February issue ' Love & Passions'

Love & Passions

The Hague’s Letters of Love

Local Story Enduring Love

February issue

Page 8

Page 17

The Underground Experience The Hague with us! Absorb the cultural and social essence of this diverse city through the eyes of the international community and locals.

You are the Underground!

Issue 4 / February 2012

The Hague

A Story that Inspired Art The Hague artist, Marjolein van der Sluis, asked herself, “Why do modern women surround themselves with beautiful objects, why carry them, treasure them like relics?” Modern princesses wandering the streets of the 21st century have vague memories of the past, when princesses dreamt in their towers, languished on plush pillows dressed in exquisite fabrics and felt protected from evil by their knights and princes.

‘Reading Alexandre Dumas Fils La Dame aux Camélias, I was confronted with the symbolism of something as simple as a flower.

In her suffering and pain over an unrequited love, the tragic heroine wore a camellia to the opera as a symbol of her eternal devotion. The story inspired the painting of Lady with the Camellias.’

‘She looks at us with a gaze we recognise; it seems distant but is full of yearning for her lover.’ Lady with the Camellias by Marjolein van der Sluis name: LA DAME AUX CAMELIAS size: 100cm x 150cm medium: OIL ON CANVAS

www.theunderground.nl

The Underground The Hague

The Underground New Year drinks at Quirky

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The H ague

February 2012

Graphic Design Simone Branson Harper Minna Sun Kim Lara Maitre Chief Editor: Reina van Nieuwkerk-Rácz editor@theunderground.nl Editorial Adviser: Jane Dean Proof reader: Cora van den Bossche Communications advisor: Nataly Parson Anouk van Beersum Social Media: Kathyusjka Rodriguez Student wire: Carla Martinez, Sofia Lotto Persio Photographer: Minna Sun Kim Contributors: Lucy Bosscher, Leendert Haaring, Donnica Henry, Linda A. Janssen, Mihal Greener, Jane Dean, Eowyn Crisfield, Annalisa Branca, Andrea Paterson Front page: Marjolein van der Sluis Book review: Jo Parfitt, Ask Brigitte: Brigitte Spiegeler Ado News: Neal McClimon, Poem: Sareen McLay Antique specialist: David Aardewerk Advertising Simone Branson Wendy Mamott sales@theunderground.nl

Editorial

The Underground is a FREE monthly paper published by Simone Branson Harper Info@theunderground.nl Phone: + 31 (0) 6- 815 050 49

The Underground The Hague

Letter from the Editor A

s we move forward into its first full year of publication some exciting changes have taken place at The Underground.

We have welcomed Wendy Mamott on board to head up our sales team, she will be in charge of raking in the indispensable advertisements. Lara Maitre and Minna Sun Kim have joined Simone in the design department bringing in fresh ideas and their individual expertise. For marketing and communications advice we now rely on Nataly Parson and Anoek van Beersum. They are currently working on The Underground’s media package as well as clarifying the paper’s mission statement. Kathyusjka L. Rodriguez Quevedo is our social media expert.

There have also been some changes in the editorial team. Jane Dean and I have been working as co-editors since the conception and launch of The Underground with joint responsibility for all aspects of the editorial content of the paper. As of 1 January 2012, I have taken on the role of Chief Editor and will be responsible for all aspects of editorial planning and content. I am now also the contact person for all the writers. Jane will stay on as Editorial Advisor and focus on editing and proof-reading in conjunction with our proof-reader, Cora van den Bossche, and myself. This will allow Jane more time for her editorial and writing commitments outside of The Underground.

As always, we remain committed to maintaining the high standards of writing and quality content produced by our current and future writers.

It was a delight to meet so many of our contributors last month for drinks at Quirky, and in many cases, finally put a face to a name. Thanks Christine & Em for hosting!

Print Wegener NieuwsDruk BV Distribution: PS Drukker © Disclaimer Whilst every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, the publisher cannot accept responsibility for omissions and errors. All material in this publication is strictly copyright and all rights reserved.

Reina van Nieuwkerk-Rácz Chief Editor editor@theunderground.nl

Find us on Facebook & follow us on Twitter: @UndergroundTH

Paul Dirkse, a native of the Netherlands, was born and educated in The Hague.

If you are interested in viewing some of Paul’s artwork, please contact him to arrange a personal viewing in your own home. Paul can bring you a selection of paintings with no obligation. He can also help you select a professional frame for your painting.

Paul has been commissioned by many personal clients to paint individual pieces of art.

Contact Paul • T: 070-8882929 • M: 06-3305-3311 • www.pauldirkse.nl

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Get a Life!

News & Views

Local news from The Hague........

Reina van Nieuwkerk-Rácz on her journey rediscovering Holland

Something happening in your part of town, you think our readers should know about?

stumbles upon something life changing

Recently, I found myself in the southwest Province of Zeeland in the pretty maritime town of Vlissingen. I was driving down its coastline Boulevard admiring an amber sun sparkling over the Westerschelde estuary when the road came to an abrupt end; or so it seemed. In fact it was a small roundabout with a magnificent bronze statue that somehow looked familiar. Wanting to take a closer look I parked and when I read the name inscribed on the elegant stone pedestal I knew why I had recognized him. Michiel Adriaenszoon de Ruyter had been Holland’s most illustrious commander-at-sea, an admiral and celebrated hero, a native of Vlissingen and the reason I was born.

Let me explain.

In 1676 Admiral de Ruyter rescued twentysix captured Hungarian protestant clergymen in the bay of Naples. They had refused to convert to Catholicism as dictated by the Habsburg Emperor, had been forced into slavery and set to work as galley slaves for the Spanish.

To this very day, the Hungarian people regard this success as the symbolic first victory against the Habsburg oppression.

For this act of humanity they erected a statue of de Ruyter in the city of Debrecen.

The liberation of the clergymen is celebrated each year in both Hungary and the Netherlands, where the ambassador of Hungary lays a wreath on the tomb of de Ruyter in the Nieuwe Kerk in Amsterdam where he lies buried.

My father was Hungarian and during the uprising of 1956, like most university students at that time, was active within the resistance.

He was eventually forced to flee across the border to Austria becoming a stateless refugee.

Many countries offered political asylum to the Hungarian students but it was thanks to the historic link between Holland and Hungary, sealed by de Ruyter’s act of mercy, that my father boarded the train bound for the Netherlands. Had he not, my mother and father would never have met and … well, they did.

February 2012

Do you have a story, need help on a project, or know someone special that deserves to be put in the limelight?

Would you like to dig deep and report as an Underground Mole ?

You are The Underground! info@theunderground.nl

Uncertain future for the Zeeheldenfestival The annual Zeeheldenfestival will take place from Wednesday 27 June to Sunday 1 July on the Prins Hendrikplein, in the Zeehelden district in The Hague. This free, and very ambitious neighbourhood party, that relies purely on volunteers is in its thirty-second year. Altogether, 160 local residents are involved in the organisation and execution of the festival, a real achievement for four and a half days and about 50 acts. The festival not only offers a platform to established acts, but also to talented newcomers. Music, dance, street performances as well as delicious food and drink are on offer to both young and old and everyone in between.

Due to the selfless commitment of all the volunteers the festival does not require a huge budget.

