HOWDO Magazine; edition 31

colofon foreword

HOWDO Magazine

is a bimonthly publication by Uitgeverij RAWN

Publisher Fred van Deurzen fred@howdomagazine.com

Editorial Office

Anne Yianni, Thomas Meulenbroeks, Fred van Deurzen

Social Media

Anne Yianni (anne@howdomagazine.com)

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Contact fred@howdomagazine.com www.howdomagazine.com

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© 2022 HOWDO Magazine

HOWDO Magazine is not liable for the content of the columns and eventual inaccuracies and or typographical errors.

HOWDO Magazine is a title of Holi Media and published under license by Uitgeverij RAWN

Many thanks to the contributors of this magazine: Andrea Agudelo, Silvia Ardila, Monique Arts, Beena Arunraj, Monique van den Berg, Wico de Boer, Olivia van den Broek-Neri, Monique Coolen, Constance Deelen, Marco Denis,Tamara Ernst, Josine Frankhuizen, Mirjam van Gogh, Yolima Grandas, Justine de Jong, Peter Kentie, Heidi Los, Renee Manders, Monique Mols, Ralu Nistor-Lustermans, Sally Ocaña, Jessie Oosterbosch, Carmen Rasmusen, Bart Rovers, Nikol Vetronova, Rebekah Villon, Gijs Vrenken, Saskia Wesseling, Anne Yianni.

Dear friends of HOWDO magazine, Welcome back to our regular readers and a warm welcome to the new readers of this issue!

HOWDO Magazine is a great way to get to know Eindhoven, to connect and stay connected with activities, services and organisations. We play an active role in the international community, making sure that every international has all the information and opportunities to settle as a happy Eindhovenaar. For over a year I am working with and supporting HOWDO Magazine on several projects. Since a month I am part of the HOWDO team, starting to lead the online communication and focussing on fulfilling HOWDO’s mission as a connector in the city.

Personally, I came as a 6-month exchange student to Eindhoven, this is already more than 13 years ago. With a background in design I have worked my whole professional life in Marketing, Communication and Design for corporates, startups, freelance and for agencies. In all I do I am interested in connecting people and creating opportunities through design and communication. Over 8 years ago I was one of the founders of Expat Spouses Initiative (ESI), pouring all my experience and passion into it until after my second daughter was born.

The organisation was growing smoothly and my focus shifted.

I started working closely with InterCulturas, an intercultural education organisation. InterCulturas embodies the wish, which I have for my own children, to grow up as global citizens - Eindhoven is the perfect place to start their journey.

Two years ago an artist approached me to ask for help with the communication for a new exhibition. This was planned as a collaboration between 17 Greek and 17 Dutch artists, and was a fantastic moment linking me into the art scene of the region. My long and diverse experience enables me to identify with many stories of internationals in Eindhoven, this will feed into my work at HOWDO Magazine. I am looking forward to getting to know and sharing many stories, to creating opportunities while HOWDO Magazine is the connector in Eindhoven.

Anne Yianni

FROM STONE TO CHIP

The invention of lithography in 1798 unleashed the second great printing revolution after the printing press. Stone printing laid the foundation for our contemporary mass image culture. Moreover, this centuries-old craft is still alive and kicking: offset printing and even the microchip would not have come about without this invention. The principle of lithography on flat stone evolved into photolithography in the technological age, and was the precursor of the production of microchips, like those in your computer and smartphone.

Friday November 25th, 2022.

On this special oriental evening you can visit the expo while enjoying the music, tea & snacks and the illustrations of Dutch artists -like Kees van Dongen and Marius Bauer- of the well-known tales of One Thousand and One Nights. We start at 7 PM with an

oriental fairytale for the children. Arjan de Boer will give a lecture about the Orient Express. There will also be a demo of printing a litho. Please make a reservation in advance because you do not want to miss this evening!

Expo WonderlandThe Magical East

October 2022 until February 19th, 2023.

This expo gives you a new look at the Western representation of the East: from the fairy tale of Aladin to the Orient Express. Extraordinary works of art are on display, including work from the Rijksmuseum Amsterdam.

An interest in other cultures is an age-old phenomenon. In this respect, the magical East has always held great appeal for the West. The expo shows how artists from the West from the 19th century onwards found an artistic interpretation for the East. Its influences continue to simmer even into the 21st century.

Willem Hofker and Willem Dooijewaard depict the beauty of the Dutch East Indies. Some artists show a realistic record of their travels, while others depict mainly oriental stereotypes.

photography: Frans Claassen

skillsTwincity

This column is written end of the week during the buzzing Dutch Design Week in Eindhoven. The city’s premier brand event and city-wide festival that celebrates design in all its glory. Design and creativity has always been an integral part of our cities’ DNA. The famous Design Academy Eindhoven students and the inhouse studios like Philips Design and DAF design employ designers that are part of thousands of design professionals working in this domain. Eindhoven and the region also have a vast technology community, all the engineers and tech employees that make up together a global powerhouse. It is quite rare that a city and region have both vital skills and capabilities. Because bringing technology and design skills together leads to lots of energy and true innovation.

And Eindhoven is full of energy. There where contrasts rub shoulders, energy is released. For example, in the field of tension between technology and design. Between ideas and action. Between imagination and making. Between the city and the world. It is this energy in the community that you feel, from within.

So we are the city of technology and design, most especially because they are combined here. Few cities have a hard AND a soft side, a creative capacity and technical knowledge. We also have an ecosystem in which innovations are not only conceived but made and tested too. Head, heart and hands meet in Eindhoven.

Sometimes we do not realize ourselves the impact Eindhoven as a relatively small and close-knit community has. The scale of Eindhoven is almost adverse compared to the impact the city and Brainport region has as one of the world’s top regions in technology and design. So, when we worked on the positioning and storytelling of Eindhoven we looked at other ‘twin skill cities’ that have two strong and complementary ecosystems. We found four other cities as twins, being Austin, Helsinki, Tel Aviv and San Francisco. They all have a strong technology-based ecosystem and a complementary creative scene which is high class too. What would Apple and Silicon Valley have been without the hippy counterculture? These communities feed each other, react to each other and one can state that true innovation is only possible combining unbound creativity and engineering skills. So nurture the free spirits and unconventional thinkers in our community.

Peter Kentie, managing director Eindhoven365

The holiday season is coming and that doesn’t go unnoticed at Eindhoven Airport. Of course we see people exploring Europe as a festive getaway, but also many of our international ‘new locals’ return home to see family and friends.

Flying home for Christmas

The Brainport region certainly does not only have expats from Asia or America. We also have a diverse Eastern-European community of people who study and/or work here. Especially from Poland, Bulgaria and Romania, many workers come to Eindhoven and the surrounding region. And the airport is the bridge here between Eindhoven and their many different hometowns, so they too can be with friends and family after a year of hard work. Curious to know what the most popular routes will be these coming weeks? Let’s look back on last year’s top 5 destinations from Eindhoven Airport in December. You can clearly see the regional connection with Eastern Europe where many of our

international work force comes from: three out of five cities are in that region. Sofia takes 5th place (5,875 passengers in December 2021), Budapest comes 4th (7,065 passengers) and Krakow in place 3 (8,945 passengers). With no less than 32 destinations in Eastern Europe, there is plenty of room for the whole of Eindhoven to go home to family, as well as to discover the hometowns of new colleagues and neighbors.

Curious for the number one and two in the top 5? Those spots are reserved for the slightly warmer country of Spain, popular with both Dutch and international passengers alike to escape the cold winter for a bit. Malaga received 9,229 passengers (2nd place) and Alicante had 10,070 passengers, putting it in 1st place. But whatever choice you make, we wish you happy holidays and a wonderful 2023!

communications@eindhovenairport.nl

A foreign stamp of approval

Have you ever seen the Orange Army?

Dutch people fully dressed in orange, supporting their national soccer team, the speed skaters, Max Verstappen or celebrating King’s Day. The orange army is famous for their huge parties to which everyone is invited. If you ever encountered this loud and happy crowd, you may think the Netherlands is a proud nation.

But actually there are only a few occasions where the Dutch display national pride. We’re not keen on hoisting flags and singing the national anthem –which everyone agrees is a boring song that weirdly honors the Spanish king.

The Dutch are hesitant to express praise for anything they do well. I believe that is partly because our number 1 national sport is to complain. I am always surprised to hear that international research shows that the Dutch are generally very happy. You would not think so if you hear them talk.

We seem to look for international approval before we can appreciate our achievements ourselves. Every time the Dutch soccer team plays well and wins an important match (which does happen occasionally), the Dutch media immediately looks at the international papers. It is as if we are saying: “Look, the Italian media is impressed with our team, so they must be good”. A foreign stamp of approval is apparently needed.

Then there is our King Willem-Alexander. The fact that Maxima, a smart and glamorous Argentinian woman married him, increased the nation’s appreciation of him. One Dutch newspaper is obsessed with how the international media talks about our Queen. Wherever she goes, the newspaper quotes the local media – who are of course impressed. Our Queen, by being Argentinian and the person she is, gives us that extra boost that we so long for and cannot find within ourselves.

So if you want to be nice to a Dutch person (why not?), tell them what you like about this country. You will notice they will act surprised (really?) but you will also see this tiny sparkle of pride in their eyes.

Monique Mols

Media relations, ASML

Photo by Sebastiaan Stam, Unsplash

Helping Fellow Internationals Settle Into the Region

By Olivia van den Broek-Neri

I still get a bit excited when I hear that someone is from the US, but especially from my home state of California. That is because although I now consider the Netherlands home, I was not born here and will always relate to other internationals who are moving here.

My job at Holland Expat Center South is to help my fellow internationals to settle into the region. One of the ways that I do this is by organizing events to inform internationals about how things work in the Netherlands. Over the past several months, my colleagues and I have been able to organize several events,

including our monthly Welcome Evening and an Expat Housing Event. It has been wonderful to be able to speak directly with the attendees. It has been a pleasure to hear what brought them to Eindhoven and how they are building a life here!

Aside from offering information about specific topics that are important to internationals, these events also offer the opportunity to meet other people. Additionally, these events help introduce internationals to local spots so that they can get out and explore the region, to meet the locals and most important, to feel at home in Brabant!

Regardless of how long you have lived in the region, if you are seeking information or would like to meet new people, you are welcome to attend our events.

Holland Expat Center South organizes events throughout the year. Check our website for more information: www.hollandexpatcenter.com/ events/. You are always welcome!

Holland Expat Center South is a nonprofit governmental agency that helps internationals settle into Brabant. Internationals are welcome to contact us with any questions about settling into Brabant.

Olivia van den Broek-Neri is Project Coordinator Communications & Events at Holland Expat Center South.

MUSIC IS FOR EVERYONE!

Therefore, Muziekgebouw Eindhoven is committed to reaching every single inhabitant of Eindhoven. For this propose we are collaborating with a range of organizations on projects especially aiming at younger generations, people on a tight budget and inhabitants with a migration background

Drawings for Freedom

The first project - Drawings for Freedom - was a collaboration with War Child and several primary schools in Eindhoven. Over 600 youths presented their drawings and took part in an interactive event in our Main Hall, combining film with music.

