swimming pool. The start of the refurbishing project!

Club Talks

By Devina Singh

The Hollandse Club offers many occasions for our Members to create memories, From sports, to dinners by the Terrace, to even having a couple of laughs with presenting comedians, we try our best to give our Members a ‘home away from home’.

Cheesy, but true. With that being said, here is yet another way to involve you at the Club. We are keen on launching CLUBTalks, which will take place bi-monthly.

What are CLUBTalks?

These talks could range from more pop culture related topics such as how dating has changed through dating apps, to more informative sessions, such as why it is important to invest in the American Dollar right now. However, it doesn’t stop here. We would also like to have ‘story’ sessions, i.e. from a cancer survivor.

The goal is to bring burning topics up for discussion, in the rawest form possible. I would like to take this opportunity to open the stage up anyone and everyone who is willing to be a speaker, panel mediator, or even know someone else who would be the perfect fit for this role.

I look forward to discussing your pitches with you at events@hollandseclub.org.sg !

Fri, 16th Dec | 5pm - 6pm | Main Hall Free Admission (Members only) WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 67

68 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

F&B Divider

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 69

Merry Christmas and a Healthy New Year!

By Claudia Vork According to the World Health Organization at least 2.7 million people around the world die each year as a result of not getting enough fruits and vegetables in their diets, with an additional 2.6 million deaths caused by obesity-related illnesses.

health.

Inevitably, we find ourselves sitting happily at the family Christmas table once a year and end up eating more than we should. Well even during Christmas, you can eat healthily and deliciously!

The increased production of processed foods, rapid urbanization and changing lifestyles have led to a shift in dietary patterns. We live in a confusing time, with more product choices than ever before.

Picture yourself at the beautifully decorated table, eyeing the pleasing display of foods and sharing it all together. Don’t overstuff yourself! Plan your Christmas feast well in advance, choosing just a few seasonal foods that you know taste great together.

When you shop, stick to your list and resist impulse buys.

So, what is a healthy diet, and why is it important?

A healthy diet helps you protect yourself against malnutrition in all its forms, including diabetes and heart disease. It’s made up of mainly nutrient-rich foods, such as legumes, fruits, vegetables, etc.

Vitamins and minerals are vital to boosting your immunity and all-round health. With the right balance and variation, a diet will also contribute to obtaining an adequate weight.

Unhealthy diets are high in fat, saturated fat, trans fat, sodium and added sugars. These diets often contain a lot of processed or fast foods that are high in calories but don't contain many nutrients. The energy intake (calories) should be in balance with energy expenditure.

There are a list of tips below, which can help achieve and maintain energy. You’ll be surprised at how easy it is to make some changes that can improve your

December is not the month to focus on weight loss.

Focus instead on weight maintenance and you’ll enjoy the festive season without the guilt.

Claudia Vork is a 27 year old dietitian by day and an ambitious homecook by night. She came to Singapore to extend her knowledge of the latter. In order to stay fit, she eats healthy and practices yoga.

Claudia loves to experiment with a variety of vegetables in the dishes that she makes and is open to new food adventures.

Contact Instagram: @wheatlesstosay Email: claudia_vork@hotmail.com

Tips for a Year-Round Healthy Diet Choose: • Whole grains products like whole wheat, millet, barley, wheat berries, quinoa, oats, brown rice, instead of white bread, white rice, and other refined grains. Complex carbohydrates cause a slow release of sugar into the bloodstream, which helps regulate blood sugar.

• Good protein sources like fish, chicken, beans and nuts and seeds. Limit red meat, and avoid processed meats such as bacon and sausage.

• Foods with healthy fats, limit foods high in saturated fat, and avoid foods with trans fat. Use plant oils for your salads, eat (wal)nuts as a snack, and eat fish like salmon, mackerel and herring one or two times a week.

