Naturelle 10 (English) by Naturelle

Naturelle 2014 nr. 10

INTERIORS | TRAVEL | LIVING

Discover 9 Naturelle hangouts Verdure

‘Healthy food makes me prettier’ Naturelle

Chez Colette birthplace of a writer

Brilliant idea from office to loft

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Sarah Stone (1760 - 1844), Green Parrot

BE HERE

Editorial Does this sound familiar to you? Not getting around to doing the things you love doing the most? For me, one of those things would be making Naturelle, but over the last couple of months there was always something that would come between us. Or rather, there would be someone: me. I was determined to first build a new website for Naturelle. People told me it was easy ... One mini course and several months later it was finally finished. Have you seen the new site? I hope you feel right at home. And so it was that a new Naturelle took her time. But now it’s finally here. The issue is overflowing with discoveries: an office that was transformed into a loft, ‘vegetarian’ sheepskins, an imaginative restaurant and hotel in Salland and much more great places, interesting interviews and delicious recipes. I hope Naturelle number 10 was worth the wait.

Publication Naturelle is a free online magazine published by Annemique de Kroon, Amsterdam (the Netherlands). Contact info@naturellemagazine.nl tel. +31 (0)6 54 205 999 Copyright Text, images and layout belong to Naturelle/Annemique de Kroon, unless stated otherwise.

Enjoy the issue!

Annemique de Kroon annemique@naturellemagazine.nl PS In the picture, you can see me hiding behind flowers I picked at www.dejohanneshof.nl, a tip of floral artist Saskia de Valk, Butterfly & Bird (interview Naturelle 8). Naturelle

Next issue Don’t want to miss the next issue? Go to www. naturellemagazine.nl and subscribe to the newsletter or follow Naturelle on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram. 3

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;She had an immense curiosity about life, and was constantly staring and wonderingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ~ Henry James

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Naturelle 2014 | nr. 10

INTERIORS

08 Kitchens, people, recipes 20 Once an office, now a loft 50 Discover the garden of a Dutch estate 54 The best antiques and flea market in Amsterdam

TRAVEL

14 A whimsical restaurant and hotel in Salland 56 Summer impressions of Lake Maggiore in Italy 64 C hez Colette. The birthplace of the writer

LIVING

34 Annalies van Eerde: ‘Wool inspires me endlessly.’ 44 Vegetable garden, terrace, greenhouse 72 At Kraaybeekerhof it is all about biodynamic 78 Susan Jane White and her extra virgin kitchen 84 Eating naturally, recipes by Anne Marie Reuzenaar

AND MORE

06 Romance in the red light district 09 Summer sandals 10 Natural beauty Irene van Herwerden 13 DIY deodorant 32 Favorites of Lisa Borgnes Giramonti 42 New café on a river bank 82 Maryse Moerel’s kitchen secrets 90 The world according to Koosje Koene Naturelle

REGULIERSGRACHT Eén van de mooiste grachten in Amsterdam is de Reguliersgracht. De grond die vrijkwam bij het graven van de gracht is destijds gebruikt voor het ophogen van het Rembrandtplein. Rondvaartboten minderen altijd vaart op de Herengracht zodat de opvarenden de zeven boogbruggen over de Reguliersgracht kunnen bewonderen. Maar tijdens een (avond)wandeling kun je ook van dit mooie doorkijkje genieten.

FAVORITE IN AMSTERDAM

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Romance in the red light district A white-green wooden fence separates the bustle of the Amsterdam red light district from a different kind of pleasure garden: the lovely terrace of Koffieschenkerij at the Old Church. Proprietors Anne and Job serve coffee, tea and lemonade with love and, if you so wish, with cake. Do not forget to check out the room where painter Rembrandt got his notice of intention to marry (that wallpaper ...). www.facebook.com/Koffieschenkerij Naturelle

KITCHENS, PEOPLE, RECIPES In her beautifully designed book Yvestown in the kitchen Yvonne Eijkenduijn provides glimpses into thirteen kitchens, with their furnishings, residents and recipes. Yvonne: ‘Foodies often have the best kitchens because that is where they like to spend their time. The best part of making the book were my visits to friends and family to take pictures. At the end of the shoot I would stay on and we would eat together. In my own kitchen I make sure that there are always cherry tomatoes 8

available, for a quick meal. A salad for example, with tomatoes, whole wheat pasta, olive oil, salt, pepper, fresh garlic and fresh basil. I cook the pasta with a pinch of salt, cut the tomatoes in half, squeeze the garlic and toss everything together. Fast and healthy.’ Yvonne’s vision on kitchens and cooking will soon be crossing borders: early next year her book will be published in English. Yvonne Eijkenduijn, Yvestown in de keuken. Uitgeverij Snor, € 32,50. See also www.yvestown.com.

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SUMMER SANDALS

Birkenstock, Adria, circa € 60.

SWEET for FEET

High heels, why would you? These sandals are good looking and kind to your feet.

Kork-Ease, Corine, circa €92.

Koos, Victoria, € 119.

Duckfeet, Bornholm, € 89,90.

Kork-Ease, Myrna, circa € 99.

American Eagle (veganistisch), circa € 22.