Your World Your Music

Your World Your Music is a series of events which each focus on one community and their musical culture. Music, arts and crafts reflect their world and express their identity. We kicked off with Merhaba! Eindhoven, focusing on the Turkish community of Eindhoven. With 2,400 visitors the event was a success and a promising step in an important direction.

Chineke! Orchestra

This month we are looking forward to receiving Chineke! Orchestra on our Main stage, a symphony orchestra with a mission: “Our aim is to create a space where Black and ethnically diverse musicians can walk on stage and know that they belong. If even one child feels that their colour is getting in the way of their musical ambitions, we hope to inspire them, give them a platform, and show them that music is for all people.” Prior to this concert, we curate a panel on “diversity in music” addressing this subject from different angles.

Chineke means “God, creator of all good things”, which sums it all up! Do come and see Chineke! Orchestra in action on 21 November, 20h15. More information at mgehv.nl/chineke

Team Muziekgebouw Eindhoven www.muziekgebouweindhoven.nl

Chineke! Orchestra

The big party month puzzle: Test your knowledge of Dutch

December is a great time to rack your brains and solve a puzzle. Dutch newspapers are chock-full of them just before Christmas. Not that Dutch people are bored during this time of year; their diaries are usually bulging with appointments, get-togethers and shopping trips. It’s a tradition, especially among the older generation.

Regina Coeli’s language trainers have put together a puzzle so you can look for all kinds of Dutch words related to the festive month. Can you find them all?

Write the Dutch word in the corresponding space.

1. This is what the Piets toss to the children. A typical Sint treat.

2. The kind of stress that a lot of people feel just before Christmas.

3. What Dutch people eat on the 31st of December.

4. The means of transport used to bring Sinterklaas to the Netherlands.

5. The celebration for children to celebrate the arrival of Sinterklaas.

6. What Sinterklaas rides across the rooftops.

7. This is what Dutch people write to go with a Sint surprise.

8. The party on the 5th of December.

9. What the Dutch call the month of December.

10. When this is on the ground, we speak of a white Christmas.

11. A letter made of chocolate.

12. Many companies organise these in December.

13. You send this to family and relatives for Christmas.

14. The last day of the year.

15. What the evening of December 5th is called.

16. The 26th of December is called ‘tweede...’

17. These make a lot of noise on December 31st.

18. The name for the Catholic Church’s late mass on December 24th.

If you completed the puzzle correctly, you will find a saying under the red arrow. Send this saying to fred@howdomagazine.com and who knows, someone might be knocking at your door on December 5th with the “HOWDO FESTIVE MONTH” basket…

Working out despite physical limitations

Since about two years Marianne Filius (63 years old) is a fanatic member of Happy Bodies Eindhoven. What makes it special is that Marianne has osteoporosis. That doesn’t stop her from enjoying sports. By strengthening her back and abs, she has regular periods without pain. Marianne explains why she believes that this form of training is so good for her body.

We’ll see about that!

Marianne: “I have been working out at Happy Bodies in Eindhoven for a year or two, to great satisfaction. More than three years ago I was diagnosed with osteoporosis. Because my bones are very brittle, I have a number of intervertebral fractures, which can cause severe back pain. The doctors came with the message that I just have to learn to live with that. We’ll see, I thought then and rightly so. Strength training turns out to be really good for me. This makes my back muscles that are around those fractures stronger. My core is also getting stronger, which means that my back has less to endure. My body is quite strong and I have regular periods without pain.”

Right exercises at the right intensity

Marianne continues: “Bart, my trainer at Happy Bodies, has encouraged me to train harder. Many people with such a condition tend to sit on the couch and spare their bodies. But if you do it under good supervision, it is better to challenge your body.

When you start, the innovative Milonizer scans your body at lightning speed based on biometric markers. This means that all devices are always automatically set correctly, even if you have physical complaints. This way you always get the right exercises at the right intensity, very balanced. And a maximum of 35 minutes of exercise in the Milon circle twice a week, that is very well doable. No, my osteoporosis will not go away, but because I have made my body stronger, I hardly experience any pain anymore. How nice is that?!

Knowing more?

Curious how you too can work on your body in two times 35 minutes every ten days, under the guidance of your own personal lifestyle coach? Even if you have physical complaints? Then take the membership test (https://www.happybodies.nl/en/ milon-check/) and sign up for a free personal introductory meeting.

HAPPY BODIES

Philitelaan 59A - 5617 AK Eindhoven

Bart Rovers, owner of Happy Bodies Eindhoven

The Living In Program is part of the Municipality of Eindhoven/ Holland Expat Center South. We help internationals to settle in and to feel more at home in the Eindhoven region. We work together with all kind of organizations in the region. This time we would like to give information about Museum Helmond!

For more information about the Living In Program, please contact Josine Frankhuizen of Holland Expat Center South: J.Frankhuizen@eindhoven.nl

Check our free events on our website eventpage: www.hollandexpatcenter.com/en/events or follow us on Linkedin and Instagram.

Castle treasures of the past, art treasures of the present. At Museum Helmond, historic heroes and modern masters form two sides of the same coin. Museum Helmond consists of two remarkable locations: the historic Helmond Castle and the modern Kunsthal Helmond. Join us on a journey through the ages.

Helmond Castle

In the middle of Helmond has been standing for almost 700 years Helmond Castle. It is a fun and educational place to visit for families and anyone interested in Dutch history and heritage. In this largest moated castle in the Netherlands, you come face to face with the history of the castle which stretches over the centuries. Helmond Castle is the

type of castle that you see in children’s story books: square with a tower on each corner. It was initially built as a closed Medieval fortress by order of the Duke of Brabant. In the centuries that followed, the castle became home to four noble castle families. At the start of the twentieth century the castle was converted into a city hall where the mayor was

seated. Today, the city castle is a museum and popular location for events and weddings. In the tower room at the end of the route, the museum presents interesting temporary art and historyrelated exhibitions that connect the centuries-old story of the castle to the present.

Events

In addition to the varied exhibition programme, the museum organizes activities for families and people interested in art and history and heritage all-year round. We cater for children’s parties, events, lectures, interviews, tours, and group tours.

Kunsthal Helmond

Kunsthal Helmond is located near to Helmond Castle on the opposite bank of the Zuid-Willemsvaart canal. The exhibitions in Kunsthal Helmond present a

NOW ON DISPLAY:

variety of engaging themes that are always related to art and photography and the people that create it.

Walker Evans Revisited

11 OCTOBER 2022 – 5 MARCH 2023

Of all the celebrated photographers of the last century, the one who remains the most relevant today is Walker Evans (1903–1975). Some of his images are among the best known in the history of the medium.Walker Evans Revisited brings together three kinds of response from contemporary artists and photographers. Firstly, the continuation and extension of Evans’ ways of photographing everyday life—anonymous people, typical places, and vernacular buildings and objects. Secondly, the revisiting and re photographing of locations photographed by Evans. Lastly, the exhibition presents a variety of projects by artists responding very directly to particular images by Evans. These range from appropriation and collage, to re imaginings and homage.

A. Roiter NOW

4 OCTOBER 2022 - 2 APRIL 2023

Travel to undiscovered places in your mind, or physically move yourself to the other side of the world. These are two ways of travelling, and visual artist Andrei Roiter (1960) practises both forms. To Roiter, making art is a way of casting elusive feelings such as melancholy, fear, and hope in sometimes clear and sometimes poetic forms. He intuitively sets about his work. During the exhibition, spectators get the chance to look into the mind of the artist and be taken along on his journey. Go to www.museumhelmond.nl for up-to-date visitor information, prices, opening hours, and the exhibition and activities programme.

Photography: FotoStudio5700.nl

Can you sell your house with a mortgage?

As interest rates rise, taking over the buyer’s mortgage rate and terms may be helpful. Let’s say the seller took out a mortgage some years ago at a low interest rate, and now the situation has changed, the buyer benefits from a lower interest rate. The buyer can take over the seller’s low interest rate. There is a win-win situation for both sides. Buyers can get better interest rates, and sellers might attract more potential buyers and raise their asking price.

This situation only occurs sometimes. However, it is possible. Various Dutch mortgage lenders offer to pass on mortgage interest schemes. Most importantly, the seller must be willing to waive the mortgage terms and meet the mortgage lender’s requirements.

How does it work?

When a seller passes the interest rate to the buyer, the buyer takes over the remaining duration of the fixed-rate period. The buyer must go through the mortgage application procedure, and the lender must approve the mortgage. The current interest in the market will apply to the additional amount if the buyer needs a higher mortgage.

Seller benefits

• More attractive house offer. Taking over a mortgage with a lower interest rate; current interest rates are over 4,5 % (10 years fixed, 100% LtV).

• Higher asking price. In return for giving your interest rate away, the seller can have more leverage to negotiate the purchasing price.

Buyers benefits

Lower interest rates. Save on monthly interest rates over a fixed period.

Lower monthly payment. Moving the interest to a future home (within the interest fixed period).

Most Dutch lenders now allow borrowers to move their mortgage interest to their new home. Or the seller can leave the interest rate for the buyer.

Our financial advisor Marco Denis calculates your maximum mortgage that fits your personal financial situation and provides financial analysis, including your maximum mortgage, monthly mortgage payments, and taxes. Also Marco will advise you on the buying process and bidding price. Schedule a free call with Marco to learn more about your financial possibilities and start your house search today!

Feel free to contact us for a non-committal and free of charge introductory visit to learn more about your possibilities. We are happy to serve you.

040 211 51 52

info@fac-eindhoven.nl

MERLIN SEAFOOD: The new seafood concept at Stationsplein Eindhoven!

A gem. The hotspot for the fish lover.

Merlin Seafood Bar & Shop: fish at its best

various cooking competitions. He was nominated for the ‘Zilveren Mossel’ and he came fourth at the Dutch championships for apprentice chefs. Challenged by the versatility of fish and seafood products, he puts together a menu where delicious lunch dishes and beautiful fine dining dishes go hand in hand. His personal favorite? The Eel Brioche. A signature dish that you must have tasted!

Enjoy a delicious lunch and dinner in our Seafood Bar or visit our Seafood Shop and ‘fish’ the tastiest fresh products for home!

‘Merlin’ is derived from the French ‘Mer’ , combined with the Dutch name Linda. It is a reflection of French gastronomic quality, Brabant hospitality and the richness of the sea. Linda Rovers is at the helm, channeling no less than twenty years of experience into this brand new seafood concept.

She is supported by chef Ralf Smeulders. Since the start of his career, when he was still an apprentice chef, he has been very successful at

Merlin Seafood – Bar & Shop is all about beautiful products from the sea. Everything is absolutely fresh and of the highest quality. MERLIN

Choose a table in our restaurant, marvel at the navy blue and salmon pink interior and enjoy a delicious lunch or dinner. Or pop into our Shop! Here you can easily order a quick ‘dish on hand’ or fresh Seafood products for home.