Unfortunately it has become evident that this year the authorities and sponsors are reducing their funding and sometimes even withdrawing all their support. The theme for 2012 is therefore ‘More for Less’. During the coming weeks it will become clear whether or not the festival will actually be held this year. We really hope so. If it does, please check for all relevant information, available by the end of May at www.zeeheldenfestival.nl

Strooptocht doubles number of visitors The success of the Strooptocht’s (an exciting journey through the shopping streets filled with innumerous treats, remarkable acts and extraordinary music) second edition, organised in December 2011, attracted a record number of visitors. To be precise, six hundred visitors attended this event, compared to just three hundred in the previous year. ‘The number of visitors was literally overwhelming,’ said the organiser of the Strooptocht, Rian Knoop. Luckily, due to the high number of participating retailers and cafes all visitors were able to fully enjoy the shops and outdoor activities. www.strooptocht.nl

What’s new in Zeeheldenkwartier Every month, the fashion shop, Normal gets you Nowhere, approaches a designer with the task of creating a design that is printed, as a limited edition, on 25 shirts. Vluchtvlees designers produced the first set of shirts and are sold with a special certificate. The store further welcomes all budding fashionistas wanting to unleash their creativity by putting together unique items of clothing and accessories using computer cut transfer films, full colour transfer, ribbon, beads and studs. The shop also carries the following brands: Mister Whipper, Team Tees, Kauf dein Glück, Suba and Madame Papillion. Located in the Prins Hendrikstraat 74, Normal gets you Nowhere set up by father Kees Knaap and daughter Babiche – can take you where you want to be.

On the 26th January the Embassy of India celebrated the 63rd Republic Day of India at the Gandhi Center in The Hague. The President’s Address to the Nation on the eve of the Republic Day was read out by H.E. Ms. Bhaswati Mukherjee, Ambassador of India to the Netherlands.

More information: Vlissingen: For children who love pirates www.arsenaal.com Great maritime museum, lots of info about Admiral de Ruyter www.muzeeum.nl Ms. Bhaswati Mukherjee Ambassador of India during the singing of the Indian National Anthem

February 2012

The Underground

News & Views

The Hague

Advertorial

Tip!

H.P.Mutters Living Room, the new restaurant in The Hague We would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to our new restaurant, H.P.Mutters Living Room. We are hopeful it will be as much of a success as our Brasserie H.P.Mutters located just around the corner in the Piet Heinstraat. As the name suggests ‘the Living Room’ (huiskamer in Dutch) is a cosy and stylish venue with an intimate atmosphere. The art deco furniture and the stylish interior give it a homely feel. Our delectable French dishes are served at an old-fashioned price. We rely on a small, dependable team consisting of Dennis Liem, our head chef and your host in the Living Room. For the past five years, having attended university in Leiden, Dennis has followed his passion and has set up several restaurants in both Leiden and The Hague. He has a comprehensive understanding of French cuisine and elects to use a good basic kitchen comparable to French farmer’s food.

We feel privileged that he has chosen to join our team. Cor van Lennep assists Dennis and has a background in photography and advertising. He too decided to follow his passion and has joined our team to learn the skills of the French kitchen. Well done, Cor! We are extremely pleased with his decision to join our team and really enjoy his enthusiasm for food. H.P.Mutters Living Room is open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 5pm - 9pm and from 3 - 6pm we also serve pancakes for the kids.

Thank you for your attention. Let us prove ourselves in the kitchen by allowing us to welcome you into our Living Room at your earliest convenience.

You can find us on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/ Haagse-Lente/217015158318466 Reservations: 070-3560361

Exhibition Love padlocks (also known as Love Locks) are a custom by which padlocks are affixed to a fence, gate, bridge or similar public fixture by sweethearts to symbolize their everlasting love.

Love padlocks Florence, Italy

Timeless Dutchscapes Exhibition of paintings by The Hague artist Paul Dirkse www.stargalerie.com Time 15.00 - 19.00 Date: 18 – 26 February 2012 Place: Star Galerie – Borneostraat 116

Paul Dirkse, is an autodidactic artist from The Hague. He paints with acrylics and oils constantly exploring new styles and techniques expressed in both his abstract and true to life representations of this surroundings. His paintings depict scenes ranging from oceanic views with intense skies to tranquil tulip filled landscapes, reflections of his native Holland. Paul believes that his best works are created without a preconceived concept, instead are produced on an impulse influenced by the mood and of the moment. www.pauldirkse.nl

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News & Views

Did you know?

Ask Brigitte • by Brigitte Spiegeler

Question to Brigitte from a reader: I love to travel, so I decided to take my new love to Rome for a romantic weekend. We ended up spending more time at the airport than in Rome when our flight was delayed for more than five hours. Can I claim some sort of compensation for this incredible inconvenience from the airline company?

These rights cannot be restricted or waived. In order to claim your rights you might have to bring them under the attention of the airline carrier at the airport when it fails to provide these services. Even if the airline carrier claims ‘extraordinary circumstances’ like the ash cloud from Iceland which hit us last year, they are still obliged to provide certain assistance. In the worst case you will have to write to your airline carrier when you are finally back home and put the wheels in motion to eventually claim your rightful compensation.

You will need to keep a cool head, even in the least romantic of situations, keeping your expenses reasonable and all of the receipts. This way the airline carrier has no grounds to refuse your claim.

ADO NEWS DEN HAAG • by Neal McClimon game took place against a much tougher opponent, namely the German Hamburg SV which resulted in a 2-1 win for Hamburg. Chery scored ADO’s goal in what was an excellent team performance.

At the time of going to press, ADO had not lost any of its star players to bigger foreign clubs during the transfer window, a threat that has loomed over the club since the start of the season, with the likes of Toornstra, Immers, Verhoek and Kum being linked to top clubs in both England and Germany.

There was some good news for ADO fans as their much admired goalkeeper Gino Coutinho signed a two year contract extension. Further good news is Mandy van den Bergh’s election as best female player in the Netherlands.

J.Verhoek consoles Coutinho after Ajax defeat © itpphotography ADO’s final game before the winter break was away at Ajax, a game which The Hague side lost 4-0 after having Ramon Leeuwin sent off early in the first half after a rash challenge.

A milestone for the club was reached in the home game against Roda JC. The one millionth supporter clicked in through the turnstiles of the Kyocera stadium. This lucky visitor will be receiving a special gift from the club.

The ADO ladies next home game is on Friday 10 February against VVV Venlo with a kick-off at 19.30.

Entry is free.

After the Christmas and New Year celebrations, the entire ADO squad went to a summer training camp in Estepona, Spain between January 5 - 12. During this period the team were put through their paces in warm sunshine.

The men’s team will be playing at home twice this month: against AZ on 4 February kick-off at 18.45 and against Excelsior on 18 February kick-off 19.45.

Club cards are not required, just go to the ticket office with a photo ID to purchase tickets.

Two friendly matches had been arranged with the first taking place on January 8 against the Belgian team Zulte Waregem which ended 2-2, despite Zulte Waregem initially leading by two goals. The second

For more information on tickets, club cards, match reports and all ADO news in English, visit www.adoforexpats.com.

It is always wise to get more in-depth advice tailored to your situation. The bottom line is: Be aware of your rights and don’t let the airline spoil your romantic weekend!

Do you have a legal question for Brigitte?

Email: ASK BRIGITTE info@theunderground.nl

The answer to last month’s competition: The statue is called ‘Anna Paulowna’ located at the Anna Paulowna plein, The Hague.

Winner: Puck Verkade

For ce its tuli nturies the p the 17 s. Tulips w Netherlan d actua th centur y ere most p s has been r ll w a sing y gave up hen they ized and a renowned w on its le bulb cou their day t ere used t their mos worldwide t im a v of tuli ariety and ld purchas e jobs to s currency popular in for e land ps an . b r e a c r o it me tu Some pe d 300 low to y. Tod , a ca op li 0 a r failed pink to red dif ferent y there ar riage or f p growers, le ood d variet e mor as to pro to pu ep ie e r duce is a tr ple. The on s. Colours than 150 ending s ue bla c p ly a ck va colour ho n range f ecies riety. ro r ticult urists m yelhave

All roads lead to Rome, and if you decide to get there by flying and are delayed due to the airlines, the good news is that you are entitled to compensation. The European Union 261/2004 regulation provides minimal rights to all passengers.