Make your own sandals? Shoeology sells instructions and patterns on Etsy. With some skill you can make a pair in two hours. Naturelle

NATURAL BEAUTY Irene van Herwerden, founder of CHOCOdelic www.chocodelic.nl

‘Grass shower gel by Lush does indeed smell like freshly cut grass. It’s almost as if I am taking a shower in a meadow.’ ‘The products I put on my skin should be safe to eat. After all, they are absorbed by my skin and get into my blood. I barely use makeup, a little bit of powder on my eyes at most. I am vain, however, and by adopting a healthy lifestyle my skin and hair have improved visibly. I used to drink gallons of coke a day, and would eat bags of toffees. At first I stopped eating meat, then sugar and dairy and then gluten. For the last six years or so I have been eating raw food and superfoods. My goal is to live a hundred percent natural lifestyle, with produce from the garden, preferably in a place where the sun always shines. I run my business mostly via the internet, so it is a possibility. Next winter my daughter and I will explore Ecuador ...’

‘According to me skin does not benefit from a thorough daily cleanse. I prefer to just wash my face with lukewarm water. My skin used to be somewhat dry, but ever since I started drinking more water, I have normal skin. During the day I use this cream by Tiindi. They make edible cosmetics that I trust completely. It’s a little greasy and smells nice. I also like the products of Dr. Alkaitis.’ 10

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‘Every morning I take BrainON by E3Live with some water. It makes me a clear head and a focused mind. Vitamineral Green is another supplement that I take every day. It contains everything you need: enzymes, chlorella, spirulina, probiotics. Before I go to sleep, I take a few drops of magnesium chloride by Biovion. It combats stress and enhances my sleep.’

‘After my shower I use either Lavender Relaxing Body oil by Weleda or argan oil by Arganhain. They are absorbed quickly and make my skin smooth.’

‘Tanja Bochnig is a very nice woman whom I recently met in Berlin. She makes fantastic all natural perfumes: April Aromatics.’

‘By eating healthy, my skin and hair improved remarkably’

‘Cocoa has many benefits for both your inner and outer well-being. It contains a lot of magnesium, which is good for your skin and hair. My favorite from my own Chocodelic product line are the Choco Mulberries. I could eat a bag a day, and I often do.’ ‘Eating healthier food has greatly improved my hair. From thin and straight it has become firm and curly. I wash my hair with Invati by Aveda, which smells super nice. My conditioner is Aubrey Honeysuckle Rose, which gives my hair the perfect softness without making it limp.’ Naturelle

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Naturelle

DO-IT-YOURSELF DEODORANT

DIY

Regular store bought deodorant has a bad reputation. You will probably find a better alternative in your kitchen cabinet.

Sodium bicarbonate is widely available. Try a drugstore or order online. Arm&Hammer around € 1,29 (454 g).

WORTH TRYING: ALTERNATIVE DEODORANT In the Natural Beauty section in Naturelle you can find suggestions for natural beauty products. Natural Beauty participants, however, often find it difficult to give a useful deodorant tip. ‘I’ve tried everything, but nothing works,’ is a typical response. Nonetheless, it is advisable to look for an alternative to regular deodorant which more often than not contains aluminum. In Naturelle number 7 Saskia van der Molen - of natural beauty web shop www.heelnatuurlijk.nl - mentioned that baking soda (sodium bicarbonate) works well. Apply the white powder with your fingers or a soft brush (but not immediately after shaving, to avoid armpit burn). It will stick better when your skin is slightly damp, so use a few drops of water or a drop of (almond) oil. Irene Herwerden, the Natural Beauty candidate in this issue, uses colloidal silver (The Health Factory). ‘I apply it using a bit of cottonwool and I’m odor free all day.’

IF YOU PREFER SOMETHING FROM A JAR The Ohm Collection offers sodium bicarbonate combined with essential oils in a nice package. The Ohm deodorant is available in six scents, including jasmine, neroli and cedar. Order online, for example at www.heelnatuurlijk. nl, € 22 (120 g). Naturelle

A dream of a country house with colorful flowers, fresh cakes and a walk for dessert. Welcome to Geb&Gaia.

A place that can make you

HAPPY

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Chandelierâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; in the garden room at Geb&Gaia. Naturelle

Whether it’s bright pink walls or setting up Geb&Gaia, Bibi always follows her motto: ‘Just do it! Don’t think too much!’ 16

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Geb&Gaia is is a colorful gem: bright, cheerful and vibrant

ven though it is located in a stately mansion, Geb&Gaia is anything but pretentious. So no formal greeting by a rigid witer and no escort to your table. This is a place you have to discover on your own. And it pays off: Geb&Gaia is a true gem, a colorful pearl. For bar, restaurant and hotel Geb & Gaiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s bright, cheerful and vibrant. At the large entrance door you will - depending on the season - be welcomed by burning fire pits or flowering plants. In the main hall you will find a bazaar with oriental-inspired furniture, rugs and home accessories. Then follows the cafĂŠ and restaurant; there are nine hotel rooms on the first floor and there are rooms where you can hold meetings and workshops.

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Bibi Kleine-Schaars-Kok, one of the three keepers at Geb&Gaia, explains: ‘The estate belongs to the IJssellandschap foundation. They ran a competition: who had the best proposal for the estate? This whole area had been very inaccessible for many years. We won because we wanted to lower the threshold.’ And they succeeded. Geb&Gaia attracts a varied crowd, ranging from people in rubber boots who have just walked their dog in the park (designed in 1856 by Zocher - of Amsterdam Vondelpark fame) and drop by for a coffee to people who want to have dinner. Bibi: ‘We don’t do the old-fashioned entree, main course, dessert. On our menu you will find small dishes, many of them Arabic inspired with mostly organic ingredients, that you can share.’ At the bar irresistible cakes beckon and everywhere you look there are big vases with wild, colorful flowers. Bibi: ‘I think the estate is glorious in the summer when everything is green and blooming. As far as interior decorating is concerned we did most of it ourselves. We took some ideas from restaurants such as Villa Augustus, Bazar and Badhu, but in the end we let ourselved be guided by what we want, otherwise you disappear in the crowd. The property is so impressive that we have kept the decor simple and easy, with old school chairs and tables from Hungary. But there is also an elegant marble bar, designed by an architect. It’s a mix, just like the people who visit us.’ ••• www.gebengaia.nl

‘It is glorious in the summer’

The view from the Geb&Gaia terrace. The two donkeys and pony are part of the scene. Naturelle

A magic box Marie-Claire Aarts devised an ingenious system that allows you to instantly transform offices into apartments. She lives in the prototype. 20

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Marie-Claire and her â&#x20AC;&#x2039;â&#x20AC;&#x2039;dog Maxie. Left page: on the background the bamboo cubicle that houses the bathroom and kitchen.