Merlin – Seafood Shop: the new seafood shop in Eindhoven.

Our fishermen set out every day for the tastiest exclusive fresh fish. Oysters, halibut, mussels or scallops: these are just a few of the fresh range. In addition to our range of fresh fish and seafood, we also have tasty dishes for home, fish salads and the most delicious to-go meals and sandwiches.

Evoluon –RetroFuture

Eindhoven’s most iconic building The Evoluon has reopened to the public with the RetroFuture exhibition. The exhibition explores how we looked at the future in the past and what our expectations of the future are now.

No less than 3000 square meters of exhibition space has been set up in the futuristic national monument. As a visitor, in a spectacular and playful setting with design, art, science and film you are taken into the world of future thinkers, dreamers and artists through a visually overwhelming exhibition.

The RetroFuture exhibition was received with great enthusiasm by the press. De Volkskrant: “Evoluon, the ‘Eiffel Tower of Eindhoven’ will be restored as a technology museum after 33 years”. NRC: “It is more than just looking and reading, in this narrative exhibition, with numerous layers, which constantly provokes surprise and discussion.

Retrofuture

What was strange, awkward and/or artificial yesterday is familiar or even natural today. The classical dreams and challenges of the Egyptians, for example, inspire contemporary artists to create surprising mixes of objects, film and design, which shed new light on the future. Dreaming about

eternal life, a paradise on earth or a nightmare in which the world will come to an end; in the Evoluon you are made to think. And just five minutes from Eindhoven Airport, the Evoluon is perhaps the first thing you see when you enter the city. In any case, the first really striking building. Parking is easy on site, although Eindhoven ‘s ‘flying saucer’ is also easily accessible by bus and shared bicycle or scooter.

Iconic Eindhoven

“UFO Evoluon is a must-visit landmark in Eindhoven,” said an American visitor to the city. This special exhibition provides hours of entertainment and in between you can enjoy special food and a beautiful view in Brasserie Next. The restaurant lets you marvel at what happens when people, nature and

technology come together, and challenge each other. A place where you can relax, or experience a true (taste) sensation on the edge of your seat. You learn to see what you eat, recognize what you drink, taste what you smell and choose what you want. We make the connection between technology and food and drink.

Join the crew members of the Evoluon

The daily flow of visitors at the Evoluon is accompanied by a team of volunteers, the crew members of the Evoluon. They are easily recognizable by their black and yellow T-shirts and are an important face of the exhibition.

If you are also interested in being a volunteer in the Evoluon, sign up at volunteer@nextnature.net.

Knowledge of the Dutch language is not required, English would work as well!

DREAMSCAPES will get tangible in Eindhoven Art

in Eindhoven

From the 11th of November until 11th of December 2022 Wijnand Driessen will be in exhibition at the Albert van Abbehuis in Eindhoven with his exhibition “Dreamscapes”.

For him creating a painting is like creating and diving into a new world.

The artist and his works

Since 2009 Wijnand Driessen has been working in the animation industry as a background painter. In animation films, background and characters are always made separate from each other. As a result, the backgrounds often have an abandoned feeling. This desolation can be found throughout Wijnand’s work. The wide views, his eye for detail and his sharpened gaze are reminiscent of the magical realism of artists such as the Dutchman Carel Willink and the realism of the American Edward Hopper.

In addition, the many visits to Japan have strongly influenced his work. “The eye for detail, the compositions and use of color are specific elements that touched me as an artist. Working on animations for major studios such as on The Sandman for Netflix and Undone (Prime Video), Amazon Prime, Madhouse and others has given me a unique style in painting.”

His work is full of nostalgia, but also of hope. The promise to be able to visit that special place one day. Wijnand is looking forward in taking you on a

trip to one of these intriguing places. They look like every day urban landscapes and at the same time they show you the strangeness of a familiar environment. The hand painted and detailed qualities found in Japanese animation inspired him to become this meticulous artist.

The exhibition

The solo presentation of works by Wijnand Driessen (Nuenen NL 1984) consists of a series of paintings and artefacts. The exhibition will be open every Thursday to Sunday 1 - 5 pm at the Albert van Abbehuis at Bilderdijklaan 19 in Eindhoven center.

Meet the artist

On Thursday the 17th of November from 8pm Wijnand Driessen will be at the Albert van Abbehuis for conversations and questions about his work and experience as an artist. Feel free to drop in.

Contact info@albertvanabbehuis.com

Embracingthe beauty ofdiversity

Children today grow up in an increasingly interconnected and intercultural world. Being able to embrace diversity is an advantage, and being able to easily connect across cultures becomes more and more important, not only for today’s children. Fear and prejudice are frequently caused by social, cultural and religious differences. The unknown makes us uncomfortable. Therefore, the beauty of diverse communities needs to be experienced and celebrated. Education is key in raising awareness to embrace diverse cultures and faiths.

The diversity within the city of Eindhoven is represented in schools and other educational institutions. Global citizenship has become an important keyword with a school’s curriculum. Teaching about the beauty of diversity and connecting people across cultures is not only talked about, but consciously implemented and executed widely.

Over the last years InterCulturas has collaborated with schools like SintLucas to create innovative learning materials which put the theory into practice. Combining the expertise in intercultural communication and education, academic teaching and design for learning, and playing material, InterCulturas supports teachers, schools, parents,

and children to face the challenges of an increasingly intercultural world.

Cultural identity and the power of storytelling Recently, InterCulturas has started collaborating with the Albert van Abbehuis, an art space, in Eindhoven. This gives the unique opportunity of combining the experience of an art exhibition with personal reflections and (intercultural) storytelling within workshops and other activities - those can be team-building workshop for (diverse) groups or a creative storytelling workshop for students. Participants will change the way they think about their identity, culture, and the communities they are a part of. Learning about oneself and seeing the world from new perspectives is always the first step to successfully building (intercultural) communication skills. Through guided tours, facilitated group discussions, and creative reflection activities, bridges are built between the artwork and individual ideas about (team) identity and culture.

Get connected!

Are you curious to learn more about InterCulturas’s activities?

Do you want to be part of the continuously growing network of internationals who are sharing their experience first hand to students?

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Please get in contact! info@interculturas.nl https://interculturas.nl/

Sinterklaas is almost on his way…

For those of you who don’t know Sinterklaas yet, here is a chance to meet him! Sinterklaas visits the Netherlands once a year to celebrate his birthday on the 5th of December. Instead of receiving presents for his birthday, he gives presents away to all the children. This year Sinterklaas arrives in the Netherlands by boat on the 12th of November, along with many many helpers. Once he has arrived he continues his travel on his horse Ozosnel towards the residence where he will stay to prepare all the gifts for the children; the big red book of Sinterklaas contains all the names of the children, how they behaved and what they have on their wishlist.

For the fourth year in a row Sinterklaas will stay in the Steentjeskerk in Eindhoven, an old church, the perfect venue for all the things that Sinterklaas and his helpers (they are called Pieten) need to do. The Sinterklaashuis is open from Sunday 13 November till Sunday 4 December. A tour through the house will lead you to the Postoffice where all the drawings and wish lists made by children are being collected. You get to see the bedroom where Sinterklaas can do his necessary nap, mind you, he is already very old! The bedroom where the Pieten can rest after their hard work; the room where all the presents are being packed; the bakery/peppernut machine for the famous Dutch peppernuts where children can follow an interactive process of peppernut baking.

Sinterklaas and his helpers deliver the presents through the chimneys of the houses; the Pieten need to be real acrobats to do that. The kids can follow a route over roofs and can throw packages in the chimneys, try to stack packages and in the end they will receive a real “Pieten” certificate signed by Sinterklaas and the Chief Piet themselves!

The highlight is of course the meeting with Sinterklaas, children can have their photograph taken while Sinterklaas reads from his big red book. It‘s a wonderful and exciting outing for the whole family. The tour takes about 50 minutes after which children are invited to dance with the Pieten in the disco while their parents/caregivers can enjoy a drink and a snack.

For more information please check the website: www.sinterklaashuis-eindhoven.nl where you will find all the information as well as a direct link to reserve your tickets.

One last thing: don’t mix up Sinterklaas with Santa Claus! Because Sinterklaas resides throughout the year in Spain whereas Santa Claus goes back to the North Pole after his visit at Christmas. And where Sinterklaas rides his horse when on Dutch soil… Santa Claus takes a sleigh and nine flying reindeer (including Red-nosed Rudolph).

Celebrate the small steps, they are part of your bigger journey!

As I was putting pen to paper to write this article for the last number of HowDo magazine in 2022, I inevitably thought about the articles in the previous numbers.

I wrote about the need of changing our behaviours to change our results, about how important it is to understand the power of diversity to develop highly effective multicultural teams, and about the importance of getting out of our comfort zone to increase our resilience. What it seemed as a natural next subject to me, was to write about the importance of celebrating our small successes, achievements, especially as we approach the festive season.

Do you celebrate your small achievements or are you one of those people who consider they have nothing to celebrate until they achieved the full goal? I used to be one of those…

We all cheer strongly for the child who took their first or second step even if they fell, we do not wait for them to have a full walk to say “Bravo! Well done!”. Somehow as we grow our expectations on ourselves grow as well and we tend to forget the importance of celebrating the small steps.

Celebrating small wins is an important step to create e feeling of pride and enhance the energy to continue working towards the larger goals, it is the incremental success of small achievements that brings us the bigger goal.

When in the next weeks, as we approach the end of year, you will look back to your 2022 achievements and wonder what 2023 holds in for you, make sure you celebrate those smalls steps and wins; before you craft your vision for 2023. Remember always that the small steps take us far, and they are part of our bigger journey, therefore each step or win is a reason to celebrate!

Ralu Nistor-Lustermans, is the founder of ERNL, a business consultancy and coaching company, that offers:

• Team effective collaboration workshops

• 121 coaching

• Organizational culture assessments and advise

Ralu is a seasoned international internal auditor, trained in business coaching, NLP, applied neuroscience and positive psychology. More about Ralu and ERNL at: www.er-nl.com

Going through change and you need support, reach out: ralu@er-nl.com

WELCOME TO BREDA:

City of bon vivants and a living room for everyone

Breda, the city where people meet and celebrate and decorate life. A hospitable place, where everyone is welcome. Where you experience culture, in all its variations. From historical to contemporary. And where you will find many cozy restaurants, modern and centuries-old shops. Breda is buzzing: be surprised by a day or weekend in the city center.

Breda is an open city, where you will be surprised every day. Because of the beauty, warm people and contrasts. Old and new, style and frayed, green and urban. From the Grote Markt to the Havermarkt and from the historic St. Annastraat to the stylish Houtmarkt. The allure of a city and the conviviality of a village. You quickly feel at home in Breda.