Your flight to Rome falls within the scope of this regulation because the airport is situated in the territory of a member state of the European Union. Depending on the length of the delay and the flight distance, the operating airline carrier has to offer certain assistance as specified in the articles of the regulation. This includes meals and refreshments, hotel accommodations in certain cases, for instance, when a stay of one or more nights becomes necessary, as well as transportation between the airport and the place of accommodation. You are also entitled to two phone calls or to send e-mails. Because you had a delay of five hours you are eligible for a refund of your flight and, had your flight been canceled, compensation of up to € 250.

February 2012

For all your building solutions, big or small www.dutchhandyman.nl Maarten Verharen • mobile: 06 22 19 32 99

February 2012

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News & Views

The Underground The Hague

In the Spotlight Marjolein van der Sluis (1963) is a Dutch painter who has exhibited her work in the Netherlands, Japan, France and the U.S.A. Her large oil paintings derive from a distinctive aesthetic world. She converts everyday objects and luxury items into relics against a background of American glamour and European romance. Imbued with elements of expressionism to denote emotive nuance and verve, her work embodies a sensitive approach to the depiction of women in a balanced and harmonious manner.

1.

Are you originally from The Hague?

Yes, I was born and raised in The Hague, seat of the crown and government, beach and culture, coaches driving through the streets, still got romance!

GU

ESS

Where the Statue is..

1.

!

What was the best tip anyone ever gave you about the Netherlands?

Drink this multicultural cocktail straight up, very addictive!

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Who or what inspires you?

Faith, travelling, meeting people, experiencing beauty and catching it on canvas wherever I go. My handsome love. My mother, she is glad I am in the neighbourhood, she has become so fragile. Teaching of course!

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What is your favourite Dutch saying or custom?

Pluk de dag! Carpe diem – ‘seize the day’!

2.

You can win a two hour loving kindness

Alexandre Dumas Fils, I am amazed by the way he writes about love and understands the emotions of a woman in La Dame aux camélias (at least mine…)

treatment (initial consult - lifestyle, stress factors, health + 90min) Traditional Thai Yoga Massage from lovemeloveyou holistic and therapuetic massage practice. lovemeloveyou creating a buzz in The Hague. www.lovemeloveyou.nl email your answer: sales@underground.nl competition ends 29th February

Which famous person, either historic or still living, would you like to meet and explain why?

3.

Must see or Hot Spot in The Hague?

Old Catholic shelter church in the Juffrouw Idastraat, the museum of Dutch writer Louis Couperus in the Javastraat, and my favourite hangout is het Stoofje in the Reinkenstraat. www.vandersluis.com

NEW! Monthly Cartoon by Minna Sun Kim ©

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The Underground The Hague

Culture

February 2012

The Hague’s Letters of Love • Jane Dean discovers star-crossed lovers of a past era

refugee, Olympe Dunoyer, ‘Pimpette’. One can only imagine his father’s reaction; discretion was not something practiced by his son.

The passionate affair was vehemently opposed by the Ambassador, who feared a diplomatic incident. Olympe’s mother, though penniless, was from a prominent family and had high hopes for her daughter, and Arouet had been hoping for a few quiet years while his son was away.

In an attempt to stop the liaison, Arouet obtained a Lettre de Cachet to ban the match. This was a sealed warrant issued by the King allowing imprisonment without trial. Whether this was actually used is open to debate. One romantic story has François-Marie imprisoned in The Hague, from where he writes his impassioned love letter and subsequently escapes through a window to be with his love.

The other version talks of the lovers making plans to escape together before the Letter de Cachet was served.

Whatever the truth, this letter was written in The Hague to his first love.

The Hague 1713 Like many fathers before him, and many more since, François Arouet was in despair over the behavior of his fun loving and, in his eyes, wayward son. He believed the young FrançoisMarie, well educated and undeniably bright, was wasting his life and talent with frivolous dreams of a literary or theatrical career. It seemed obvious to his father that his son should be focusing on something more sensible, preferably the law.

François-Marie was born in 1694, in Paris, the youngest of three surviving Arouet children. After his mother’s death in 1704, he was sent to study at the Jesuit Collège Louis-le-Grand, attended by the French elite. The school introduced him to the theatre and encouraged his poetry writing; when he left in 1711 François-Marie announced his wish to be a writer, much to his father’s dismay.

The Abbé de Chateauneuf, François-Marie’s godfather, did not help Arouet in his quest to persuade his son to change his mind.

Instead he became his sponsor and tutor introducing his young protégé to Deism and literature, subjects that only helped fuel his dreams.

In a last attempt to get his son out of Paris and the lure of a dissolute life, Arouet intervened. The 19 year-old François-Marie was dispatched by his father to the Netherlands, acting as attaché to the French Ambassador in The Hague. Interestingly, the Ambassador was the brother of the Abbé.

It is not hard to understand the desolation of this young man, used to the excitement, glamour and glitz of Paris, who now found himself in the sober surroundings of The Hague. But never one to be down for long, François-Marie soon fell headlong, passionately and very publically in love with a penniless French Huguenot

I am a prisoner here in the name of the King; they can take my life, but not the love that I feel for you. Yes, my adorable mistress, tonight I shall see you, even if I had to put my head on the block to do it. For heaven’s sake, do not speak to me in such disastrous terms as you write; you must live and be cautious; beware of madame your mother as of your worst enemy. What do I say? Beware of everybody; trust no one; keep yourself in readiness, as soon as the moon is visible; I shall leave the hotel incognito, take a carriage or a chaise, we shall drive like the wind to Scheveningen; I shall take paper and ink with me; we shall write our letters. If you love me, reassure yourself; and call all your strength and presence of mind to your aid; do not let your mother notice anything, try to have your pictures, and be assured that the menace of the greatest tortures will not prevent me to serve you. No, nothing has the power to part me from you; our love is based upon virtue, and will last as long as our lives. Adieu, there is nothing that I will not brave for your sake; you deserve much more than that.

Adieu, my dear heart!

Arouet Sadly, there is no happy ending to this love story. Olympe subsequently ended the relationship and François-Marie returned heartbroken to Paris.

Fortunately, the story has a final twist. François-Marie Arouet went on to become a world renowned writer, historian and philosopher.

He is regarded as the leader of the Age of Enlightenment.

Voltaire.

Today he is better known by the pen name: History does not record what Voltaire’s father thought of all this.

The Underground

Hidden Treasure

February 2012

The Hague

9

Each month David Aardewerk, a certified gemmologist and diamond grader will appraise watches, jewellery and precious stones belonging to one of our readers.

Unique Antique

A

s a dealer I am all too aware of the role jewellery plays as a symbol of love and passion. It is perhaps the first or the last present couples will give each other.

True Love Recipe

From my point of view, it is a heart-warming experience when a man comes in to buy his love the ring she has had her eye on for a long time. I recall one such occasion in my shop when an elderly couple walked in and the husband spontaneously bought his wife a beautiful diamond eternity ring. As it turned out later, this was just weeks before he passed away. In cases such as this, you know you have contributed to a lasting memory.

Ingredients: 1 fresh lobster 300 grams of sauerkraut from the barrel Method: Drive a sharp knife between the lobster’s eyes

The ring I have been asked to value this month also tells a story of love and loss. It is made of two wedding rings joined together by a beautiful diamond. Clearly the husband has passed away and the exquisite diamond symbolises a lifetime of love and passion.

This will kill the lobster immediately Boil a large pan of water Heat the oven to 100 degrees centigrade

How can you value this? There is no replacement value for a beautiful memory. Still it is my job to analyse and attach a value to the rough material and multiply this with a factor representing the make.