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The cubicle with the bathroom and the kitchen measures 3.6 by 2.4 meters.

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arie-Claire Aarts lives and works on 190 square meters, within walking distance from Dam Square in Amsterdam. The elongated space boasts eleven windows on either side. MarieClaire: ‘Ever since I was fourteen I wanted to live in a grand and theatrical way. To me that means space and light, with lots of raw industrial elements. I temporarily live in this former office where I have developed Loft2Go, a mobile cubicle with a kitchen and bathroom that can easily transform a factory or office into a loft where you can live. So I live in the prototype of my own model home. By nature I am kind of a slob, but for clients and prospects who are interested in Loft2Go, I have to keep the place neat and tidy.’ The designer is both spartan and a lover of beautiful things. ‘But my way of life means that I need to consume less. With everything I buy, I realize that I will have to pack up again and take it with me. A nomadic life and shopping sprees do not go together. For years I lived and traveled extensively in Asia; I have a bed from Bali and other Asian eye catchers such as wall panels and carved Buddhas. My father collected those statues in the seventies. They all have their own story. One of them was made in front of my very eyes, in Kerala, India. I am attached to them and will always take them with me each time I move.’ Naturelle

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Systeemplafonds en pilaren - overblijfselen uit de kantoortijd vormen een spannend contrast met de ouderwetse grammofoon en het moderne designkrukje uit Thailand.

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Loft2Go With her mobile cubicle containing a stylish kitchen and bathroom Marie-Claire offers a solution for the housing shortage in Amsterdam and beyond, converting vacant offices into homes. ‘The sky is the limit. With Loft2Go you can, for example, turn an office into a living environment with shared workspaces on the ground floor. This way a community is created. You can also build a vegetable garden on the roof and use the vegetables in a pop-up restaurant next to the workstations.’ The cubicle is made of bamboo, a crop that grows quickly and is sustainable. Marie-Claire: ‘Bamboo looks beautiful and gives a warm feel to any office. Its natural color is a good counterpart to a concrete floor. According to feng shui, materials in a room must be balanced. And when the environment is balanced, the people who live and work there will be balanced too.’ www.urbanpopup.nl

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Marie-Claire painted a green stripe running the length of the floor. â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;It connects and accentuates the size of the space.â&#x20AC;&#x2122; 28

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I am attached to my Buddhasâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

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Marie-Claire’s Amsterdam ‘I have lived here for ten years, but I still think Amsterdam is a beautiful city. One of the bridges in the red light district, close to my house, used to be a no-go area, but now I walk my dog there and enjoy the charm. But insipidity is lurking; you need permits and authorization for just about anything. This makes the city a less exciting place. I like raw places where things are less orderly or regulated, such as Roest and Van Gendt Halls. ‘A beautiful store is Aarde (Earth), with a lot of imported goods from Pakistan and Afghanistan. They have pure, mostly handmade products such as dishes made of stone and authentic Indian doorposts. A feast for the eyes. ‘Besides unpolished things I also appreciate luxury. The rooftop SkyLounge at the Hilton hotel near Central Station is an excellent spot. It is spacious, which is rare in Amsterdam, and they have good food. A nice place for special occasions.’

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FAVORITES OF...

Lisa Borgnes Giramonti blogger, writer & needlepoint artist www.lisaborgnesgiramonti.com

MUSIC

‘Birth soundtrack. Haunting, provocative, and brain-stimulating. Equally good for intimate dinner parties, lazy Sunday afternoons and intense solo writing sessions. At least three friends have purchased it after hearing it at my house.’ ARTIST

‘Thomas Rowlandson’s caricatures can be pretty racy, but the ones I like best lampoon 18th century fashionable society in a way that makes you realize the more things change, the more they stay the same. Stupid hairstyles, fashion victims, celebrity wannabes, drunken revelers—it’s just like your local nightclub.’ TEA

‘Dean Street Townhouse, London. The room off to the side is my favorite refuge. It’s very 19th century: low velvet armchairs, portières, beat-up wooden floors, dark, moody, cozy, and a lovely waitstaff. Bring a thick book and turn off your iPhone.’ 32

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WRITER

‘Cyril Connolly’s book of personal reflections The Unquiet Grave is a masterpiece. It doesn’t matter that it was written in 1944 – his meditations on angora pullovers, hotel bedrooms in Paris and the love of pleasure will have you nodding your head and uncorking a bottle of wine.’ DESIGNER

‘Wool and the Gang has mastered the art of couture DIY knitting. Their designs are crazy cool, their patterns are simple to follow and their chunky Peruvian wool is tactile heaven. I made the Jane collar (pictured) and people stop me every time I wear it.’

PHOTOGRAPHER

‘Ivan Terestchenko has photographed the world’s most fashionable spaces— his new book Beyond Chic on designers’ homes is a must-have. There is such passion in his interiors; they evoke the kind of feelings that lie beyond words.’