• A fiber-filled diet, rich in whole grains, vegetables, and fruits. Drink enough water during the day, this will fill you up faster and keep you feeling full longer than foods that are loaded with sugar. The longer you are saturated, the less you are craving for bad food.

• To eat more vegetables and fruits. Go for color and variety, eat it raw as a snack and always include it in your meals.

• To have products with calcium every day for strong bones and teeth. Think about skim milk, low-fat yogurt, young cheese and legumes.

• To eat less salt. Do not add salt to your meal, don’t put salt on the table and limit the consumption of salty snacks.

70 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

Chicken Chock-full of Flavour Serves 4 (preparing 30 min. / waiting 20 min.)

Ingredients o 3 chicken filets or boneless chicken thighs o 1 lime o 1 clove of garlic o 10g of mint o 1 teaspoon of mustard o 3 tablespoon of olive oil o 50g of feta o black pepper Directions Preheat the oven to 180 C. Cut along the sides of the chicken filets, creating an envelop. Press the juice from te lime in a cup and finely chop the garlic and mint. Mix the lime juice with 1 tbsp of olive oil, add the garlic, mint, mustard and black pepper into a smooth paste. Put the paste into the chicken and close it with wooden toothpicks. Heat the rest of the olive oil in a pan and bake the chicken until golden brown. Then put the chicken into the oven for 15 minutes on 180 C. Remove the toothpicks and cut the chicken into slices. Crumble the feta on top and garnish with mint leaves and extra lime.

Stunning Sweet Potatoes Serves 4 (preparing 15 min. / waiting 20 min.)

Ingredients o 2 – 3 sweet potatoes o ¼ cucumber o ¼ zucchini o 15 olives o 10g of dille o 5 tablespoon of low fat (unsweetened) yoghurt o 1 clove of garlic o black pepper

Directions Boil the sweet potatoes for 20 minutes with the skin on. Split open and allow to cool for a few minutes.

Dice the cucumber and zucchini and bake the zucchini for a few minutes until golden brown. Stir the yoghurt, finely chopped garlic and black pepper to a dressing. Put the vegetables on the split potatoes, top it off with the olives, dill and dressing.

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 71

Colourful Cauliflower Salad Serves 4 (preparing 30 min. / waiting 20 min.)

Ingredients o 1 cauliflower o ½ red onion o 6 tablespoon of capers o 10g of dille o 1 tablespoon of mustard o 5 tablespoon of low fat (unsweetened) yoghurt o 150g of pre-cooked beetroots o black pepper Directions Finely slice the onion, mix it with the capers and 4 tbsp of the juice of the capers. Let it marinate for 20 minutes, drain afterwards while saving 1 tbsp for the dressing. Cut the cauliflower into slices of 1.5 cm thick. Put it under the grill until nicely golden brown (about 20 minutes). Cut the dille and make a dressing with the mustard, yoghurt, juice of the capers, dille and black pepper. Slice the beets, and be creative!

You can cut stars, Christmas trees or other figures out of it. Put the cauliflower on a serving dish, put the onions, capers and beets on it. Drizzle over the dressing and dig in this colorful salad!

Delightful Dessert with Dates Serves 4 (preparing 15 min./ waiting 60 min.)

Ingredients o 275g of dates o 75g of oat flakes o 50g of nuts (almonds/walnuts/cashewnuts) o 9 tablespoon of coconut oil o ½ lemon (for the juice) o 1 tablespoon of lemon zest o 2 tablespoon of honey o 1 ½ tablespoon of ground turmeric

Directions Cut the dates very fine and roughly chop the nuts.

Make a mixture of the dates, oats and nuts. Put baking paper in a baking tray/cake tin and spread the mixture with a spoon and smoothen the top (it should be about 1,5 cm thick). Let the coconut oil melt in a pan. Add the lemon juice, lemon zest, honey and turmeric and give it a good stir. Pour the yellow mixture over the dates and put it in the refrigerator for about an hour. Cut it in nice shapes (anything you like) and enjoy the freshness and beautiful color!