Warm the sauerkraut in the oven at 100 degrees for 3 minutes.

The ring is made of 18 karat gold, but more importantly it is set with a beautiful 1,4 carat, brilliant cut diamond. Grading a set diamond is difficult because part of the stone remains hidden and the colour is influenced by the reflection of the setting. That’s why in certification institutes like the H.R.D. or the G.I.A, diamonds are always taken from their setting before grading. In normal valuation practice this would only be done when you are dealing with a very clean stone (no or small inclusions) or when the colour of the diamond looks extremely white (D-F).

Let David tell you what your treasured item is worth.

Readers can send (an initial) photograph of a treasured item to info@theunderground.nl

In the case of this particular diamond, my estimation of the colour is white (H) and of the Clarity is VS2 (some flaws but hard to find under a 10X magnification).

Considering the discount we give on the Diamond Retail Benchmark the replacement value of this ring is € 12.000.

The Underground will select one item a month for appraisal by David - It could be worth it!

David Aardewerk is the founder of Rocks and Clocks that deals in antique jewellery, vintage watches and 20th century silver.

presents

Ceili Mor Saturday 4th February Location : Parish House, Koningin Marialaan 2, 2595 GB Den Haag Time: 20:30—23:30

Irish Dance night

Custom made

for all the family Live

l

ffe 0 Ra 5 0 5

Mus

ic

Dance Instruction given Great fun, great exercise and a great way to meet new people.

Tickets Cost: 5 Euros

for more details e-mail kilkennyontap@gmail.com

Place the warm sauerkraut on a heated plate Serve the lobster on a bed of sauerkraut Time to enjoy……TRUE LOVE More recipes available from www.kookblik.nl © kookblik

www.rocksandclocks.com

Kilkenny School of Irish dance

Cook the lobster in the boiling water The lobster is done in 3 minutes and will be a beautiful red colour Rinse the lobster off in cold water and halve it

“let us make your party Perfect” www.perfectpastry.nl

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The Underground The Hague

Neighbours

February 2012

Neighbours: Barbara Rogoski • Linda A. Janssen learns that for Barbara Rogoski, ‘loving your neighbour’ means serving them

When Barbara Rogoski left her Virginia home in the United States to come to the Netherlands two decades ago, she was an ambitious, hardworking twenty-something just starting out in life. Determined to succeed, she was eager to set up scientific and medical publishing company Cambridge Scientific’s new European office despite being the sole employee and not speaking the language.

Little did she know that she would put down roots and ultimately stay in the country she has come to regard as her second, permanent home.

‘I like the freedom to be myself in the tolerant environment I have found here,’ she explains, summing up the past twenty two years.

While Rogoski worked in the global publishing world for the next eighteen years, she built a new life here: learning Dutch, settling down and having two children. While the couple eventually divorced, they have remained committed to jointly raising their pre-teen children amicably, and live within a kilometre of each other.

Over time she realised that working in a purely business-oriented arena was not sufficiently satisfying; she wanted to help others. Raised a Catholic, her religious and spiritual beliefs anchored her life, and she knew that she wanted to do more. Eventually her strong interest in spirituality and the desire to be of service led her, in 2006, to embark upon a course of study for the ministry.

Rogoski knew firsthand the needs of many disenfranchised people living in and around The Hague. In particular, as with many urban centres, there was and continues to be a homeless population of Dutch and other nationalities representing many ethnic and racial groups. Recognising the challenging and disheartening aspects of this difficult way of life, the Gemeente has chosen to employ a small number of straatpastoren (street pastors) to tend to the spiritual and physical needs of the street population.

Feeding and caring for the homeless on a daily basis requires a tenuous network of services knitted together by a host of organisations. Bringing her business acumen and desire to contribute to solving these social issues, Rogoski helped co-found Meals for the Homeless, a joint project of the Roman Catholic Church of The Hague and the Saint Egidio Group. She served as the Co-ordinating Director for the first three years, during which she was ordained as an interfaith minister.

The premise is simple: go beyond the traditional soup-and-sandwich meal, offering instead a fairly elaborate homemade three-course dinner, served on placemats with proper silverware in a gezellige atmosphere at the Westeinde 101a Social Center. Twice a month

the guests, as clients are respectfully referred to, take part in a short service in the Chapel prior to the meal and then spend the next few hours eating, relaxing and conversing with the volunteers and each other.

This approach offers a temporary respite from the lonely, dangerous and disconnected world of homelessness.

‘When they come to us, initially the guests are sceptical, not trusting, with few or no friends,’ Rogoski elaborates.

‘Life on the street is difficult, and most friendships are ultimately betrayed. We seek to make a connection with each person as an individual, and try to meet their emotional and spiritual needs.’

‘It’s more than simply serving food,’ she continues, her eyes brightening with excitement. ‘They come to realise that we have no agenda. We want nothing from them. We want only to serve and to love.’

An essay by Rogoski capturing the spiritual and racial harmony engendered by this highly successful endeavour in The Hague was included in the wellregarded 2010 book How to Achieve a Heaven on Earth: 101 Insightful Essays From the World’s Greatest Thinkers, Leaders and Writers. Other contributors include Barack Obama, Thomas L. Friedman, Ted Turner, Marianne Williamson and Tony Blair.

While Rogoski no longer runs the Meals for the Homeless program, it clearly remains near and dear to her heart.

‘The current Co-ordinator does an excellent job,’ she extols graciously, ‘and is very dedicated to the team and the guests.’

These days Rogoski is busy with her own new business venture, assisting others in developing and enhancing their capabilities as speakers and giving motivational speaking engagements herself. She continues to do a limited amount of spiritual coaching, but on a voluntary basis only.

‘I believe it’s my purpose to be of service to others in everything I do,’ she shares enthusiastically. ‘I look for opportunities to serve, to reach out to others, to connect and to bring hope and love. We all have a message, and I want to help people speak their truth and make a difference.’ www.successfulspeakernow.com

One day in a Year

By Resident Poet Sareen McLay There are lots of little ways You help me through the days.

It’s a good thing, once a year To stop and think of all that’s dear.

Busy lives often filled to the brim Rushing about to fit everything in Home, work, children at school In every direction there’s a pull.

So, thanks for putting out the bin, Fetching the shopping bags in, Thanks for fixing the curtain rails, And listening to my daily tales You’re a dab hand with the paint No, I’m not saying you’re a saint!

But thanks for that laughing smile Helping me travel yet another mile.

So roll on this year’s Valentine’s day With hearts and flowers all the way.

Bring on the presents and the wine Let’s go out and have a good time!

Lifestyle

February 2012

The Underground The Hague

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Love that Leads to Bilingual Families • Eowyn Crisfield advises parents how to help their bilingual children be fluent

A - felt present This is a true life story I consider a special gift that has came my way, and one I would like to share with you in the month of Valentine.

Just before Christmaas I found a message in my company mailbox from a lady asking if it were possible for two people to follow a resuscitation course at home. This was not the first time I had received such a request for a private C.P.R. course. What came next did surprise though, and made me first doubt whether this was really serious. The lady had added that she and her husband wished to give each other this resuscitation course as a Christmas present. I started making up scenarios in my mind - this must be an elderly couple, one of whom probably a heart patient and this must be a way of feeling safer should anything happen. We fixed a date for the course.

A few days later I arrived at their door, which was opened by a young American man who welcomed me and carried all the heavy material necessary for the course upstairs. He then introduced me to his Russian wife. “Not an old couple,” I thought, “but a young couple clearly devoted to each other.” I unpacked the resuscitation dummy and set up the rest of the stuff needed for the course. We all worked very well together that afternoon (including Bourbon, the sweetest Chocolate Labrador you’ve ever seen!). Towards the end, I just had to ask, ‘Is this really your Christmas present to each other?’ To which they both answered most seriously, ‘Well yes, this makes more sense than giving each other some kind of useless gift.’ Needless to say, I was moved by this young couple, so full of life and love for each other and so responsible about the value of saving life should anything happen around them. It was a truly heart-felt Christmas present - also for me- and it was a wonderful way to end my teaching year. Isn’t this a true Valentine’s Day story?