MUSEUM

‘Dennis Sever’s House in Spitalfields is a living time capsule of ancient London. Tiptoe through atmospheric rooms with unmade beds, half-eaten meals, and lit candles to a soundtrack of whispers and laughter of the 18th century family who “lives” there. Plus there’s a cat running around.’ DESTINATION

‘I was born in Belgium but only recently have begun going back. To me, if Paris is like NYC, then Belgium is like Williamsburg: a little hairier, a little more laidback, and brimming with just as much artistic talent. I very much enjoy staying at the Boulevard Leopold in Antwerp (pictured left).’ Naturelle

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Felt artist Annalies van Eerde:

â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I am more of a black sheep than one of the flockâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;

In her studio in an old Amsterdam school felt artist Annalies van Eerde makes beautiful things of wool, without harming a sheep. Naturelle

Cherished ornament: a small woodcut from India. Annalies found it on Noordermarkt where she goes every Monday morning.

n the middle of the conversation she jumps up and says: ‘Come with me.’ She opens the door and in the open air she points to the tower of the neighboring church. ‘Look, a nest of storks. That’s why I love this place, it’s so quiet and relaxed.’ The studio of Annalies van Eerde is opposite a cemetery on the outskirts of Amsterdam. In a bright high-ceilinged room of a former school Annalies dedicates herself to wool, water, soap, and the felting process. ‘Until about five years ago I had always considered felting as something rather dull. Until I visited my friend Rebecca, that is. She lives and felts on the island of Texel, among the sheep. I was immediately enthralled by the pure and basic fiber. At home, on the living room table between the kitchen and the computer, I went to work. I ordered all kinds of wool and fleeces and soon the postman knew that all those boxes seemingly filled with air, were meant for me. My house became one big pile of wool. In the bathroom, on the balcony, in the bike shed, there was wool everywhere. Occasionally one of my children would yell: “Mommy, there is yet another sheep in the bathtub!”’ Today Annalies felts sheepskin rugs varying in size from one to twenty square meters, pillows, wool paintings and sometimes a jacket or a vest. Her workshops are becoming increasingly popular. ‘While I am felting I use most of my senses. I see, smell and feel. The smell of fresh wool says a lot about the material and its origin. Wool of sheep who graze in the dunes has the best smell. I try to convey this sensory approach to my students. I find that people often seek support and that they determine in advance what the finished product should look like. But in felting there are no rules or standards. When you let go of that preconceived image and lose yourself in the process, you will enjoy it much more. Let go and surrender, that is the key.’ On the website of her business Zachtaardig (gentle or mild, in Dutch the word is comprised

‘Wool is an infinite source of inspiration’

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‘It all starts with the material; the colors and textures don’t reveal themselves until later’

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of ‘zacht’ meaning soft and ‘aardig’ meaning nice) the felted rugs are jokingly called ‘vegetarian’. Annalies: ‘For me it is obvious that there is no skin attached to the fleece. I work with raw, freshly shorn wool in natural colors. I think it is important to meet shepherds and shearers in person. There are sheep that naturally shed their coats, but most varieties are shorn, also to keep the animals clean and prevent diseases. Shearing sometimes looks grim, but a skilled shearer sets the sheep at ease and proceeds calmly. The best shearer I know, uses a pair of scissors and a lot of patience.’ Her favorite sheep is the native heath sheep. ‘There are five or six varieties, from white to mottled with black, and long manes. But the Faroe, Shetland and Hebrides islands also have wonderful sheep. A visit to those islands would make me very greedy.’ For Annalies wool meant a turn for the better. ‘I never chose the easy way out. I’m opinionated and go my own way. I am a black sheep rather than a member of the flock ... My path has known many detours, winding roads and ravines. A while ago I had to say goodbye forever to four sensitive, talented people I knew well. During that time, I decided to only do things that I really want to do. I have my own values and find my own way. Luckily I have a few friends who support me unconditionally. Without them I would never have come this far.’ ‘This work suits me: wool felting is earthy - my last name is Van Eerde which means of the earth - and my zodiac sign is Aries. I am sensitive and sometimes find it hard to live in the outside world. If I am exposed to too much noise, crowds and people who talk a lot, I need time to process and reflect. If that happens I often lie down on the couch and cover myself in two or three felted wool blankets, like a hot dog. As a result, I relax and start to glow softly. Wool to me is an infinite source of inspiration.’ ••• www.zachtaardig.nl 41

River bank bliss

Several years ago the grounds of the former gasworks in the west of Amsterdam were turned into a park which has become tremendously popular. It is little known, however, that there also was a gasworks in the south of the city, on the banks of the river Amstel. On its grounds a public park will arise, with an old water tower and a small harbor. The first public building to have opened its doors here recently is a century old villa. It is called Thuis aan de Amstel (at home on the Amstel). Here you can eat, drink, meet and lounge on the terrace (the staff know exactly when the sun is shining on which part of the terrace). They will welcome you each day of the week, from your breakfast croissant until well after dessert. www.thuisaandeamstel.nl

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Blessed & praised

Den Heyligen Berg (The Holy Mountain) is a fabulous place. Seth takes care of the vegetable garden, Jet makes illustrations and together Jet and Seth cook and bake healthy, organic goodies for their guests in the greenhouse and on the terrace. 44

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Flowers from the garden. Naturelle

SOUP, SALAD, CAKE & YOGA At Den Heyligen Berg (The Holy Mountain, in Leusden, the Netherlands) you can get homemade cake, an organic lunch, a wander round the fruit and vegetable garden, a relaxing yoga class (in the garden or the greenhouse) and some peace and quiet. The garden is open Wednesday till Sunday, from 10 a.m., but if you want to be sure call ahead. (And when you go remember that this is the low countries, so donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t expect any actual mountains.) www.denheyligenberg.blogspot.nl

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Prayer flags in the apple tree. Naturelle

LIGHT & LOVE The Holy Mountain is also home to the studio where Jet Eikelboom - whose first picture book was published last year - creates her ‘lichtfladderaars’ (light flutterers): small stone creatures that bring light and love. Jet: ‘They travel with you as long as they are needed. Then, with your help, they fly away again to someone else who needs them.’ Stones are custom painted and come with a woolen travel bag made of an old blanket. www.lichtfladderaar.blogspot.nl

‘Nature morte’ in the window of the greenhouse. 48

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Garden joy The Wiersse estate occasionally opens its extensive gardens to the public. A delightful event.