72 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

Singapore Plum Pudding

By Karien van Ditzhuijzen o 900g mixed dried fruit * o 100ml brandy o 100g flour o 1 teaspoon baking powder o 1 tablespoon dried ginger o ½ tablespoon cinnamon o ½ tablespoon nutmeg o ¼ tablespoon cardamom o pinch of salt o 175 gram solid fat ** o 175 gram palm sugar *** o 100 gram sliced almonds o 3 tablespoons candied citrus peel o 1 tablespoon candied ginger o 225g breadcrumbs o 4 eggs o 300ml sweet red wine or port

* For a traditional plum pudding, the fruits used would be raisins, sultanas, currants, and sometimes dried plums. But for this Singapore version, we will take a more tropical direction, and use a mixture of shredded dried mango, pineapple, and raisins. You can vary the dried fruits you use to taste. ** A traditional pudding would use suet, which is an animal fat. Using coconut fat will give an Asian, nutty flavour. For a more neutral flavour, use palm fat or butter. *** Gula Melaka, a local palm sugar, will give a rich, full flavour, but you can substitute it with any dark brown sugar.

First, soak the dried fruit overnight in the brandy. The next day, mix all the dry ingredients in a separate bowl: the flour, baking powder, spices, salt. Then, add the sugar (if you use solid palm sugar: grate it finely), the solid fat (in small pieces), the almonds, breadcrumbs, candied ginger, and citrus peel. Mix well before adding the eggs.

A Christmas pudding is steamed for around 5 to 6 hours, longer if you like. You will need a pudding basin, either a traditional china one, or a lidded plastic one. If your basin has no lid, top it with a circle of buttered greaseproof paper, then cover with pudding cloth or foil and tie securely with string. This will prevent the pudding getting soggy.

For steaming, use a pan a little larger than your pudding. Put the pudding basin in the middle, and fill the pan with water until a few centimetres under the edge. Bring to the boil, cover, turn the heat down, and let simmer for at least 5 hours. Make sure to top up the water if needed. Let it cool down, and replace the cover with fresh greaseproof paper and cloth if you did not use a lid.

Traditionally a Christmas pudding is made in late November, and leaving it for a few weeks will allow the flavours to develop. Store it in a cool, dark, place.

If you like your pudding boozy, you can ‘feed’ it by pouring additional brandy over it during this period.

Before serving you can heat up the pudding by steaming it for half an hour. Serve with brandy butter, which is made by mixing butter with an equal amount of icing sugar, and brandy to taste.

Did You Know?

You can spend New Year’s Eve on a River Cruise and enjoy a special New Year’s buffet at the Club? Refer to poster on page 41 for more info!

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 73

Make Your Own Gingerbread House in Singapore!

By Karien van Ditzhuijzen Carols jingle, the sweet scent of pine wafts from our overpriced, imported spruces, whilst we sit around our pools drinking iced milo. In the tropics we don’t get cold, or snow, but with a bit of luck, the beating thunderstorms of Singapore’s rainy season will provide just enough chill and darkness to bring Christmas cheer to all of us that hail from the Northern hemisphere.

Unfortunately, that same rain causes Singapore’s year round soaring humidity, which makes one Christmas tradition a particular challenge: making a gingerbread house. In our first year in Singapore we tried our trusted recipe, and after only an hour I started to notice some sagging of the roof. In the morning, the kids woke me up, yelling: ‘Mama! The house has collapsed!’

Looking on the bright side: at least we could now eat our gingerbread ruin before it was too old and stale to enjoy. But it would have been nice if we could have enjoyed looking at our house just a little bit longer.

That is, if the ants would not have gotten to it first.

This year, we tried a different approach, a Singaporeproof gingerbread house. This humidity proof house 74 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

has one downside; it might not collapse, but bears the risk your children will break their teeth if they try to eat it. I recommend to bake some gingerbread men, stars, hearts or animals on the side, with a more general recipe, that the kids can decorate, and eat safely!