Old and new, chic and ragged, historic and contemporary. That’s Breda, where it all comes together. The casual atmosphere of the Veemarktkwartier, the Mediterranean appearance of Oranje Zuid and the vibrant Belcrum. The atmospheric areas are all worth exploring.

Indoorshopping

De Barones is a beautiful indoor shopping center in the middle of the historic heart of Breda, where you can shop and spend endless hours in an attractive environment, seven days a week. You can easily park your car or bicycle nearby, covered and safely. Around the corner you‘ll find lots of restaurants.

Beautiful brands

At de Barones you can shop varied and in a pleasant atmosphere at beautiful stores including Bershka, Etos, Guess, Sissy Boy, Game Mania, Only, OPEN32, Pull & Bear, T-Mobile, The Body Shop, Tierelantijn, The Sting, Meyer & Meyer, Xenos, de Koopman, Van Delft pepernoten and Mango. You can enjoy a nice coffee and lunch at Koffie bij Teun.

Information

More information about the shops, holiday events, opening times, hotspot route through Breda and

more? Look at barones.nl. Follow de Barones on Facebook and Instagram to make sure you don’t miss any news.

Breda InternationalsThe platformcommunity for and by internationals

Breda, a city that welcomes internationals with a warm heart. Once you arrive in the city of Breda, you will quickly notice that this city isn’t just any city. It’s about the people (Bredanaars), a tight-knit and welcoming community with a population so diverse but still so similar. Anyone who’s working, studying, or visiting Breda will experience its hospitality and warm characteristics at their own time and speed.

can help you find your way in the city and build your network. We organize diverse events like city tours and workshops such as housing or cycling rules. Hosting monthly international meetups at different locations in Breda can be your starting point for making new friends in town. Check out all events and activities on the website bredainternationals.com

The central platform for internationals

Welcoming internationals to the city of Breda is the vision of Breda Internationals – the community platform for and by internationals. This online and offline platform is an initiative by the municipality of Breda and its partners Holland Expat Center South, Breda University of Applied Sciences, Avans, and International School Breda. Together, integrating knowledge and skills is fundamental in making the community develop and grow. Breda Internationals

Exciting but scary at the same time Moving abroad is a major step in life, bringing opportunities and challenges. Deciding whether to stay in a foreign country is another. That’s why with the support of the province of North Brabant, a LivingIn Coordinator for expats has been dedicated to Breda and the region West-Brabant. Introducing you to Carmen Rasmusen, born in Switzerland, raised in the heart of Europe, Luxembourg, and now living in the historical city of Breda.

A LivingIn coordinator?

A few years ago, Breda Internationals was introduced. A platform for and by internationals. Hosting all kinds of events for internationals to meet each other and to meet the city of Breda. Breda Internationals branches out with the help of a new role, LivingIn coordinator. To further evolve and

deepen the connection of the triple helix: Government, Business and Education by fostering economic and social development. Breda will closely work together with the Holland Expat Center South (HECS) in Eindhoven. Exchange of expertise and knowledge to the domestic city, Breda.

The LivingIn Program focuses on the first hire and their accompanying partner and family members. The mission is to help retain international talent by making them feel at home. It’s about making use of the international talent that is already in the region. Investing in improving the international living climate in the province of North Brabant by attracting and retaining international talent.

New things coming…

This coming year several new projects will rise, such as welcome evenings with city tours, including a welcoming package. Another is introducing the Women for Women project – An initiative that has been introduced by Expat Spouses Initiative (ESI) and the LivingIn program by HECS in Eindhoven. It involves supporting the expat accompanying partners in setting up a professional network. Pairing them with a local ambassador, who will guide them with professional advice and tips. The program is outstanding as more than 80% of the talents

succeeded with positive follow-ups in the past editions in Eindhoven.

Did you know…?

Breda has a physical desk for internationals to visit for all kinds of questions related to arriving and settling in in Breda. The Expat Information Desk located at the International School Breda opens every Tuesday and Thursday from 10:00 to 12:00 (not open during school holidays), supported by its partners Holland Expat Center South and Breda Internationals. Internationals can visit the desk for any kind of questions about Breda.

Meet internationals in

Breda

Breda Internationals collaborates with the entrepreneurial platform BredaBusiness and gives the stage to four internationals, from small businesses to multinational corporations. At first, most internationals plan to stay for a few months or just a couple of years but do end up staying longer than previously expected.

Luara Kamma-Moore, Alberto Pistis, Cem Turk, and Elisa Cuiffarella, are examples of internationals who not only cherish the work-life balance in Breda but also share their passion and useful tips. Luara Kamma-Moore (American), opens her very own zero-waste store Elemental Eco – not just a store but a place of connection over shared values, the desire to be part of the solution, and the drive to create a community of like-minded people. Alberto Pistis (Italian), a knowledgeable, passionate, and proud of his work as a financial manager at Amgen. Moving from Milan to the Netherlands, he found a rhythm that he could hold much better – “It’s not too fast and not too slow”. Alike for the international employee at CM.com, Cem Turk, Breda known as the

city in a park brings many advantages to living and working here.

Elisa Cuiffarella, from Italy, identifies a market gap and opens a yoga studio with her partner, a safe space for the international community. She recognizes how Breda is evolving, becoming a more international and more business-welcoming place. And this is just touching the edge of what’s really happening in Breda. Read all about it on BredaBusiness.com or watch the video series on the YouTube of Breda Internationals.

BredaBusiness is here for you

The entrepreneurial platform BredaBusiness can assist and develop a long-lasting relationship with your business, and help you grow your business through any development phase of your company.

Take the plunge and get in touch with BredaBusiness.

All in all, Breda brings it together, the city slogan seen in both the local and international residents between the work-life balance. It’s no secret, together, we are stronger. Discover the fostering opportunities in Breda as an individual, family, or in business. www.linkedin.com/company/platform-breda-international/

Providing a full range of international tax services at advantageous rates

setting up an optimal business and investment structure. In addition to advice and guidance, we also provide administrative work such as the preparation and submission of income and corporate tax returns, as well as payroll administration.

Belgian and German team

After his time as a student in Groningen, World Tax & Employment Services (“WT&ES”)

founder Wico de Boer started his career at Ernst Young, before continuing at KPMG Meijburg & Co. Thereafter he established WT&ES, and being part of several international networks allows a worldwide service for both corporate as employment services.

Wico about the services of WT & ES: “We are specialized in international tax law and advise on international broadcasting as well as international tax planning for companies. In order to optimally serve our customers, we work closely with our business partners (WTS and

GTN). These partnerships allow us to leverage a global network of services ranging from international tax, legal and accounting issues.”

Clients

Wico continues: “We serve different types of clients, from individuals with specific international tax questions to start-ups and medium-sized companies. With regard to broadcasting programs, WT&ES has clients who send an employee on assignment for the first time to clients who work with fully integrated international (trainee) projects.

In the field of corporate tax, clients range from family businesses, succession and estate planning to cross-border companies that need advice on

WT&ES also has a Belgian and German team. These teams advise and support Dutch clients in Belgium and Germany as well as German and Belgian clients in the Netherlands. Both teams have specific knowledge about the tax implications for business and work at our nearest neighbours.

Concluding: “We combine a personal no-nonsense client service with professional competence to provide a full range of international tax services to our clients at advantageous rates.”

Verlengde Poolseweg 16 4818 CL Breda

The Netherlands

M + 31 6 10 90 20 50

E info@wt-es.nl

Strolling along the boulevard

Strolling, bobbing in a boat, grabbing a terrace? You do that in the Port of Breda. The perfect spot to relax. During the day or into the late hours. For example on the Havermarkt, where farmers used to sell their vegetables, eggs and butter. Today you can enjoy a coffee, beer or something else delicious. And that with a view of the Grote Kerk: the ‘Grand Old Lady’ of Breda. Walk in and taste the grandeur of Breda as a Nassau city. In the evening the church is attractively lit.

Hiphotspot

Behind the station is the Belcrum, the hippest hotspot in Breda. In recent years, this neighborhood has evolved from ‘you don’t want to be seen here’ to ‘you have to be here’. A lot of trendy shops, catering, creative and cultural initiatives have now been established. Definitely worth making a detour for. With its own city beach (Belcrum Beach), creative breeding ground (STEK), gallery (MotMot Gallery) and beer and food paradise (BRACK), Belcrum is the urban place to be.

The pearl ofBreda

The Ginnekenweg is the ‘pearl’ of Breda. A unique street, full of history and an extensive range of luxury shops and delicious restaurants. Personal attention and expertise are key here. In almost every store you will find the owner, with a lot of professional knowledge of the products. And in the catering industry you will find the best chefs, who work with pure products from the area and believe that dining out should be an experience. Also nice: the Ginnekenweg is a great starting point for a walking route towards the center.

The ‘living room’of Breda

The city center of Breda as the ‘living room’ for everyone. That is what the city is aiming for. Successfully. For example, Breda was the ‘Best City Center in the Netherlands’ from 2017 to 2021. A title to be proud of. But the city goes a step further. In 2031 Breda wants to be the ‘Most Hospitable City Center of Europe’. And all Breda entrepreneurs are committed to that. You feel that, you notice that and you taste it. In the center of Breda. Where people meet, celebrate and decorate life, with attention to each other.

During your visit, you shouldn’t limit yourself to the city center. Of course you should not miss it, but also take a look around the center. At the hip hotspots on Haveneiland, bustling Ginneken or the unpolished Haagdijken. Be surprised by the creative character and the mix of old and new. Enjoy the hospitality and relax in the greenery.

The nicest (and oldest) street in Breda!

In the Veemarktkwartier you experience Breda’s craftsmanship. Here you wander through the streets, full of small businesses with their own signature. Unique, personal and casual. Friendly in the ‘Bredaas’ way’. For example in the Sint Annastraat, awarded as the ‘nicest street in Breda’. With cute, authentic buildings and beautiful boutiques. Not only the nicest, but also the oldest street in the center of Breda.

Peace and space Unpolished and colorful

Unpolished. Those are the Haagdijken Colourful, active and diverse. With a distinctive character and a clear link to the rich history of Breda. They are city streets where there is life all day long. Where people shop, live and work. This is the place to be for locally brewed beer and exotic vegetables. For a döner sandwich and a sausage roll. For a clothing boutique and a unique second-hand store. There is room for everyone. From student to cargo bike dad. And from a young couple to a wealthy senior.

Peace and space, yet close to the bustle of the city, that is the Ginneken. An area with a unique mix of shops, restaurants, nature and dynamics. With the Ginnekenmarkt as the bustling heart and the beautiful Markdal and Mastbos as green resting points. Once a separate village, now a Burgundian atmosphere with a surprising number of faces. Also nice: within walking distance of the Ginnekenmarkt is the fairytale Bouvigne Castle, surrounded by three special gardens and a beautiful orchard.

Everyone at ease

One of the oldest streets in the city center is the Boschstraat. Where everyone does it ‘easy’. Take it easy, on shady terraces, under ancient trees. At creative companies or Stedelijk Museum Breda. Here you can enjoy art, fresh coffee or home-brewed beer. It is good to stay here. Enjoy a Burgundian experience.