A very special thank you to Nataly and Dean. I have told your story to other groups of students who all felt how special this is.

Wishing you a Happy Valentine!

Liz Jordan www.vitalefunctiesopleidingen.com

T

he majority of parents who come to my seminars on raising bilingual children are there because they and their spouses have different first languages. By default then, they are part of a bilingual family, and want to raise children who speak both of their languages. The idea of being a bilingual couple may be enticing when you are newly in love, but the reality of managing bilingual family life is not always smooth sailing.

The most common type of bilingual family is where both parents speak a different language, One Parent-One Language, or OPOL. This is a well-known and generally very successful path to bilingualism for most children. The general theory is that each parent should only speak his or her first language to their children, all the time. Children need consistent input in each language to build up an understanding of how the language works and enough vocabulary to use it proficiently.

This is easy enough to accomplish when each parent spends time alone with the children, but what should they do when they are all together? Best practice dictates that the input the children receive must be consistent – if they are hearing a mix of French and Dutch from the same person, how is their brain to sort out what words and structures belong to each language? This means a lot of translation and threeway conversations will happen in the early, formative years of bilingualism. At first, this kind of communication may feel complicated and unnatural – and it certainly turns head when you are using all three in public! But as each family member settles into their ‘language identity’ within the family, the translations, clarifications and omissions become a natural part of your family dynamic.

As children reach the age (usually between 3-4 years) where they have differentiated the two languages, and have a solid grammatical foundation and vocabulary, parents can be less strict in observing the OPOL guidelines in some circumstances. Very often in these families, communication becomes a mixture of both languages, depending on the topics involved.

It’s common that children prefer to discuss school activities and subjects in the language in which they took place. Of course, this only works if both parents understand the school language. For many families, this type of hybrid communication works well and the children maintain their fluency in both languages.

However, parents who are responsible for the transmission of a minority language (any language other than Dutch in the Netherlands) have an extra motivation to be consistent with their language input.

Children will naturally switch to the majority language once they realize they can get further using it. If the minority language parent starts using the majority language, even occasionally, it can lead to children refusing to use the minority language at all. If you are the minority language parent, it’s important to consider ways and means of maintaining the need for communication in your language. Children can be more or less resistant to using the minority language, but in all cases need to be encouraged to master it in speech, reading and writing to become balanced bilinguals.

There are many paths to being a successfully bilingual family. Any family that clearly identifies their language goals, creates a plan to reach those goals and is consistent in their approach can expect a positive outcome for their children.

ValentineWho?

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The Underground The Hague

Features

12 February 2012

Donnica Henry unveils the mystery and traditions around this romantic

H

holiday

istorians seem to be at odds over the origin of St. Valentine. Who was this mystery man? Was it one person or several that were anointed with this famous name? Three martyrs consistently come up in history: Valentine of Rome (a priest), Valentine of Terni (a bishop), and an unknown martyr.

Although Valentine of Terni was martyred in 197 AD, Valentine of Rome was martyred on 14 February 269 AD. It is therefore believed that Valentine’s Day had been named after Valentine of Rome. The Feast of St. Valentine was removed from the Roman Catholic calendar in 1969, although it is still celebrated today in other Christian denominations.

The origin may be questioned, but the legend of St. Valentine will mesmerize generations to come. The original Golden Legend, a medieval book of saints’ lives, claimed that St. Valentine was persecuted for being a Christian by the Roman Emperor Claudius II. Claudius tried to convert St. Valentine to Roman paganism, Valentine refused. This led to his being beaten, stoned and eventually beheaded. On the eve of his execution, the Golden Legend states that St. Valentine performed a miracle by healing the prison guard’s blind daughter.

This legend has changed over time. The more modern version portrays St. Valentine as disobeying the Emperor’s order forbidding young men to marry.

The Emperor believed married men made poor soldiers. St. Valentine secretly performed marriage ceremonies, and was arrested for his betrayal. The modern version also claims that St. Valentine wrote the first ‘valentine’ himself on the night before his execution. It was addressed to the daughter of the prison guard and was signed, ‘From your Valentine’.

St. Valentine’s Day was first associated with fertility as in the Feast of Lupercalia when Roman boys were paired with girls after picking their names out of jars. The pairing sometimes lasted for a year and most often led to marriage. The first mention of St. Valentine’s Day being associated with romantic, or courtly love, occurred in 1382 in Geoffrey Chaucer’s poem, Parlement of Foules, who wrote, ‘For this was Saint Valentine’s Day, when every bird cometh there to choose his mate’. The poem was written in honour of King Richard II’s first anniversary of his engagement to Anne of Bohemia.

Valentine’s Day was reinvented in the 1840’s when British factories began assembling paper valentine cards. An American, Esther Howland, received one of these cards from her father’s business associate. She was inspired and started the first mass production of valentine cards around 1847. Chocolates, flowers, lingerie, and balloons have become common gifts for loved ones and in the 1990’s, the diamond industry saw a ‘jewel’ in Valentine’s day. They began promoting jewellery, especially diamonds.

It is estimated that approximately one billion cards, 110 million roses and 58 million pounds of chocolate are bought worldwide for this romantic (or commercial) day. Valentine’s Day has gained recognition in Holland since the 1990’s and has been growing in popularity. With the growth of social media, Valentine’s Day has spread over the internet. Around 15 million e-valentines were sent in 2010. In the past few years, some of the major marketeers have turned to social media to promote exposure for their products and Valentine’s Day. Although a percentage of the population will embrace the modern trend of celebrating Valentine’s Day by sending a virtual hug to their loved ones this year, others will hold on to tradition and possibly send their loved ones a poem.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

Back to the Swinging 20’s •

Annalisa Branca shows you how Lindy Hop can swing your life

Close your eyes and imagine you are in a smoky club in Harlem and Shorty Snowden just finished one of his steps screaming ‘I am doing the Lindy hop’, referring to the giant hop that Charles Lindbergh (Lindy) made flying from New York to Paris. The sparkling notes of swing reach your ears, a smile spreads on your face, a shiver runs down your spine and your feet start to tap-taptidi-ditap. The magic of swing starts and every single cell in your body is infected by passion. Fix your suspenders, straighten your hat and refresh your red lipstick. There are hundreds of people affected by the same rhythm and the same energy, no matter age, race or gender. Grab one of them and jump into pure fun. This is swing, this is Lindy Hop. Now open your eyes and return to 2012. The music filling your ears might be Caro Emerald with That Man, but the fun and the love for Lindy Hop hasn’t changed. Katja Winzeler-Van Der Horst and Hans Van Der Horst, from Ka-motion, know this feeling all too well. Their love for swing and Lindy Hop prompted them to open a dance school in several locations, including The Hague.

Hans is so passionate about swing that he has collected more than 2000 vinyl albums, which are kept with enormous care. Katja was introduced to Lindy Hop whilst in Chicago but fell in love with it fifteen years ago in Amsterdam at a party. Everyone was dressed up, the music was superb and she thought, ‘Oh, wow. That’s cool!

I have to learn this’. Since then, Katja and Lindy Hop have never separated and things just got better and better. She describes Lindy Hop as a lively, exciting, fun and flirtatious dance, with a hint of pepper and naughtiness. Helped by the joyful and energetic music, she fell in love with the good mood, the happiness, and all the laughter that came along with Lindy Hop. This is a dance that allows people to express themselves; it boosts creativity, and leaves space for improvisation. Technique is important, but it doesn’t have to be perfect, it has to be fun.