Humidity- proof Gingerbread House o 360g flour o 230g sugar o 2 eggs o 85g honey o 1 teaspoon each of ginger, cinnamon and ground cloves Mix the flour, sugar and spices together thoroughly.

Separately, mix the eggs and honey, and then add this mixture to the dry ingredients. The dough will be quite difficult to mix, and stiff. You can add a little bit more honey if needed, but be careful, or it will be too moist or too sticky. Let the dough rest at room temperature, tightly covered for at least a few hours or overnight. This quality is enough for a smallish gingerbread house, if you want to make a large one, double the quantities.

Preheat the oven to 180C. Roll out the dough to about half a centimetre on a surface spread with flour. Using a paper house template (many examples can be found online), cut out the parts of the house with a sharp knife. Then, transfer them carefully to a tray that is greased, or covered with baking paper. Bake the pieces 12 to 15 minutes, until it has turned light brown. Let the pieces cool before you move them, as they will break easily when still hot.

To put the house together, you need to make royal icing: mix 250 g of icing sugar with one egg white.

You’ll need some tools, a piping bag is the easiest way to distribute the icing on the edges of the parts.

This is when you need to test your construction skills, and I’d recommend two pairs of adult hands for the assembly. Be generous with the icing on all the edges, and don’t worry too much about getting it 100% right: any breakages can be glued together with icing, and remember, ugly parts can later on be camouflaged with sweets and other decorations.

A good shower of icing sugar snow can turn the messiest of ginger bread houses into a glorious result.

For the decoration you can use anything you like, colourful sweets, biscuits, candy canes, hundreds and thousands, there is no limit.

When you are working with young children, don’t let them work directly on the fragile gingerbread house.

Bake some additional panels, roof tiles, windows, stars or hearts, that you can later stick to the house.

Decorating little men and animals for in the garden can be just as much fun too for little hands.

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 75

(Available daily from lunch through dinner from 10th to 26th December)

Advertisement

76 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

Have a function or hosting a festive party ?

Jaxs' Bistro offers the following Buffet Menu for you to choose from.

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 77

Christmas drinks

talk about dutch heritage

AdB Annual Party

Guided tour World Press Photo

Golf tournament

startup & sMe Academy

Company visit Vroon offshore

Masterclass Cyber security

summer BBQ

OMG, is this all ADB? ....and there is more to come!

Why should you join the AdB? ADB offers not only a platform to share knowledge and experience of doing business in Asia, but also: •

Inspires through company visits, cultural visits and lectures;

•

Encourages personal development through panel discussions held by members, prominent Dutch and non-Dutch business people and industry experts;

•

Facilitates networking at our monthly events, annual ADB Party and during casual drinks;

•

Gives the opportunity to converse with Dutch politicians, visiting Singapore;

•

Keeps you informed through our bimonthly ADB Magazine full of Dutch news with a Singaporean twist.

More informaton: adb.org.sg / adb@adb.org.sg

°°°

“Connecting Dutch business people in Singapore” 78 HOLLANDSE CLUB | WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG

°°°

RECIPROCAL ARRANGEMENTS AFFILIATE GOLF CLUBS

AFFILIATE SOCIAL CLUBS IN SINGAPORE

Hollandse Club members have privileged golf rates at golf clubs* in and around Singapore. Call the Sports department at 6461 1127 or email sportsrec@hollandseclub.org.sg for further information.

• NTU Alumni Club – www.ntualumni.org.sg • Changi Sailing Club – www.csc.org.sg

The following clubs are involved: • Orchid Country Club, Singapore (Weekdays) • Sembawang Country Club, Singapore (Weekdays) • Warren Golf & Country Club, Singapore (Weekdays & Sunday afternoons) • Indah Putri, Batam – Indonesia • IOI Palm Villa Golf & Country Resort, Johor – Malaysia • Horizon Hills Resort Berhad, Johor – Malaysia • Palm Resorts, Johor – Malaysia • Macau Golf & Country Club, Macau – China

RECIPROCAL CLUBS: INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATE CLUBS

Hollandse Club members can also enjoy access to all clubs under International Associate Clubs worldwide.