The beating heart

The centre: the beating heart of Breda. With its Grote Markt, hundreds of shops and bustling terraces. A part of Breda full of history and surprising places. Such as the Houtmarkt, with its stylish architecture and boutiquelike atmosphere. The covered Baroness with 20 shops under one roof or the Veemarktstraat with more than 70 shops, specialty stores and crafts. Named the ‘shopping street’ in Breda by the shopkeepers.

For the connoisseur

Shopping and drinks, Oranje-Zuid excels in enjoyment. This area exudes grandeur and allure and has a Mediterranean appearance. Passionate entrepreneurs provide a personal welcome and are happy to introduce you to their products. You will find luxurious shops, from glassware to design. And the best restaurants, where Burgundian enjoyment comes to life. Our tip: don’t miss the Ginnekenweg.

In the Wereldwinkel, commerce and ideals go hand in hand. The Wereldwinkel sells authentic products with a contemporary twist from developing countries. The makers are, for example, Mexican coffee farmers, Balinese wood carvers and Thai ceramists. Some have their own businesses, others work in small factories. All people who, like everyone else, have the right to a home, food, education and medical care. In ordinary trade they often remain invisible and unheard of. And with their work they earn an irregular income that they can barely survive on.

The makers can tell their story in the Wereldwinkel. How they make beautiful products with few resources and what they need to improve their business. With your purchase in the Wereldwinkel you contribute to the development of the makers and you help them build a better life.

Fotografie: Breda Marketing - Gré van Pelt, Willem Vlijm, Wessel Keizer - Bureau Duizenddingen i.o.v. Breda Marketing.

Well prepared for moving to the Netherlands

For over 25 years, ABN AMRO has been the trusted financial partner for expats, diplomats, civil servants and international organisations. We provide products and advice on payments, savings, insurance, credit cards, mortgages, loans and investments.

If you’re moving to the Netherlands, you might have a lot of questions. Like: “Where will I live?”, “How will I do my finances?”, and “Where will my children go to school?”.

Make a checklist:

Make a personal checklist, and be sure not to forget anything while settling in. The tips and information in the checklist will help you prepare for moving to the Netherlands. It will take you only 3 minutes. You can download the PDF immediately. The “to-dos” in the PDF show you what you still need to arrange right away. You can also find extra information that will help you prepare for your stay in the Netherlands.

Open a Dutch bank account:

The Dutch bank account will help you to manage your day-to-day banking easily and securely. Making transfers or setting alerts to notify you when your salary has been paid into your bank account: our award-winning ABN AMRO app makes it all easy. And if you need help, we’re here for you 24/7.

Pay even faster with Apple Pay and Google Pay

Never worry about forgetting your debit or credit card, with Apple Pay or Google Pay. By simply linking your ABN AMRO digital debit card to your iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, or Android Phone you can make quick and safe contactless payments. Use it in shops, apps and online.

Expert in Expats

Our experts are more than happy to help you open a bank account, take out an insurance and more. All in English.

Why choose ABN AMRO?

1. ABN AMRO has special staff with years of experience helping expats in the Netherlands. The advisers can help you with everything you will run into as an expat.

2. All of the expat advisers at the International Clients Desk are fluent in English.

3. With Internet Banking, you can transfer money from anywhere in the world. And our Mobile Banking app is available in English too.

More information:

ABN AMRO Vestdijk 18 abnamro.nl Tel. 0900 - 00 24 From abroad: +31 (0)10 241 17 20

A recent policy brief from the OECD and the European Commission [1] pointed out that women are half as likely as men to be entrepreneurs. This ratio holds through almost every country within the economic union, and in countries like Ireland and Malta, men were nearly three times as likely to be entrepreneurs. At a continental level, there is a significant gender gap regarding entrepreneurial activities.

However, not only does the report point out a gap in numbers, but it also points out discrepancies between women-owned and men-owned businesses. There is a significant difference in the type of industries that women operate in compared to men, and womenowned businesses tend to earn significantly less than men, with women earning 33% less respectively. The COVID-19 pandemic has also disproportionately impacted women globally; the United Nations has warned of a “shadow pandemic” with “devastating social and economic consequences for women and girls.”

Data also shows a gender gap in self-employment among immigrants in Europe. In 2020, 16% of working immigrant men were self-employed, 1.6 times greater

Start Her Up: an Entrepreneurship Program for Women in Eindhoven

than the proportion of immigrant women who were self-employed. While the gender gap in selfemployment for immigrants has changed little over the past 15 years, the convergence in self-employment rates between immigrants and non-immigrants has been greater for women than for men.

Immigrant entrepreneurs often face greater barriers to entrepreneurship than the non-immigrants. These challenges are linked to facing language barriers, adjusting to a new culture, navigating a new institutional environment, small professional networks and a lack of credit history, legal status and/or eligibility to work. Moreover, immigrants are often less aware of available support (e.g. entrepreneurship training programmes, grant schemes) and report that it is not accessible (e.g. support is not provided in multiple languages) or sufficiently adapted to their needs. [2]

Beyond just the inclusion of women into the economy, female entrepreneurship can add much value to society.

According to the World Bank [3], female entrepreneurship plays a significant role in job

Photography:

creation, wealth increases, poverty reduction, education, health and a nation’s development. For the Netherlands specifically, female entrepreneurship can be vital to the economy, especially as we head into a time of economic uncertainty. Supporting women entrepreneurs is one of the most effective tools to revive growth, create jobs and generate transformational economic impact.

Inclusive entrepreneurship policy can play a more significant role in the new inflationary economy and can help to alleviate pressures in the labour market. We must understand that economic growth is not enough to promote female entrepreneurship [4]; it has to happen through a combination of sociocultural developments and governmental policies. Recessions bring new opportunities, and today we have the opportunity to include women in our economic recovery plans.

We as International Creative Women understand very well these challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, and that is precisely the reason ICW was founded. We have also experienced firsthand the positive impact on women and their families when the women received the appropriate support.

We are happy to announce that we will continue the work we have been doing by launching a new program, this time with the help of Gemeente Eindhoven. Our program, Start Her Up, will be launched at the beginning of 2023.

Start Her Up is an integrated business creation scheme that aims to support unemployed women in starting their own businesses in Eindhoven. The program combines business advice, personal development and entrepreneurial skill building.

We will inspire and promote female entrepreneurship through personal stories, positive role models, and increased visibility. It is very important to encourage

more women to view entrepreneurship as a potential career choice.

Start Her Up will also promote networking and collaborative entrepreneurship as a powerful tool for success. This is a group program where women can connect with each other, share ideas and experiences, learn together and thrive together.

Would you like to support the Start Her Up program or participate as a woman entrepreneur? Send us an email at startherup@internationalcreativewomen.nl and let us know!

[1] European Commission. Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion. & Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2016). Policy brief on women’s entrepreneurship. Publications Office. https://doi.org/10.2767/50209

[2] European Commission (2021), The Missing Entrepreneurs 2021: Policies for Inclusive Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment, OECD Publishing, Paris. h ttps://doi.org/10.1787/71b7a9bb-en

[3] World Bank Group. (2016, 25 April). Female Entrepreneurship Resource Point - Introduction and Module 1: Why Gender Matters. World Bank. https://www.worldbank.org/en/topic/gender/ publication/female-entrepreneurship-resourcepoint-introduction-and-module-1-why-gendermatters

Patat, PiazzaParaplu, & PSV

Days are getting shorter, and the fancy lights glitter all over the city. The Glow festival, a proud feather on the Dutch cap, is warming our spirits along with the gluhwein. Oliebollen aroma is in the air, and everyone’s busy, a wonderful sight after fearful two years. And still, there’s hope that this winter will put an end to the Ukraine war.

Christmas markets are opening again without the fear of being asked to close anytime. People have about six weeks to enjoy the Christmas markets, so there isn’t much time to visit many. So let’s find out about the Top Christmas markets in the region and soak in the Christmas spirit.

Brussels beckons

Rightly called Winter wonders, it is the biggest Christmas market in Belgium, with 2.5 million annual visitors. The great classics are all awaiting you: magnificent Sound and Light shows at the Grand Place, a majestic tree, a life-sized manger, a skating rink, magical lights and many exhibitions which dot the event and, of course, amazing Christmas markets bursting with treasures which will delight the curious and titillate the gourmets’ taste buds.

Open from 25 November 2022 to 1 January 2023.

Cologne calls

The Christmas markets in Cologne are among the most beautiful ones in Germany. Its Christmas tree

is ranked among the most beautiful Christmas trees in Europe. You’re sure to be enchanted by this metropolis on the banks of the Rhine, especially during this Christmas fervour. Not being tempted by the individually crafted artisan handicrafts and culinary specialities at this market is a tall order.

Open from 21 November to 23 December 2022.

Dusseldorf draws

There are several Christmas markets in Düsseldorf, all located in the Old Town area (Altstadt). Düsseldorf boasts new features such as a 1700-square-meter and a new Fairy Tale Market that invites all visitors, especially families with children, to experience the pre-Christmas magic. In addition, there will be a children’s activities tent on JanWellem-Platz with shows every day.

Open from 17 November to 30 December 2022.

Aachen allures

The Aachen Christmas market is shrouded in radiant light around the town hall and the Charlemagne. About four weeks before Christmas, the squares and alleys turn into a Christmas village; the twinkling lights and whiff of Glühwein and Print cookies make for a cozy atmosphere. The tourist office of Aachen has exclusive deals and packages for Christmas market visitors.

Open from 18 Nov to 23 December 2022.

A word of caution when visiting German Christmas markets:

Certain German cities (e.g., Cologne) require cars to have an environmental sticker (Umwelt -Plakette) when driving through the city centre. Winter tyres are mandatory in Germany, and besides, you may want to check on the Autobahn regulations. Obtaining the Umwelt-Plakette in Germany may not be easy (most garages are closed on Saturdays) and is only possible at the car dealers of your car brand. It is best to buy these in advance in the Netherlands.

Magical Maastricht

It’s a relief to know that you no longer need to go to neighbouring countries to visit an authentic

Christmas market. A visit to the Vrijthof in South Limburg’s capital gets a nostalgic edge. The inner city square is a scene to behold of wooden chalets with red roofs and garlands, an illuminated Ferris wheel and a large skating rink; this is Magical Maastricht. There is plenty to do at the Christmas market in Maastricht. Pirouettes or fumbling on the skates, sink your teeth into an oliebol, drink mulled wine, score handmade gifts and take pictures from above from the Ferris wheel. Moreover, your children will have fun on the merry-go-round or the covered giant slide.

Open from 1 to 31 December 2022.

About

Beena Arunraj is the editor-in-chief and director of Eindhoven News. She is a freelance writer, creates powerful web content and inks brand campaigns for her living. The most important principle in her life is «equality and fairness» so, a natural fit in the Netherlands.