Where the road to an estate fair is often indicated by colorful posters and solid ladies wearing wellies, an apron and a straw hat, you must find the way to the Wiersse yourself. At the entrance there is a simple stall where you can buy a ticket 50

(cash only). A beech-lined driveway leads up to an extraordinary country home. Before or after visiting the gardens you can sit down on the terrace by the coach house for a cup of coffee (no espresso) or tea (but no chai latte with soy milk)

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‘My wife takes care of everything: estate, garden, kitchen, family and cattle,’

and there’s cake (but no cupcakes) or a sandwich (but no gluten free ciabatta). The sheer simplicity of it all is refreshing. I strike up a conversation with a friendly gentleman. Whether he is involved in the garden? ‘Yes,’ he says, ‘I live here.’ He goes

on: ‘Thirty years ago hardly any “events” were organized and people from all walks of life came to see the gardens. Now, with the wide range of entertainment and distraction, the gardens are visited primarily by keen gardeners. When we first

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Behind the scenes.

started, newspapers and women’s magazines came here to report, but not so much anymore. Nowadays, magazines are filled with food and recipes. It would be nice if people became interested in gardens and gardening again.’ The amiable owner 52

points out the name tags in the garden. ‘I’ve put them there in the hope that people stop to read them and then look up and discover an agreeable line of sight in the garden.’ Does he want his picture taken? ‘I never get asked that question. Re-

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‘It would be nice if people became interested in gardens again’ cently, there was a woman with a camera visiting the garden and she gestured for me to take off my hat. But it turned out I had misunderstood her: I was standing in the way and she wanted me out of the picture.’

The Wiersse opens its gardens to the public a few times a year. There are weekly guided tours as well. Wiersserallee 9 Vorden www.dewiersse.nl

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Hidden

treasures

A couple of times a year a lovely Amsterdam square turns into a treasure trove of antiques and curios. On the last Friday of the months of May, June, July and August, the Amsterdam Amstelveld turns into an antiques and flea market with a distinctly French ambience. One of the most beautiful stalls (mentioned already in Naturelle 6) is the one of brocanteur Marie, near the Prinsengracht canal and cafe Marcella. ‘Markets in Amsterdam are different. Being here always gives me loads of energy and I literally bounce back home.’ Marie began collecting when she was only six years old. ‘Eventually my collection became so big that friends first and then others wanted to buy things from me. I decided to make my job out of it and still find it great fun: I am always in different locations, even abroad, and 54

‘There is a good vibe and the people are friendly. Even the tourists who come here are nice: they like to visit museums and are interested in antiques and unusual things.’

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Besides fabric Marie sells “salvaged interiors.

I meet a lot of people, from royalty to tramps. With my colleagues in England and France I travel from one place to the next, like a circus.’ The majority of Marie’s objects comes from France, including a lot of fabric. ‘I love special clothing such as 18th-century crinolines and fashion from Provence. Even old workman clothing from France, England and Japan fascinates me. I like to wear it. The material is strong, so why not?’ Marie laughs: ‘I have a hankering for what once was. For me, everything went wrong after 1600. Things that have to do with the circus, the melan-

choly of the past, faded glory and abandoned houses make my heart beat faster. Old objects with a past make you aware of the impermanence of everything and they show you that in different eras other things BUYING TIPS FROM MARIE mattered. I also like to listen to old music, jazz from the early • Buy with your heart and don’t let 1900s or Breton yourself be swayed by the seller. music. The work Many people are talked into buying of the Italian munew junk. Six weeks delivery time on sician Vinicio Caan antique wardrobe? That can not possela fits well be, that closet already exists. Do not with what I do: in be fooled. his music old, new, • Note where the wear spots are. A circus, jazz and thepainted chair wears on the seat and ater come together. the bars at the bottom, but not on Marie: ‘I also collect Because that’s what the sides. And a cabinet wears on the clothes. Whether I ever buy knobs, from the thousand times the something new? Yes, a pair I do: make theater, drawers are opened and closed, but of flip-flops for the summer, people buy a feel good illusion.’ not in other places. but I would rather not.’ • Buy from people who love their stuff and whom you trust. • Textiles? Do not buy cotton or silk. Choose linen instead, that lasts much longer. Hold the piece of fabric up to the light so that any holes become visible. Old linen can be washed in the machine, using hot water and a little bit of a mild and neutral detergent. Naturelle

Maggiore

Lago

Impressions of a summer day on and around Lake Maggiore, one of the most beautiful lakes in Italy (says Hemingway). 56

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;I am up here in Stresa, a little resort on Lake Maggiore. One of the most beautiful Italian lakesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ~ Ernest Hemingway

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;If a man should possess a heart and a shirt, he ought to sell the shirt and visit the shores of Lake Maggioreâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ~ Stendhal

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Italy is a dream that keeps returning for the rest of your lifeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; ~ Anna Akhmatova

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Chez Colette A visit to Saint-Sauveuren-Puisaye, birthplace of the French writer.