Though it was born in the time of segregation, the real essence of Lindy Hop is integration. Under its spell, people of all backgrounds and races become free spirited and share their passion. Its very core is what made Katja and Hans adore it.

The love is spreading, Lindy Hop is conquering the Netherlands.

You can find schools not only in Utrecht, Amsterdam and Eindhoven, but also in Gouda, Rotterdam and now, finally in The Hague.

And to quote Duke Ellington, ‘It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing.’

February 2012

Features

The Underground The Hague

13

The Hague’s Valentine • by Lucy Bosscher Deborah Valentine’s friend-making skills were put to the test when after Brazil, Colombia and South Africa the family had to move back to the Netherlands, to The Hague. The first year she felt miserable. Lost, alone and with few friends. While her husband, briefcase in hand, went to the Ministry, she tried to figure out how to build a new life for herself, find a meaningful occupation.

C

openhagen has the Little Mermaid. Brussels - Manneke Pis. And The Hague? Well, besides its own landmarks, it has something few cities can boast of; its own Valentine.

Meet Deborah Valentine, otherwise known as a hand in The Hague, the ultimate expat networker, the connector, the entrepreneur, the devoted mother, and since recently Executive Director of ACCESS, a non-profit organisation that serves the needs and interests of the international community in the Netherlands.

Valentine and ACCESS are a perfect match.

And not only because the two would be best described by adjectives starting with the prefix ‘multi’. As a seasoned expat with some eleven countries to her record, Deborah carries the credibility and firsthand knowledge of what the challenges of expatriation might be, where the pitfalls lie and how to cope with transition.

Challenges? She did have quite a few to handle growing up as a daughter of a Canadian diplomat. ‘We moved every four years,’ recalls Valentine, ‘And I always had to make new friends.’

The nomadic lifestyle shaped her character and stoked her curiosity about people. And it is this natural talent for making friends and connecting people that saw Deborah Valentine through her formative years and became a life-long mission.

But it was neither curiosity nor friendship that brought her to The Hague. It was romance...

Imagine Brasilia where a Dutch diplomat, on his first overseas posting, receives a junior UNICEF officer who is raising funds for her programme.

She is what the French would call charmante, spontaneous, vivacious and so enthusiastic. He is smitten. Not by the UNICEF programme but by the officer. Courtship ensues. She says yes, and the couple are married by the Dutch Ambassador at the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Brasilia.

The ceremony is conducted in Dutch ‘I did not understand a word!’ recollects Valentine. But at that moment it wasn’t really relevant. There was a honeymoon to rush off to. Thus the Dutch language course had to be put on hold.

And so a diplomat’s daughter became a diplomat’s wife. She slipped into the new role with ease and innate grace. After all, it wasn’t anything new. Her mother excelled at the job. And as the old adage goes, ‘like mother like daughter’.

Socialising, entertaining, representing, clubs, committees, fundraising for charity – she was at the heart of all activities, always the darling of the diplomatic community.

‘I was making friends again and connecting people,’ Valentine says smiling.

The inescapable kismet?

The predestination?

Watching Sesame Street and Jeugd Journal in Dutch was not the most exciting pastime in her new home country. But it helped master the language. Learning Dutch through total immersion was a brave thing to do, but her curiosity pushed her out of the usual confines of expat mums.

The Dutch language under the belt and the bubbly enthusiasm intact, Deborah said goodbye to her first year blues and got involved with the international community. She joined various networks, local groups, launched events, initiatives, and unwittingly became ‘a hand in The Hague’ earning the title of The Networker of the Year in 2009 awarded by the WBII Entrepreneurial Awards.

The fellow WBII members fondly note that ‘she is generous in connecting people in a meaningful and authentic way and will succeed because networking is a way of life for her, not an event or a transaction.’

In her Haagse neighbourhood of Benoordenhoudt Deborah Valentine is the self-appointed Honorary Consul for the international community. She is the first person to welcome a newcomer. Hers would be the door to knock on when you have a question or a problem.

On a grey windy January day in The Hague, Deborah Valentine looks back at her life of moving countries and continents and talks about her insatiable curiosity about people, the urge to know their culture, customs, traditions, background. For the last eight years she has lived a settled life in The Hague but the keen interest in meeting new people, making new friends has not subsided. On the contrary. ‘Perhaps new people and their stories is my way of recreating the life I had as a child?’ she wonders.

The Sufis have the concept of safar journey.

Fellow travelers help you to discover yourself, the Sufis say. Is Deborah Valentine then on a journey of self-discovery?

Philosophical musings aside, Deborah fills Valentine with a new meaning. No golden locks and cupid’s bow in her arsenal. She extends a hand. Yes, she is valiant and strong. And like her name sake patron Saint she brings people together but does not expect veneration in return. She does so because quiet simply it is the most natural thing for her to do.

Need a hand in The Hague?

Then Deborah is your Valentine.

SAVE THE DATE March 7th 2012 6-9pm ACCESSing the Netherlands, a free and informal seminar series tailored to answer the questions of newly or recently arrived international families. For the third consecutive time ACCESS will be organising this series of workshops on behalf of the ICP. Based on the experience of its volunteers, as new arrivals in the Netherlands, plus the FAQs received by the ACCESS Helpdesk, professionals in different fields will be invited to answer questions, make short presentations on the topics listed below.

Housing (renting, buying, neighbourhoods of The Hague); Health Care (insurance, doctors/hospitals, after hour centres); Partner Support (employment, starting a business, adult education); Your Child (childcare, education, after school activities); Banking and Personal Finance (mortgages, taxes, insurances); Legal matters; Your first 3 months (utilities, cycling, food from home, public transport and learning the language) More information, including registration & location details, available shortly on www.access-nl.org.

Thai Cooking Classes Are you interested in the art of Thai cuisine?

Malee Dirkse, a native of Thailand, will teach all levels of home chefs and give tips of her passion. Classes are given at your house with a minimum of 3 people.

Prices begin at euro 45 depending on choice of menu. She also provides catering for small groups.

For more information, call Malee at 070 888 2929 or mobile 06-4547-0191 www.thai-cooking-classes.nl

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The Underground The Hague

Features

February 2012

Australian Ambassador Neil Mules AO • Mihal Greener meets the Australian Ambassador to the Netherlands on the ground to the Bali terrorist bombings of 2002.

And in April 2004 he was appointed an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) for his outstanding service as Australia’s representative in Iraq.

AO s e l u M il e N

N

estled on Tobias Asserlaan amongst other embassies, the Residence of the Australian Ambassador almost appears too grand a space for any one person.

In the three months since his arrival in The Hague, Australian Ambassador Neil Mules AO has already put his personal stamp on the Residence. The key, he says, is ‘To make wherever you are, whether it’s a small apartment or a mansion like this, feel like home’. He has evidently taken his own advice, filling his home with artworks, sculptures and trinkets (‘ethnographic junk’ as he refers to it) that he has picked up along his postings and travels, rather than the government art at his disposal.

The best part of living in The Hague, the Ambassador is quick to point out, is the location of his residence, just a 10 minute walk into town or a 20 minute walk to the beach of Scheveningen. Mules also enjoys exploring the little streets and surprising shops in the city, ‘it’s just magic’, he says.

And when the weather is less accommodating he is happy to visit the ‘treasure chest’ of the Mauritshuis. Mules is yet to get on a bike. Instead, he walks and uses his chipkaart to get around town.

For Mules, the biggest challenge he has faced since moving to The Hague is one shared by many new arrivals, the language. While appreciating the ease with which the locals communicate in English, the Ambassador sees this as a downside as it makes learning Dutch more difficult. Having become proficient in Portuguese while in Brazil, Mules is determined to learn the local language during his time here.