Refer to www.iacworldwide.com for the list of clubs and services. *Terms & Conditions only.

RECIPROCAL CLUBS

Hollandse Club members enjoy access to premier international reciprocal clubs offering excellent standards of Food & Beverage outlets and recreational facilities (including golf).

Feel free to contact the Membership department at 6461 1139 or email sales@hollandseclub.org.sg for further information.

Australia

The Commercial Club (Albury Ltd) The City Tattersalls Club Royal Automobile Club of Australia (RACA) Royal Automobile Club of Victoria (RACV) Tamworth Golf Club

Albury Sydney Sydney Melbourne West Tamworth

www.commclubalbury.com.au www.citytatts.com.au www.raca.com.au www.racv.com.au www.tamworthgolfclub.com.au

Brunei

The Royal Brunei Yacht Club

Jalan Kota Batu

www.therbyc.com

Canada

Hollyburn Country Club

Vancouver

www.hollyburn.org

China

Ambassy Club Almeria Private Clubs Old Chengdu Club Naga Club Han Yuan Club Stone Mountain Golf Club & Resort Placid Rivers Club

Shanghai

www.ambassyclub.com.cn www.worldclubnet.com

Hong Kong

www.fcchk.org www.butterfields.com.hk

Hong Kong Football Club United Services Recreation Club Pacific Club Macau Golf & Country Club

Central City TaiKoo Place, Quarry Bay Happy Valley Kowloon Kowloon Macau

India

Golden Swan Country Club

Thane

www.goldenswan.com

Indonesia

Southlinks Country Club Indah Putri Golf Resort

Batam Batam

www.southlinksgolf.com www.indahpuri.com

Japan

Kobe Club Tokyo American Club Yokohama Country & Athletic Club

Kobe Tokyo Yokohama

www.kobeclub.org www.tac-club.org www.ycac.or.jp

Malaysia

The Raintree Club Royal Lake Club Kelab Renang Pulau Pinang Horizon Hills Golf Resort 101 Palm Villa Golf & Country Resort

Kuala Lumpur Kuala Lumpur Penang Johor Johor

www.raintreeclub.net www.royallakeclub.org.my www.penangswimclub.com www.hhgcc.com.my www.palmvilla.com.my

Netherlands

De Industrieele Groote De Witte Societeit

Amsterdam The Hague

www.igc.nl www.societeitdewitte.nl

Norway

Shipping Klubben

Oslo

www.shippingklubben.no

Philippines

The Manila Club Nomad Sports Club

Makati City Metro Manila

www.themanilaclub.com www.normadsportclub.com

Qatar

The Doha Club

Doha

www.doha-club.com

Singapore*

The Japanese Association*

Adam Road

www.jas.org.sg

South Africa

The Cape Town Club

Cape Town

www.capetownclub.org.za

Thailand

Banyan Golf Club The British Club

Hua Hin Bangkok

www.banyanthailand.com www.britishclubbangkok.org

United Arab Emirates

The Club, Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi

www.the-club.com

United Kingdom

St. James’ Club The Lansdowne Club

London London

www.stjamesclubandhotel.co.uk www.lansdowne-club.co.uk

*F&Batatthese these clubs only. *F&B clubs only.

Foreign Correspondents’ Club Butterfield’s

Chengdu Beijing Suzhou Dali Beijing

www.hkfc.com.hk www.usrc.org.hk www.pacificclub.com.hk www.mgccmacau.com

WWW.HOLLANDSECLUB.ORG.SG | HOLLANDSE CLUB 79