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n hearing the word Colette a lot of people will probably think of the smart department store in Paris, but in the last century this French name unmistakably referred to the rather daring French writer with the large body of work. This year marks the sixtieth anniversary of the end to her unconventional life, a life that began in 1873, in the village of Saint-Sauveur-en-Puisaye (Burgundy, France). A few words to describe Colette: country girl, eternal admirer of her mother Sido, dancer, actress and mime artist, sensualist, writer with Harry-Potter-popularity, bisexual, provocateur. And in numbers: she had three husbands, moved fourteen times (not counting her country houses) and wrote around fifty books (she regarded Le blé en herbe as her best book). Despite her fame it took a long time before a Colette museum was established. It wasn’t until 1995 that the castle in her hometown was restored and became Musée Colette, displaying - among other things - the furniture from her last apartment in Paris. But now also the house where Colette was born will become a museum. After a lingering inheritance dispute the dilapidated house is now being renovated and is expected to open to the public in 2015. When you listen to Colette speak in lilting French with a rusty rolling ‘r’ about the grande maison grave where she grew up - as seen on YouTube in a short documentary from 1950 - you know that this would have made her très contente. www.maisondecolette.fr 66

Detail of a room in Colette’s apartment in Paris, replicated in the museum.

Birthplace of Colette.

Colette-collage with pictures of her birthplace, portraits and impressions from the Musée Colette. The museum is housed in a 17th-century castle, just a stone’s throw away from the house where Colette was born.

Neglected garden behind the house.

The rear of Colette’s bedroom.

Steps in the museum with titles of books by Colette. 67

In MusĂŠe Colette the lounge and bedroom of her apartment at Palais Royal in Paris has been recreated.

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‘I went to collect the few personal belongings which I held to be invaluable: my cat, my resolve to travel, and my solitude.’

This page and right page: books, furniture and butterfly collection, Musée Colette. 70

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Colette: ‘What a wonderful life I’ve had! I only wish I’d realized it sooner’

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Bio dynamic Op landgoed Kraaybeekerhof staat alles in het teken van biologisch-dynamische landbouw en voeding.

Entree of raw asparagus, aduki beans and seaweed (wakame and hiziki), with salted cucumber and miso mayonnaise. 72

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Green leafy vegetables from the farm shop. Naturelle

biodynamic

The man in the country store smiles when he sees linden tree, flower and vegetable gardens, a hispictures are taken: ‘If we would get ten cents for toric ice cellar, a country store, a greenhouse and every picture taken here, we would be well off.’ an orangery. For more than forty years biodynamic farming is being practiced here. Life force Ronnie Horstman took his first class at KraayThe good atmosphere and beautiful surround- beekerhof in 2001. ‘My world view shifted; I ings do indeed invite to recording them. On the learned that it is possible to interact with the five acres of land that are left of estate Kraay- world in a different way.’ Today, he is director beekerhof in Driebergen there are a large white of the estate. Ronnie explains what biodynamic coach house with a training center and restau- means. ‘It’s about life, life force and food. Susrant, a terrace on the waterfront, a century-old tainable agriculture existed ten thousand years 74

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biodynamic

‘Healthy soil provides good nutrition and vibrant people’

ago, for example in China and among the Aztecs, and uses special methods to keep the soil alive. A healthy soil is free of weeds and pests and provides good nutrition and vibrant people. A test has been done where three cucumbers were sliced and kept in a refrigerator for a while: the regular cucumber turned to mush, the biological specimen became all soggy and the biodynamic cucumber grew back together again. Biodynamics is about the preservation of life force. There used to be grocery stores and

healthy people; now you have supermarkets and fat people.’ No restrictions Biodynamic nutrition does not impose any restrictions. The restaurant at Kraaybeekerhof does not only serve vegetarian food; there are meat and fish options as well. Ronnie: ‘Cows are an integral art of biodynamic farming. Their manure is essential for the condition of the soil. Moreover, there are more and more indications

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â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Cows are an integral part of biodynamic agricultureâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Naturelle

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Dessert. Or what is left of it...

that cow’s milk allergy does not occur when the milk comes from cows that have kept their horns. Meat and dairy products can be eaten, as long as they are good for you and are treated and used in such a way that their life force remains in tact. ‘You need to look at the individual in the totality of the cosmos. What is good for that particular person? Herbs can be toxic if used incorrectly. And vegetables that are considered to be nightshade foods (such as potato, tomato and egg-

plant) should not be eaten excessively. So examine and determine what is good for you. Rudolf Steiner - founder of anthroposophy - said that you had to take nothing from him. Instead you have to investigate everything yourself. Does this way of looking at the earth ring true, emotionally? You decide what you want to research and explore. And if you examine everything you see and experience from love, your world view will open up.’ ••• www.kraaybeekerhof.nl

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Mastering the art of cooking without wheat, sugar or dairy

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Susan Jane White from Dublin does not eat wheat, sugar or dairy and feels more energetic than ever. In her cookbook The Extra Virgin Kitchen she shares what she eats. In Naturelle: a super simple recipe for a vegan dinner and a delectable blackberry tart.