Ons Kloosterpad - ‘Our Monastery Path’

Go for a walk and get to learn about the life and work of North Brabant’s monks, past and present. Ons Kloosterpad (‘Our Monastery Path’) is a 330-kilometre walking route which takes you in fifteen stages past fifty (former) monasteries and abbeys in North Brabant. It is possible to walk the various stages independently, from monastery to monastery. A few monasteries are even open for overnight stays. This means you can make it a multi-day walk. Would you rather follow a tour? There are at least ten amazing tours with a maximum of two hours at various monasteries and abbeys, where you start and finish at the same location. We highlight several stage walks and monastery tours for you.

Our

Monastery Trail Stage 1 ‘s-Hertogenbosch – Heeswijk

This walking route allows amblers to discover the area between ‘s-Hertogenbosch and Heeswijk. It runs from the city monastery San Damiano in ‘s-Hertogenbosch to the Abbey of Berne in Heeswijk. On the way you will pass various locations such as the former monastery Mariënburg and St John’s Cathedral. You can also explore the confraternity house Zwanenbroedershuis and Heeswijk Castle.

Our Monastery Trail Stage 9 Aarle Rixtel - Eindhoven

This walking route allows amblers to discover the area between Aarle Rixtel and Eindhoven. This route takes you from the Missionary Convent Heilig Bloed in Aarle Rixtel to former monastery Mariënhage in Eindhoven. Along the way you will pass various locations such as the Our Lady Presentation Church and the Mariëngaarde Chapel. You can also explore Croy Castle and former priory Hooidonk.

Tours along North Brabant monasteries and abbeys

Heeswijk-Dinther walking tour

The Heeswijk-Dinther Abbey Walk will show you the stunning countryside around Berne Abbey. The route takes you past places such as the St. Willibrordus Church, the Meierijsche Museumboerderij (Museum Farm), the Kersouwe Open Air Theatre and Heeswijk Castle, one of the four leading monuments in North Brabant.

Tour of the monastery in Velp

This tour of almost 9 kilometres in the most eastern part of the North Brabant region, in Land van Cuijk, allows you to explore nature’s beauty around the Trinity in Velp. The Trinity consists of the three religious buildings on the edge of the village: the former Emmaus monastery, the castle monastery Bronckhorst and the St Vincentius Church.

Aarle-Rixtel walking tour

The Aarle-Rixtel Abbey Walk will show you the beautiful countryside around the Mission Convent of the Holy Blood in Aarle-Rixtel. You will start at the beautiful convent with its adjacent convent garden. You can look out across the fields where nuns once grew their crops. The route takes you past Gemert Monastery Castle, the St. John’s Onthoofdingskerk Church, St. George’s Chapel and the former Nazareth Convent of the Franciscan Nuns of Oirschot.

Tour of the Sint Agatha monastery

Another tour in Land van Cuijk, right next to the Maas, nestled among the fields, lies Sint Agatha monastery, the oldest still-inhabited monastery in the Netherlands. Protected by a dyke, the chapel rises from the landscape. Monks have been linked to this place already since 1371. The Order of the Holy Cross occupies the monastery now. The tour around this monastery and the area around it is 7.6 kilometres long. All stages and tours can be found at visitbrabant.com Brabant.

Walking through the Van NationalGoghPark

Discover National Park Van Gogh. Appreciate the North-Brabant countryside full of meandering streams, extensive nature reserves, farm land, country estates, and with natural vegetation right into the hearts of towns and villages. We are working hard together to create a beautiful, healthy and natural environment, with Vincent van Gogh as our guide. He grew up in this area and was inspired by the countryside and by the people of Brabant who worked on the land. The Van Gogh tours will show you places that played an important role in his life, and let you experience them for yourselves. It’s just like walking through a painting! Four tours have been marked in the countryside already, the fifth in a row will be implemented in and around Helvoirt.

Van Gogh walking tour Nuenen

This varied walking route (10 km) in the footsteps of Vincent van Gogh takes you through the beautiful countryside and along the heritage of Nuenen. You will pass through the lovely nature reserve Nuenens Broek with woods, fields, meadows, vernal pools and the Hooidonkse Beek valley. Further on in this walk you’ll pass old hamlets and the church village of Gerwen, where Vincent drew the Sint-Clemens church. You can’t get any closer to Vincent than this!

Van Gogh walking route Etten-Leur

Welcome to Etten-Leur. This is the place where Vincent van Gogh started his artistic career in 1881. The heathland landscape enchanted him above all. The countryside, the farming life, and the simple people intrigued him. He took lengthy walks through his birth region. Walk in his footsteps and experience what touched and inspired him. Take a moment to enjoy Vincent’s countryside.

Van Gogh walking route Tilburg

It is in Tilburg where the young Van Gogh received his first drawing lessons from master Huijsmans in 1866. When Van Gogh arrived in Tilburg at the age of thirteen, the population of the ‘city’ was around 18,500. The Tilburg-Breda railway line and station had been there for just three years, and the most common occupations were weaver and factory worker. In the immediate vicinity of Tilburg, is the stream landscape of the Leij and Voorste Stroom, as was the case back then, with its small fields and characteristic pollard willows. Take a walk out of the city and into the countryside and discover the cosy Piushaven, De Nieuwe Herdgang observation tower and Moerenburg-Koningshoeven Country Park.

Van Gogh walking tour Zundert

The extremely varied walking route (8 km) takes you through Vincent’s birthplace of Zundert. You walk past six Van Gogh Monuments, past the heritage, past his childhood and through the landscape with winding streams that was so close to his heart. Open your senses and experience the origins of Van Gogh’s personality and artistry. And places that the artist looked back on with nostalgia later in his life.

Van Gogh NP walking tours

The Van Gogh walking tours are mapped out along the footpath intersection system in North-Brabant. You will recognize the tours by the signs showing ‘Van Gogh Nationaal Park’ that you will find at every intersection signpost. Follow the Van Gogh walking tour from one numbered junction to the next (see map legend). Follow the footpath system signs between the intersections. You can not get lost!

The Ottoman & MaxOlive:

“Fresh” is our motto!

He owns two businesses, together with his sons Uğurcan and Metincan: Turkish restaurant The Ottoman (Strijpsestraat, near Trudoplein) and MaxOlive catering and delicacies (in AH XL on Limburglaan).

“It is our passion to make and present food,” says Maksut Konar.

Maksut continues: “I had a Turkish supermarket and in 1985 I started selling trips to Turkey. When this expanded, we moved with the travel agency to the town centre, where we continued to expand our activities together with Thomas Cook. During that time, we created a special bond with PSV: I organized trips to international youth tournaments in Antalya in Turkey for PSV youth teams. Over the years, various PSV players have found their way to our restaurant.

From shoarma to Turkish cuisine

In 2012, I got the opportunity to take over a Turkish bakery on Strijpsestraat, and we turned it into a shawarma place. Uğurcan was able to learn the trade here and eventually took over the business in 2015. The business went so well that I had to make the difficult choice to quit the travel agency.

It was clear from the start what I wanted: to work with fresh products as much as possible. That applies to everything we do. Whether for The Ottoman, for MaxOlive or for our catering activities: 95% of our products are fresh.”

Pure nature

With more than 40 varieties of olives and fresh, homemade tapenades, MaxOlive is the best address for gourmets. Be surprised by the unforgettable flavors of Turkey, Greece, Morocco, Spain and Italy. The olives contain no fragrances, colors or flavors and are also very healthy, because they are rich in vitamins, minerals and unsaturated fatty acids. Olives cannot be eaten fresh from the tree, they taste very bitter. Therefore they are placed in a salt water bath for a year first, to remove the bitter taste. This process can easily be accelerated by notching the olives, but this affects the taste and MaxOlive does not make any concessions.

MaxOlive also has a nice collection of special vinegars and oils; from balsamic to orange vinegar, from garlic to cholesterol-free oil. For tapping into glass bottles yourself. Also nice as a gift!

And the Konar family is looking ahead to the future. Son Uğurcan: “We are going to expand considerably

with The Ottoman: we bought the property next door and we hope to have finished the renovation next year, so that we can serve our customers even better. We are also thinking of launching The Ottoman as a franchise formula in several cities. Our own delivery service now consists of 3 cars, so that we can quickly reach our growing regular customer base”

The Ottoman:

Strijpsestraat 200 A (opposite AH, next to Kruidvat) 5616 GW Eindhoven

T. 040 - 257 29 54 • E. info@theottoman.nl

Opening hours: Mon-Thu 11.00-22.00 / Fri 11.00 - 23.00 Sat 13.00 - 23.00 • Sun 13.00 - 22.00

MaxOlive: Available in Albert Heijn XL Limburglaan

On Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday

Foodblog Jessie

3x Holiday

Jessie is foodblogger on her platform Brunchchick, born and raised in Eindhoven and a foodlover in heart and soul. She reviews (food)hotspots and she loves to write about food all day and all night. A true passion of hers. From Dutch fries to fine dining and everything in between, she loves it all. Every day Jessie shares, with a lot of passion and love for the restaurant industry, her favorite breakfast-, brunch-, lunch-, and dinner hotspots in town with you.

“It might (or might not) be a surprise that our Christmas tree is already up, including a wide selection of colorful food-themed ornaments. Christmas is right around the corner and I find myself thinking of what my plans will be for the Holidays and which restaurants I will be visiting. Every year I’m looking forward to the cold but cozy days, that revolve around food. To give you some inspiration for the holidays, I’m sharing a couple of my favorite holiday-hotspots in Eindhoven that you can’t forget to visit during the most wonderful time of the year.”

Which of the 3 restaurants is on

Pinkie Patisserie

The Social Hub Eindhoven

Bistro Sophie

Holiday Hotspots

The Social Hub might not come to mind when you’re looking for a restaurant, but since I started working here as a Connector, they really surprised me with their tasteful dishes. The Social Hub is the place to come together, to eat, drink, collaborate and celebrate. Connect during their monthly DJ brunch, wine tasting with a sommelier, beer tasting or cocktail evening. And to get into that holiday spirit, a couple of days in November and December, the Work Café of The Social Hub will turn into a candle-light dinner party. Say hello to dimmed lights, romantic music and tables full of candles. Join in with friends, family or your partner and enjoy a 3-course dinner for only 25,-. Keep an eye on their social media pages for the exact dates of these candle-light dinners.

My personal favorites: the juicy beef burger and the house favorite pizza. I promise that these two dishes will be your personal favorites very soon!

One of the most romantic restaurants in Eindhoven, and also one of my personal favorites, is Bistro Sophie. This restaurant feels warm and cozy from the moment you arrive. Owners Desiree and Will welcome you with open arms and will make you feel at home right away. Start your evening with an aperitif and amuse at the bar, followed by a culinary voyage that surprises your tastebuds, in the restaurant.

Bistro Sophie is known for their Chef’s menu, but the à la carte dishes are just as great. I personally love being surprised by a Chef’s menu, because the kitchen team can really cook ‘de sterren van de hemel’, as we say in Dutch. And in addition to that, a Chef’s menu always feels like a present, which is perfect for the holidays if you ask me.