His appointment to the Netherlands has brought with it new professional challenges. In addition to his diplomatic duties, which include promotThe Netherlands is a ing diplomatic and trade relations, he is also A seasoned diplomat, Mules is clearly happy Australia’s representative at many of The welcome change for the to find himself in the Netherlands. ‘It is no seHague’s international organisations. Mules Ambassador. He believes cret that The Hague is a desirable posting’, he adds that, ‘In many ways there is not a typical adds. the Dutch are similar to working week here.’

Australians, with shared After travelling abroad as a teenager, Mules values and political The nature of Mules’ work has changed condecided the world would be his home. He still systems. siderably over the past three decades. Much has a home in Canberra but has not lived of this change, he reflects, is positive and there for over a decade. While he misses the result of Australia’s increasing economic certain things from Australia, Vegemite not strength and recognition as a significant world power. The amongst them, he isn’t afflicted with homesickness. He is impact of international terrorism has clouded the latter half used to looking forward, not back. of his career. Mules has seen it change the context in which diplomacy occurs and the increased emphasis on security After thirty-two years as a diplomat, the Netherlands is arrangements required by the embassy and its staff.

Mules’ first official posting in a European country. His former postings included Brazil, Iraq and Mexico. The Netherlands Mules is at ease with his role as a diplomat; witty, engaging is a welcome change for the Ambassador. He believes the and perceptive. He has an enthusiasm for his position that Dutch are similar to Australians, with shared values and doesn’t appear diluted by years of service. Mules shares political systems making it, ‘a much more immediately easy an anecdote of a recent emergency airlift, organised by the place to settle in and feel comfortable.’

Australian Government to help Australians leave the Middle East during recent political upheavals. As he tells the story When asked to name the highlight of his diplomatic career, of an Australian couple who, upon boarding the Qantas jet he doesn’t hesitate to answer ‘Now’. He adds that he would for their free airlift home, asked if they would be getting any say that about wherever he is ‘There’s no point doing this frequent flyer points he chuckles, and it is evident the Amjob if you don’t think where you are is the highlight’ says bassador is still finding much to enjoy about his job.

Mules. His career has included receiving a Medal in the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2003 for his role in responding

We are keen to hear your views, suggestions and feedback.

Email: info@theunderground.nl

February 2012

Health

Hypnotherapy:

• by Andrea Paterson

W

hen a woman, we’ll call Liz, set off for her last of ten sessions with Wassenaar hypnotherapist Jo Hansson, she thought she knew what to expect: deep relaxation paired with a keen mental awareness, images floating through her mind, light as air. Instead, she was wrenched back into a past life as a married woman with three small children, living in Sweden’s Archipelago, a group of islands off the country’s coast.

Grief surged to the surface when she discovered that her life had been cut short by lung cancer, stranding her husband and young children. ‘It took me a couple weeks to get over that,’ said Liz. ‘I had it always in my mind.

Past-life Therapy is just one of three hypnosis-based therapies, the others being Analysis Therapy and Suggestion Therapy, offered by Hansson from her home at Wassenaar.

All three therapies rely, in essence, on the same mechanism: Hansson guides the patient into a hypnotic trance, a state in which the conscious mind is stilled and the memories and images of the subconscious become available for examination. ‘If you’ve ever had the experience of looking out a school window and losing track of what’s being said in the classroom,’ said Hansson, ‘then you’ve been in a trance.’ But Hansson is quick to emphasize that a person’s mind is never under the control of the hypnotherapist, nor can a person become ‘stuck’ in a hypnotic state.

Her past-life therapy aims to uncover possible causes for problems outside a client’s current life. Hansson claims it can be effective even if a person does not believe in reincarnation or past lives. Analysis therapy uses free association. ‘It’s like looking under rocks and seeing what’s there,’ says Hansson. Suggestion therapy, on the other hand, is often used to achieve very specific goals, like losing weight or eliminating a fear of spiders. Hansson offers positive ‘suggestions’ once a hypnotic state is reached and the client’s subconscious is open to new information.

Blonde haired and blue eyed, Hansson is a far cry from the stereotype of the wild-eyed hypnotist dangling a watch chain and inciting others to commit illegal acts. She is certified in her native Sweden in all of her practice areas, the end result of a four-year course of study that included many hours of supervised clinical work.

Her gentle manner, however, and overwhelmingly positive aura belie her hard-charging background. Armed with a Master’s degree in economics, Hansson spent the first fifteen years of her professional life as a manager. In her last management job, with Sweden’s second largest insurance company, she supervised more than 600 people. She is also the best-selling author of two parenting books.

Her moment of epiphany came when she was home on maternity leave with her fourth child. ‘I got my next job offer when my son was just two months old.’ The job would mean the return of 80-hour weeks, the stress, the constant juggling. ‘I just knew in my heart it was not right.’

She wanted to help children, and to do that she had to first learn to help

The Underground The Hague

A Shortcut to Happiness? adults. She chose hypnotherapy because, according to Hansson, it can bring people quicker results and be so much more efficient. ‘People say you have to go to psychotherapy for 2 years, but that isn’t necessarily true.’ Hansson’s typical treatment course is 7-10 sessions, and includes both adults and adolescents.

Some of Hansson’s clients, like Liz, came to her out of sheer curiosity, as did a client we’ll call Susan. ‘My mother is a shrink and I’d gone to a shrink, so I pretty much knew my weak points and sensitive areas,’ said Susan.

Given this history and self-knowledge, what nonetheless struck Susan was how fast she got to emotions and memories with Hansson’s assistance. So fast, in fact, that she saw this as a possible risk for someone with, for example, a suppressed history of childhood abuse. If hypnosis © Graphic by Minna Sun Kim ‘opens doors very quickly, and then there is no real support,’ said Susan, ‘yikes.’

Hansson is adamant that any qualified hypnotherapist would be able to provide adequate support – or would refer the client to a more traditional psychotherapist -- but others remain skeptical. As one Washington-D.C. based psychiatrist put it: ‘If you have someone with a genetic predisposition to psychosis, who has managed to cobble together some kind of life, that psychosis could well re-emerge if you strip away all the defense mechanisms.’ More broadly, this psychiatrist also questions the longterm effectiveness of hypnotherapy. ‘Hypnosis is where Freud began.

He abandoned it and went to talk therapy, to free association, when hypnosis didn’t work.’ Even Hansson’s client Susan echoes this sentiment. For her, the end result of her hypnotherapy was a very positive attitude, ‘but it was not long lasting. If you wanted to make it stay, you would need constant sessions.’

These potential downsides to hypnotherapy are compounded by the fact that it is often largely unregulated. Next door to someone like Hansson, who has made every effort to train seriously in her new profession, can be someone who hung out a shingle after just a weekend course on how to hypnotize people. This ‘buyer beware’ aspect to hypnotherapy is particularly problematic when one considers that potential clients seeking help may be distraught and not thinking clearly.

In the end, it comes down to the individual therapist and his or her client’s objectives. Even the Washington psychiatrist concedes that hypnosis has a role to play in such situations as controlling pain in childbirth or in children or addressing specific issues, like smoking cessation. More broadly, even Hansson cautions that the hypnotherapy itself is not the cure. ‘I’m like the orchestra conductor,’ she emphasizes ‘The patient still has to do the work.’

For Liz and Susan the risks were worth it. ‘As a creative person,’ said Susan, ‘it was so interesting walking through memory, history, opening doors.’ As Liz put it: ‘At the beginning I felt so shy and stupid, but after a couple of sessions I could relax and tell whatever came up.’ And what came up were two fascinating past lives.