TOMATO CURRY with banana and beans

Serves 5

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

1 large onion, diced 2 - 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil 2 x 400 g tins of chopped tomatoes 1 x 400 g tin mixed beans 5 dried apricots, chopped 2 bananas, sliced into rounds 2 tablespoons raisins 2 tablespoons curry powder squeeze of lemon juice 2 to 3 garlic cloves, crushed great handful of fresh parsley, to garnish dollop of natural coconut yogurt, to serve a few turns of the black pepper mill sweet brown rice, to serve

Normally the best way to begin a curry is by sweating the onion in olive oil on a low heat in a heavy-based saucepan until translucent, but on those seriously swift evenings, just bung it all in together. Add the tomatoes to the onion and bring to a low simmer, at which point you can add the beans, apricots, bananas, raisins, curry powder and lemin juice. Cook for about 15 minutes. The key to this recipe is to stir through the crushed garlic as soon as the curry is ready, and not before. Divide between 5 plates and drizzle reverently with extra virgin olive oil and torn parsley. Crown with a dollop of live coconut yoghurt and maybe a few turns of the black pepper mill and serve with short grain or sweet brown rice. You will feel your toes sing.

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BLACKBERRY TART with almond pastry

For the raw pastry • 1 1/2 cups almonds • 1 cup desiccated coconut • 3/4 cup sultanas or raisins • zest of 1 unwaxed lemon • 3 tablespoons raw honey or maple syrup • 1 teaspoon ground allspice or cinnamon • good pinch of sea salt flakes

Serves 12

For the filling • 3-4 cups blackberries • 8 Medjool dates • 2 tablespoons raw honey or maple syrup (optional) • squeeze of lemon juice • coconut yoghurt, to serve

To make the jammy filling, blitz half the blackberries with all of the remaining ingredients (except the coconut yoghurt) until smooth. Gently stir through the rest of the blackberries with a fork and spread over the chilled pastry. Let it set for 4 hours in the fridge and serve beside a good dollop of natural coconut yoghurt.

Using your food processor, briefly blend the pastry ingredients together until it starts to clump into a doughy ball. You might need 1 teaspoon of cold water to help it along. Scrape into a pie dish and press along the sides and bottom to cover the entire dish and form a crust. Place in the freezer.

Susan Jane White, The Extra Virgin Kitchen. Gill&Macmillan, 2014. www.susanjanewhite.com 80

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KITCHEN SECRETS

www.tarwegras.info

Maryse Moerel is a Hippocrates Health Educator, yoga and meditation teacher and eats a raw diet. ‘Everybody wants happiness and vitality. It is tempting to look outside yourself for a solution, but you have to change from within. Meditation, yoga and nutrition can help you. ‘The current food model is not working. Cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes; the public health problem is enormous. If you get your food from the supermarket, your immune system will suffer. Ask yourself who fills the shelves. That is a product manager who is judged on numbers and targets and not on his contribution to public health. Supermarket food is loaded with chemicals - including chemical vitamins - which are not good for you. The strange thing is: cola, whiskey and coffee can be sold on every street corner, but the Codex Alimentarius forbids me to praise the health benefits of vegetables and live plants. 82

‘Human beings are not omnivores, but herbivores. Our digestive tract is way too long to digest meat completely before it starts to rot. And do you know how cute a pig is? And how sweet and gentle a cow’s eyes are? People have a great ability for empathy and that creates responsibility. If you can not even treat an animal properly then won’t be able to do the same for a fellow human being. ‘Take a good look at what you do every day, what you eat and drink and how much you exercise. Eating consciously is not about being a stressed-out vegetarian. It should be a playful quest for what the earth has to offer. The world will improve when we consume less, use less plastic, eat more live plants and no meat. We were doing well until the art of cooking was invented. So make sure that you do not eat chemicals, meat and dairy. Instead eat a lot of - preferably raw - vegetables. If my mother offers cake on her birthday, I appreciate the gesture and I have a piece. You do not need to be fanatical or religious. But overall, I feed on living plants.

‘We were doing well until the art of cooking was invented’ ‘Aging gracefully will not happen when you eat processed foods and chicken from the supermarket, drink soda and coffee, and take a lot of medication. Western medicines are strong and can sometimes save lives, but on the whole they are bad for your health because blood does not tolerate chemicals. Therefore, you should try to avoid chronic use of medication.’

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DRINK & KITCHEN AID

FAVORITE RECIPE

‘Every day I drink vegetable juice of cucumber, celery, fennel and lemon. To make tea I use water from a Kangen water machine that makes the water alkaline.’ EXTRA

‘A lot of our misery comes from our feelings and thoughts and not knowing what our destination is. My favorite supplement from the east is reishi, which stimulates the growth of consciousness. And from the west: wheatgrass pills, beneficial for stomach and intestines.’

‘My five teenagers appreciate it when we have dinner together so I join them in the evening and make a salad in all the colors of the rainbow, with a tasty dressing of cold pressed, extra virgin olive oil, lemon juice, a pinch of stevia, one large or two small tomatoes, two cloves of garlic, Celtic sea salt and half of a seeded Spanish pepper. If you put these ingredients in the blender, you get a pink, tangy dressing that you can supplement with a little honey and mustard or a bunch of basil or walnuts or coconut milk and cilantro, whatever you like. I like to complete the salad with a bit of seaweed, such as kelp or dulse, sprouts, a scoop of raw sauerkraut, avocado and nuts. It is extra delicious to add little nut balls. They are easy to make: just blend nuts, raisins, Celtic sea salt, garlic and ginger and knead them into little balls.’

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BREAKFAST oatmeal porridge with berries

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Eating naturally

breakfast | lunch | dinner Many people are a bit lost when it comes to food ... What is healthy? What is good? And how do I get the answer to those two questions on my plate? Orthomolecular nutritionist Anne Marie Reuzenaar has an answer.