Every time I enter Pinkie Patisserie, I feel like a little kid in a grown up candy store. And every single time I visit Pinkie, they make choosing between all the pastries, pies, cookies and chocolates, the most difficult thing there is. Owners Judith and Ruud surprise you with the best sweet creations like coconut-passionfruit pastries, red fruit tombe or chocolate noisette (only for the real chocolate-lovers). My personal favorite: the peanut-caramel pastry! And in addition to all the sweet goodies, they also serve one of the best high tea’s I’ve ever had. Reserve a table in their pink walhalla and enjoy the best of the best. Start with a small soup, followed by a selection of yummy sandwiches and end your high tea with their sweet signature bites. Perfect to celebrate the holidays with family and friends, right?! your where-to-eat-list during the holidays? Lots of foodie-love, Jessie

Celebrating Autumn with The Travelling Bag and Other Ghostly Stories

Book Review by Rebekah Villon

The stores may already be stocking up for Christmas, but I’m an American. Autumn is its own season, and Halloween and Thanksgiving slow us down and let us appreciate the unique colors and scents of fall, before rushing headlong into winter and Christmas. Susan Hill’s The Traveling Bag and Other Ghostly Stories is a collection of short, spooky stories, perfect for the season.

Susan Hill is famous for her Gothic ghost stories, inspired by authors like M.R. James and Daphne du Maurier. The short stories in The Travelling Bag are spooky and scary, but rely on moody, psychological horror rather than gore and violence.

I watched as he went to the mirror, undid his black tie and took the studs out of his collar. He then went to the travelling bag and put it down on the table. It was at this exact point that there crept over me a sense of claustrophobia, and an increasing fear, which made me sit back in my

chair. My heart was beating too fast and sweat beads were forming on my forehead and across the back of my neck, and all of this increased as I watched the man open the travelling bag by the top clasp. As the two sides spread wide, I caught my breath in horror… - Susan Hill

The titular story in the collection, The Travelling Bag, combines the classic elements of hatred and revenge, a locked room crime, and a supernatural twist reminiscent of the Carnacki stories by William Hope Hodgson. The narrative framework is that a psychic detective is telling the story of one of his most memorable cases. It then shifts back in time to tell the backstory of the two principle characters and describes their relationship. Then the story skips forward, as the detective is asked by a widow to explain the mysterious death of one of the characters. It reflects the theme of the rest of the stories in the book: a person who is driven by rage or passion or hatred to some extreme action in life, which continues to reverberate and affect people after their death.

The rest of the stories in the collection are more ambiguous. Characters have feelings and beliefs,

driven by emotion and intuition, but the truth remains uncertain. Boy Number Twenty One is more sad than spooky, as the lead character spends their whole life mourning for their lost childhood best friend, who may or may not have been real, or may or may not have been a ghost. Alice Baker is the story of a more traditional haunting, where the ghost re-enacts the scene of their suffering.

I stopped, took several shuddering deep breaths and forced myself to the door of the room, key ready, though I had to try two or three times to turn it because I was shaking and my palm was clammy. Why I felt like this I had no idea but now I had a surge of annoyance with my own stupidity and in a moment of strong resolve I turned the key and opened the door. There was no switch, the light came on automatically, and in that light, I saw, and then I screamed and I heard my own screams echoing along the basement corridor… - Susan Hill

For me, The Front Room is the most disturbing of the stories, because the characters seek to be kind and generous to a person who turns out to be evil, and who comes to torment the family in life and in death. The sense of increasing foreboding and fear is augmented by the sheer human misery of the family and their children, making the story especially dark.

I have the 2016 hardcover edition of this book, which only includes these four stories. The 2017 paperback edition also includes a fifth story, Printer’s Devil Court, which I have not read. The whole book is short enough to be snapped up in a weekend, and is a great read for lovers of traditional Gothic ghost stories. Happy Autumn to all!

Questions? Comments? Suggestions for what I should read next? Let me know at rebekah@howdomagazine.com

Ideas for fun spaces for the wholefamily

5. Builds and reinforces children’s confidence and security.

6. Promotes children’s cognitive, affective and social development.

Let’s add that many of our expatriate children are going through a process of adaptation to a new country with all the elements that this entails.

7. Such spaces are safe for children to express their feelings, challenges and changes, where they feel valued and/or listened to.

It is very important to enjoy the family spaces in which we share with our children, as this has a great impact on our children’s development and helps to maintain and enhance family unity.

Here are some key points that are important when creating such family spaces:

1. Develop happy families

2. Strengthens family bonds

3. Improve family communication

4. Facilitates the anchoring of values such as respect, love, etc.

8. It allows them to get to know each member of the family and to communicate more closely with each other.

We know that having or creating a space of this kind can be quite a task nowadays, as many parents are rushed by daily work, commitments, household chores and the hustle and bustle of everyday life makes it sometimes difficult to find an age-appropriate activity that is also fun for parents, it can become a challenge. That’s why we want to show you some ideas of simple activities that you can do at home and outdoors to have this space in the family.

1 Board games as a family: Board games are always a good option, simple and easy to do, as they are very entertaining and help children develop their skills. Checkers, Chinese star, chess, Monopoly, ludo, hangman, monogram, theatre.

2 Create a family recital. Let each family member choose their own performance, from learning a song, a poem, poetry, singing a song, declaiming, reading a story, telling a made-up story, choreographing a choreography.

3 Watch a film as a family. Choose a children’s film that you like as a family by voting, prepare something to eat during the film and then discuss what was good and what was not so good about the film.

4 Cook together. This can be a challenge where each family member is responsible for one dish: starter, main course and dessert. Set the family table as if it were a restaurant, everyone has a role to play and enjoy together as a family.

5 Spa afternoon. Create a space for family relaxation with foot massages, back massages, baths in aromatic water, face masks, etc. .... A space to enjoy.

6 Go to a show together. Look for a show that adapts to the age of your children so that they enjoy it even more. A musical, a play, a puppet or marionette show, a micro-theatre?

7 Visit a restaurant or have a picnic.You can take the opportunity to have lunch or dinner at your favourite restaurant. You can also prepare food

at home and organise a picnic in a park or nature reserve.

8 Visit museums. Visit the country’s interesting children’s museums, where you will find a wide variety of subjects. You and your children will learn a lot from this visit.

9 Organise a trip or excursion. There is nothing more exciting for the whole family than the opportunity to discover a new place together. You don’t have to go far, even in your own town you can find treasures to visit.

10 Take part in the activities of Expats Kids in Eindhoven as a family. At Expats Kids in Eindhoven we have created family activities (art, music, cooking, games and much more), so don’t miss the opportunity to take part in them. They are designed to strengthen the bonds between families.

On 27 November we will be holding our last family day of the year, where we will have Sinterklaas as our guest, who will answer the children’s questions and tell them a little about himself. We will have fun activities for the whole family and of course gifts.

Silvia Ardila Expat Kids in Eindhoven

To find out more about us, visit www.silviaardilalovebygrace.com and check out our Facebook page Expat kids in Eindhoven or send an email to expatkidsineindhoven@gmail.com

Change

Expat Spouses Initiative connects internationals, especially partners or spouses of international workers in the region, with local career opportunities, in a bottom-up community-driven way. We are now the most prominent network in the Brainport Eindhoven region, with more than 2500 local international professionals and around 1000 professionals across the Netherlands.

living and studying in the Netherlands to be challenging at first. She remembers, “the first six months were quite difficult, being in a new environment, trying to fit in with a new culture and a new language.” After four years in the Netherlands, Nikol craved change. So, even though her partner moved to Eindhoven, she moved to Budapest instead.

Moving to Budapest was exactly what Nikol needed. “If I compare it with moving to Breda, Budapest was a completely different experience.” This was also the time she began a career working in human resources (HR). Nikol would move back to Brabant two years last to be with her partner.

Manifesting Manifestations

If there is only one constant in life, is that it’s always changing. To make the most of our shifting circumstances, we must learn to adapt and embrace change, otherwise we risk being unfulfilled professionally, socially, or emotionally. Nikol Vetronova understands this. Her story is one of change and perseverance.

To Breda, then Budapest, then Eindhoven Nikol originally came to Breda in 2013 to study International Tourism Management and Consultancy at Breda University of Applies Sciences. She found

Nikol’s experiences in Budapest, deeply influenced how she approached returning. “I think it really helped me to see a different side of myself. I learned that if I want something to happen then I need to go out, meet people and try different options.” That attitude helped her land part-time work at Manifestations:

“I was working in HR in Budapest, but on the side, I was also volunteering for a couple of organizations. So, my idea when I moved to Eindhoven was to find something similar. I

We are turning International Talent into Local Strength!

started off as a volunteer coordinator at Manifestations during the Dutch Design Week, but afterwards I became a personal assistant to the creative director.”

Growing with ESI

Around this time Nikol made first contact with the Expat Spouses Initiative (ESI). “I remember that I contacted ESI when I first moved to Eindhoven in 2019. They offered me to participate in one of their programs, but I had just started working at Manifestations and couldn’t join. Then almost a year later, I got a call from ESI about the Women for Women program.” Being invited to join the WfW program as a Talent was a bit of a surprise for Nikol, but she was excited about the opportunity as “it came just at the right time”.

“I was at a point where I did not know what I wanted to do with my career” she said. “I wanted to find a stable position where I could be part of a bigger team and have a better sense of belonging.”

WfW helped Nikol envision where she wanted to go in her career, helped her meet new people, and build a sense of community.

After completing the program, Nikol found a job in HR. “ESI contacted me for a position in the HR department of Eindhoven University of Technology. I am a part of an amazing team at a job that I enjoy.”

What can other internationals learn from Nikol’s experiences?

•

Embrace Change

Yes, moving to a new country without a job, family or friends can be scary. Create a positive outlook to see it as a fresh start with new opportunities around every corner.

•

Keep an Open Mind

While focusing on a singular desire or goal can motivate one to achieve it, hyper-fixating can blind us to other options. Know what you want but also be flexible to assess opportunities that fall outside of your ultimate goal.

• Volunteer

Nikol was able to transition previous volunteering jobs into part-time work, and so can you!

Volunteering is an excellent way to learn new skills, network, practice Dutch, and more. Organizations such as Mooiwerk Breda or Vrijwilling&co offer many volunteering opportunities for various types of organizations.

Nikol’s story shows us the power of change doesn’t need to be frightening, even if it’s filled with challenges. Whether you’re at crossroads and don’t know how to move forward or you need advice to pivot your career and switch gears, ESI and their community can help.

Email info@expatspousesinitiative.org to find out what opportunities await you.

If you are an international looking for support to get market ready, email ESI at info@expatspousesinitiative.org. They can help you find the job of your dreams.