In her new book Natuurlijk! Elke dag écht eten (Naturally, eating real food every day) orthomolecular nutritionist Anne Marie Reuzenaar does not beat around the bush: ‘It is an illusion to think that food producers have our best interest in mind. They do not care about our health, it is our money ithey are after. By introducing the irresistible trio of sugar, salt and fat into their products, they will do just about anything to make us addicted to them [...] But there is something else going on. Resisting sweet, salty and fatty products is also difficult because the reward system in our brains indicates that it is beneficial to eat this food. [...] The food that you buy in the supermarket has another drawback: it has been tinkered with endlessly. By processing natural foods many valuable nutrients are lost. What often happens is that nutrients are then added to make the products appear healthy (fiber, added

calcium ...). Moreover, processed foods containn a lot of chemical additives to give them a longer shelf life and to improve the flavor and appearance. Most products have little to do with the original food. And processed foods may fill us, but they hardly feed us.’ The message is clear. Anne Marie recommends to get your groceries at the (farmers) market, in the health food store or from your kitchen garden. What you get should be unprocessed, fresh and preferably organic. What else? Avoid sugar (‘white poison’) and be careful with gluten and dairy. Wheat, gluten, sugar and cow’s milk - precisely the products that many of us like to eat so much - are a major burden on our intestines. But the most important lesson is this: listen to your body. Naturelle gives you three recipes from Anne Marie to get you started in the morning, afternoon and evening.

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LUNCH Indian carrot soup

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DINNER quinoa salad with samphire

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Oatmeal porridge with berries

Indian carrot soup

• • • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • • • • • • • •

serves 2 | 15 minutes

serves 6 | 35 minutes

400 ml unsweetened rice or almond milk 60 g gluten-free oatmeal pinch of salt 100 g (frozen) berries good pinch of ground cinnamon 1 tbsp crushed linseed dash of coconut cream stevia drops 1 tbsp walnuts, roughly chopped

Eating oatmeal is healthy, so they say. But why is that? It’s because oatmeal slowly releases energy, which means it will keep you satisfied all morning. Also, it is rich in B vitamins and fiber and it stabilizes your blood sugar levels. So it is a lot healthier and more nutritious than those sugary cereals from the supermarket. Pour the vegetable milk in a saucepan and bring to a boil. While stirring add the oatmeal and a pinch of sea salt. Leave the oatmeal on low heat for about 10 minutes until it has become a thick paste. Stir frequently. Meanwhile, heat the berries in a saucepan. Remove the porridge from the heat and stir in the ground cinnamon, flaxseed, coconut cream and a dash of stevia drops to taste. Divide the porridge between two plates or bowls. Top with warm berries and walnuts.

1 large onion 2 cloves of garlic 1/2 fresh red pepper approximately 2 cm fresh ginger 750 g organic carrots 2 tbsp coconut oil 11/4 tsp ground cumin 1 tsp ground coriander 1 tsp cinnamon 1.5 liters vegetable stock 50 g white quinoa goat milk yogurt 1/4 cucumber a handful of fresh coriander, chopped

Peel and chop the onion and garlic. Cut the red pepper open, remove the seeds and cut into small pieces. Peel the ginger and chop finely. Peel and grate the carrots and chop them. Heat the coconut oil in a large pan and fry the onion, garlic, red pepper, ginger, cumin, coriander and cinnamon gently. Add the carrots to the onion mixture and cook for about 5 minutes. Pour in the broth and cook for about 10 minutes. Let cool slightly and puree in a blender. Bring the soup back to a boil and add the uncooked quinoa. Cook everything for another 15 minutes. Divide the soup among the plates. Top with a tablespoon of yogurt and grated cucumber. Garnish with fresh cilantro.

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Quinoa salad with samphire serves 4 | 40 minutes • • • • • • • • • • • • •

250 g quinoa (white and red) 420 ml vegetable stock 60 g samphire * 1 clove of garlic 1 spring onion 1 pomegranate (not too big) 4 tbsp extra virgin olive oil juice and zest of 1/2 lime sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 3 tbsp finely chopped flat-leaf parsley leaves 2 tbsp finely chopped mint leaves 2 tbsp finely chopped basil 40 g rocket

Rinse the quinoa under running water and drain in a colander. Stir it into the broth and cook for about 12 to 15 minutes. Turn off the heat and let simmer for 10 minutes. Put the quinoa into a bowl and fluff with a fork. Allow to cool. Pour boiling water over the samphire and let it sit for 10 minutes. Drain in a colander. Peel and slice the garlic. Clean the spring onion and cut into rings. Cut the pomegranate in half and take out the seeds.

Anne Marie Reuzenaar, Natuurlijk! Elke dag écht eten. Kosmos Uitgevers, 2014. www.annemariereuzenaar.nl

Mix the quinoa with the olive oil and the zest and juice of the lime. Season with salt and pepper. Stir in the herbs, samphire, spring onion and arugula. Garnish with pomegranate seeds and serve immediately. * Samphire is available from mid-May to late September. It contains a lot of calcium, magnesium, potassium and vitamin C.

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THE WORLD ACCORDING TO

Koosje Koene

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PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT ‘I started drawing when I was a little girl and I never stopped.’ Koosje Koene draws and illustrates with ceaseless fervor and gives online workshops. ‘Drawing is my way of creating and relaxing, an outlet. I challenge myself to constantly learn new things. Lately I have been sitting at the kitchen table to draw food: beautiful fresh produce and recipes. I also like to draw on location, in the street for example. Or I go to a café where I draw people, or the interior, or both, while my coffee gets cold. Drawing is something you have to actually do. By thinking “I can not do this” you will convince yourself that you are indeed unable to draw. If you do it step by step, you will improve more and more. This may sound simple and a little boring, but practice does make perfect.’ www.koosjekoene.nl Naturelle

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