International Women’s Club Eindhoven: Cultures don’t meet, people do

As authors Edwin Hoffman and Arjan Verdooren write in their book, Diversity Competence, “Cultures don’t meet, people do”. Meeting people and making friends is what the International Women’s Club Eindhoven is about. Our members are constantly interacting with a wide variety of nationalities, with a range of different cultures. In fact, the IWCE is a product of globalisation, and its members are developing strong diversity competence all the time, without even realising it. Instead of looking at our differences -that we might sometimes experience- we focus on what we have in common. We find each other in the special interests that we share, in discussing, doing, creating, crafting, enjoying, cooking, or baking. Interpersonal, rather than intercultural, communication is the gift we automatically receive by being active members of our club.

Winter at the IWCE

During the month of November, the monthly meeting of the IWCE is replaced by their annual Winter Market. Due to the Corona pandemic, the previous two years have been frustrating for us all. In 2020 the market was held online, and in 2021 new government guidelines meant the market was cancelled at the last minute. Therefore, this year the new committee is hoping to welcome many vendors and visitors to its new location, Punt-C, within the Sectie-C complex in Tongelre, Eindhoven

The market will be held on Thursday 17th November 2022 from 10.00 until 15.00. It is a chance for local small businesses and entrepreneurs to sell their products to both the local and international communities. In previous years, items such as jewellery, scarves, paintings, and homemade gifts have all been available to buy.

The market also has an amazing Bake Sale table. At this table you can buy homemade treats made by club members. Gingerbread houses, decorated with sweets and icing by members of the club’s Board are also available to buy. These houses have proved to be very popular in previous years.

The joy of the season

What many people don’t know, is that making the gingerbread houses is one of the Board’s favourite annual events. It’s an activity only for Board members and it’s FUN for all, not only for those with a sweet tooth. Most activities that the Board organizes for the club members are done in a more serious way, as informative and useful activities and meetings are a must. That is what the members expect, and above all that is what the Board wants as well. However, for that one evening in November, everyone who helps becomes a child again. Some like repetition, order and structure. Some have decoration high on their agendas and will be led by how to display the gingerbread house as a decoration piece in their

homes. Whereas others are all over the place and stack the house as full as possible, most likely thinking about the children who will eat the candy later that month. All are creating the most wonderful and delicious edible houses. Being together in that relaxed setting is wonderful, enjoying each other’s energy. However, the best feeling comes from the donations received when the houses are sold on the day of the Winter Market, as all proceeds from the Bake Sale table and the gingerbread houses are donated to the Ronald McDonald Huis in Veldhoven. Making gingerbread houses is such a fun activity to share with family or friends as it’s easy to do, but if it sounds like too much work, simply come to the market, and buy one that is already made!

The Winter Market is different to the usual monthly events held by IWCE. This event is free and open to everyone, not just club members. Three active club members, Doke Pronk, Dominique Kabel and Julie Cumpson organize it. They are looking forward to welcoming you to the cosy and friendly market. So, tell your friends and neighbours, spread the word, and see you there soon

For further information about the Winter Market, please contact: wintermarket@iwce.nl. For information about the IWCE, please visit: www.iwce.nl

For further information about the Winter Market, please contact: wintermarket@iwce.nl. For information about the IWCE, please visit: www.iwce.nl

H ERBERG O UD E INDHOVEN

We, Jochem & Yvette are the proud owners of this beautiful café with a rich history and a fantastic future. We are the hosts, always personally present and welcome all our guests with the motto “Life is a lot better with beer & bitterballen”.

Our range includes 40 beautiful bottled specialty beers and always 10 delicious draft beers. We hope to welcome you to enjoy our delicious specialty beers and snacks.

Stratumseind 63 • info@oudeindhoven.nl

We are open from Thursday to Monday from 12:00 to 24:00.

During the course season, we offer Dutch courses for all levels. From beginner to level C1. Especially for higher-educated expats and internationals. Course locations are in Eindhoven and in Veldhoven. Classes are once or twice a week, depending on the course.

Keep an eye on our website, various Dutch courses and English spoken courses will be starting in the new year!

10.00-12.30) or email us: info@vu-eindhoven.nl, or visit: www.vu-eindhoven.nl YOU ARE MOST WELCOME!

A number of shows in our pro gram have been labeled ‘No Dutch Required’. These shows can be easily understood by those who don’t speak Dutch. No words are needed to un derstand the international language of music and dance!*

NOV

NOV 1

Het Speelhuis Helmond QUINTETO RESPIRO

NOV 2

Parktheater Eindhoven DUNJA JOCIC

NOV 4

Theater De Hofnar Valkenswaard PERCOSSA

Let me in - Let me out

NOV 4

Het Speelhuis Helmond FLIP FABRIQUE

NOV 4 De Cacaofabriek Helmond LUNA TOUR

NOV 5

Theater De Hofnar Valkenswaard BRUCIFIED 'Get Brucified' Tour

NOV 6

Theater de Schalm Veldhoven L’UNION FRATERNELLE & DENNIS VAN AARSSEN

NOV 9

Het Speelhuis Helmond PAST PRESENT ZERO

AGENDA NO DUTCH REQUIRED

NOV 9

Theater de Schalm Veldhoven STONES VS THE BEATLES

NOV 11

Parktheater Eindhoven CLUB GUY & OTHERS Memory

NOV 11

Theater De Hofnar Valkenswaard BETTY’S BACKYARD Platenpraat

NOV 12

Het Speelhuis Helmond THE BOOTLEG EIGHTIES

NOV 13

Theater De Hofnar Valkenswaard WOMEN OF THE BLUES A tribute tot Bessie Smith

NOV 16

Theater de Schalm Veldhoven THE BOOTLEG EIGHTIES

NOV 18

Het Speelhuis Helmond ISABELLE BEERNAERT

NOV 18

Kattendans Bergeijk SLÄPSTICK

The Roaring Twenties

NOV 18 + 19

Theater De Hofnar Valkenswaard NIGHT OF THE PROMS 'VAN EIGEN BODEM' Koninklijke Harmonie UNA

NOV 18

Parktheater Eindhoven HET NATIONALE BALLET Balanchine / Van Manen / Arques

NOV 20

Kattendans Bergeijk GRÁINNE DUFFY

NOV 20

Theater de Schalm Veldhoven SYMPHONIC EUROPEAN PHILHARMONIA & ROCK BAND FT. FRANZ GOVAERTS

NOV 22

Parktheater Eindhoven OPERA ZUID Lady in the Dark

NOV 23

Parktheater Eindhoven EXIT MACBETH - NNT

NOV 23

Theater De Hofnar Valkenswaard SLÄPSTICK

The Roaring Twenties

NOV 25

De Cacaofabriek Helmond FM - SYNCHRONIZED TOUR 2021

NOV 26

Theater De Hofnar Valkenswaard DEF AMERICANS JOHNNY CASH TRIBUTE

NOV 27

Theater De Hofnar Valkenswaard VALKENSWAARDS KAMERORKEST

NOV 29

Parktheater Eindhoven DUDA PAIVA COMPANY & ILLUSIONARY ROCKAZ

NOV 29

Parktheater Eindhoven NEDERLANDS DANS THEATER

* Please note that most artists are Dutch. They might share anecdotes or stories during these shows in their own language. However, we are convinced this will not affect the overall enjoyment of these shows. We are happy to welcome you to our ‘No Dutch Required’ shows!

THEATER DE SCHALM VELDHOVEN • PARKTHEATER EINDHOVEN • DE HOFNAR VALKENSWAARD KATTENDANS BERGEIJK • HET SPEELHUIS HELMOND • DE CACAOFABRIEK HELMOND

wonkapodia.nl/en

AGENDA NO DUTCH REQUIRED

A number of shows in our pro gram have been labeled ‘No Dutch Required’. These shows can be easily understood by those who don’t speak Dutch. No words are needed to un derstand the international language of music and dance!*

DEC

DEC 2

Theater De Hofnar Valkenswaard BACK TO THE COUNTRY

DEC 3

De Cacaofabriek Helmond THE OBSCURE - PLAYS THE MUSIC OF THE CURE

DEC 3

Theater de Schalm Veldhoven THE DUTCH EAGLES

DEC 3 Kattendans Bergeijk DELFT FRINGE FESTIVAL

DEC 6

Parktheater Eindhoven THEATER ROTTERDAM Alida Dors

DEC 8 - 10

Parktheater Eindhoven JAKOP AHLBOM COMPANY & ISH DANCE COLLECTIVE

DEC 8

Kattendans Bergeijk BANDEVILLE

DEC 9

De Cacaofabriek Helmond NILE

DEC 10

De Cacaofabriek Helmond NEW COOL COLLECTIVE

DEC 11

Theater De Hofnar Valkenswaard VOCALGROUP JUST US

DEC 12

Theater de Schalm Veldhoven RHYTHM OF THE DANCE

DEC 13

Parktheater Eindhoven SOWETO GOSPEL CHOIR

DEC 15

Theater De Hofnar Valkenswaard SIXTIES TRIBUTE BAND

DEC 15

Het Speelhuis Helmond THE RUGGEDS

DEC 16

Theater de Schalm Veldhoven PERFECT LINK

DEC 16

Kattendans Bergeijk BENTLEYS & BENDELLAS

DEC 16 & 17

Theater De Hofnar Valkenswaard AMEEZING VALKENSWAARD

DEC 17

Theater de Schalm Veldhoven ED STRUIJLAART

DEC 18

Theater De Hofnar Valkenswaard SOUTH-EAST BIGBAND

DEC 21

Kattendans Bergeijk THE DUTCH EAGLES

DEC 22

Theater de Schalm Veldhoven MIRUSIA

DEC 22

Theater De Hofnar Valkenswaard PRIK EN DE PLIESIE

DEC 22

Het Speelhuis Helmond WE WANT IT ALL - IKC

DEC 23

Theater de Schalm Veldhoven LA BONNE ESPÉRANCE

DEC 23

Kattendans Bergeijk THE 70’S UNPLUGGED

DEC 23

Theater De Hofnar Valkenswaard A-FEVER - ABBA TRIBUTE

DEC 26

Het Speelhuis Helmond DE NOTENKRAKER

DEC 23-31

Parktheater Eindhoven KERSTWINTERCIRCUS

DEC 27 & 28

Kattendans Bergeijk 2000 UNPLUGGED

DEC 29

Kattendans Bergeijk ODESSA FESTIVAL BALLET

DEC 29 & 30

Kattendans Bergeijk GEARRING

DEC 30

Theater de Schalm Veldhoven MELL & VINTAGE FUTURE

THEATER DE SCHALM VELDHOVEN • PARKTHEATER EINDHOVEN • DE HOFNAR VALKENSWAARD KATTENDANS BERGEIJK • HET SPEELHUIS HELMOND • DE CACAOFABRIEK HELMOND

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Shop

IN THE CITY CENTRE OF BREDA

You are welcome at de Barones, the shopping mall in the historic centre of Breda. Get ready for the holidays with a new outfi t, party clothing, fi ne presents and a delicious lunch. Open 7 days a week.

For opening hours, Sinterklaas and Christmas events check Barones.nl or scan the QR-code