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The Underground The Hague

People & Passions

Enduring Love • Linda A. Janssen speaks with Alistair Cooke about Art as Celebration

Alistair Cooke’s work will be featured in an opening to the public at Café Quirky on Saturday, February 25th at 6:00 pm, and then displayed in the lunchroom/gallery until March 25th. www.cafequirky.com

February 2012

WCaroline, to the final bout of cancer last hen artist Alistair Cooke lost his wife,

August, his grief was overwhelming. Yet just as powerfully insistent were his feelings he should do something as a tribute to this spirited woman and their life together. Now he is doing just that, showcasing his art as a celebration of her life.

‘I wanted to celebrate her birth, her life, and what she meant to me and to others,’ Cooke shares quietly. ‘Caroline was so special: kind, caring, honest and forthright. She enjoyed life, was strong and opinionated, and really valued truth.’

Recently Cooke held a private celebration for family and close friends in honour of his wife’s life on the anniversary of her January birth. His pen-andink drawings featured prominently, not merely for aesthetic reasons but because of his beloved wife’s role in their very existence.

‘Caroline was the sole reason I became an artist,’ he offers. ‘I was born in working-class Yorkshire, where art was seen as a talent but certainly not a job. I’d never picked up a paintbrush, it wasn’t for the likes of me. I began working with racehorses at an early age, and that became my life.’

Cooke met his Dutch wife twenty-two years ago at the Duindigt racetrack. At the time he was heading from England to work in Denmark; fear of flying meant he travelled by boat. On this particular trip he decided to stop in the Netherlands to visit Amsterdam and check out the racing scene in The Hague.

‘I met her, and never made it to Denmark. We were together ever since. We were married in the Groenmarkt.’

Cooke’s foray into painting began shortly thereafter.

‘She was always telling me I had the hands of an artist,’ he recalls, smiling at the memory. ‘She bought me a cheap box of paints one day, the kind with small tubes of paint and some brushes. I was determined to prove her wrong, but in doing so, I guess I proved her right.’

Cooke’s first piece was a religious painting of Jesus, which his wife loved.

‘You know that I was just learning, trying new things and teaching myself. So I kept tweaking it and it became darker and darker, almost demonic. That’s when Caroline put it out on the street for garbage pick up.’

Several years later the couple were at the Malieveld for an art market, when they both saw the painting in a seller’s stall. The asking price? Five hundred euros.

Cooke eventually transitioned from oil paintings and pastels to the pen-and-ink drawings he now favours. He hasn’t drawn much in the past few years as he has been consumed with nursing Caroline through several bouts of cancer and a stroke, while managing to eke out a living. She died peacefully in their home last August, surrounded by her daughter, grandchildren and of course her devoted Alistair.

He knows his wife would have been thrilled to celebrate her birthday surrounded by his drawings, and even more excited to learn of a planned public opening in February. But for Cooke, it is bittersweet.

‘I miss her so. She only thought about others, never herself,’ Cooke whispers, gazing away wistfully.

‘She wasn’t only my wife, she was my best friend.’

Reviews

February 2012

Book Reviews The Globalisation of Love Wendy Williams Summertime Publishing 310 pages, paperback €18.99 Perking the Pansies Jack Scott Summertime Publishing 238 pages, paperback €14.99 Life Cloth Rosie Harle Published on Kindle £0.99/$1.52

The Hague

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by Jo Parfitt

In this the Valentine issue of The Underground it makes sense that our reviews this month are all about love... overseas...

The Globalisation of Love Wendy Williams Wendy Williams is a Canadian married to an Austrian and lives in Vienna with their young daughter. Fascinated by her own experiences of finding love and then learning to weave one culture with her own and reach compromise, she decided to research what she calls ‘the globalisation of love’. To do this, she invented the term GloLo that is used to refer to anyone in an intercultural relationship. Along with the GloLo couple, you will be introduced to the GloLo wedding, GloLo children and, importantly, the GloLoTini – shaken, not stirred.

While crammed with practical advice and fascinating facts, this book is based on many face to face interviews, conducted by Wendy, with couples of every possible intercultural permutation.

Discussing issues such as pets, mothers-in-law, food and table manners, Williams is highly amusing with a knack for the witty turn of phrase. This book will have you laughing as you recognise yourself or your friends.

Your book reviews & tips here?

Get in touch: sales@theunderground.nl

The Underground

Perking the Pansies Jack Scott Jack Scott and his civil partner, Liam, decided to leave London and their day jobs for a new life abroad, in the tourist mecca of Bodrum, Turkey. This hilarious, fast-paced, fun memoir gives the reader a glimpse into their world. It is a world filled with laughter and love, but tainted by their initial difficulty with meeting people they liked, grappling with the language and the need for meaningful occupation while they found their feet. A couple of years into their new life, just over a year ago, Jack decided to start a blog, called Perking the Pansies. Within a month it had a following of 5,000. Before long, fans started begging Jack to write a book. Careful to ensure his ‘real life’ story was compelling for the reader, he added tons of pace and plot as well as a cast of big characters that may make you cringe. This is a warm and funny book that will have you laugh and cry, but will not stop you turning the pages.

Life Cloth Rosie Harle Rosie Harle is an expatriate, currently living in The Hague, who recently wrote the novel, Life Cloth and published it on Kindle. Her love of the sea is evident and her descriptions rich and evocative as she tells the stories of several women in hugely different circumstances. Life Cloth spans two centuries and three continents, sharing stories that range from deportation to New Holland in the 18th century to a life of apparent luxury in modern Holland.

Having lived all over the world herself, including Africa, Australia and America, Harle is no stranger to themes such as loss of identity, birth and death and does not shun these issues in Life Cloth.

It is Ophelia, one of the main characters in her novel, who lives in the Netherlands, to whom we are most drawn as we watch her question every aspect of her life as an expatriate wife when her father dies and she reaches fifty. Slowly, all stories fit together and start to make sense.

Move over Hollywood, here’s The Hague!

• by Leendert Haaring In recent years The Hague has become a popular filming location. More and more motion pictures are being made in this city thanks to the municipality introducing easier procedures for film companies.

The most high profile Dutch film shot in The Hague is Black Book, made by the city’s most famous director, Paul Verhoeven (Robocop, Total Recall, Showgirls). The story is about a young Jewish singer, who infiltrates the regional Gestapo headquarters for the Dutch resistance.

World War II is a common theme in many Dutch films, the most recent being Sonny Boy, an adaptation of Annejet van der Zijl’s novel.

The film, directed by Maria Peters, is based on a true story about a Dutch mother of four, who falls in love with a Surinamese man seventeen years her junior. She becomes pregnant and gives birth to Waldy, nicknamed Sonny Boy. The film, partly shot in Scheveningen, was selected as the Dutch entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 84th Academy Awards.

Adaptation A contemporary film made in The Hague is Pizzamaffia, written by Khalid Boudou. Two cousins, Bram and Haas, have fathers who fall out over a pizzeria owned by Bram’s father and run by Haas’s.

Haas’s father, Faris, decides to start his own pizzeria on the other side of the street and a pizza war erupts between the two.

The cousins’ friendship suffers.

Another recent film shot in The Hague is Tirza, an adaptation of Arnon Grunberg’s novel of a man who enlists the aid of a child prostitute to search for his daughter, missing on holiday in Namibia.

The film’s director, Rudolph van den Berg, won an award for Tirza at the Dutch Film Festival 2010.

International International films are also being made in The Hague, for example, the popular Ocean’s Twelve, featuring Hollywood veterans Brad Pitt, George Clooney and Julia Roberts. In Ocean’s Twelve The Hague’s town hall is supposed to portray Europol’s headquarters.

The municipality hopes to persuade Hollywood and Bollywood producers to choose The Hague as a filming location, which will put the city in the international spotlight. You never know, one day you may find yourself eating a sandwich next to Jessica Alba or drinking a beer in the same bar as Hugh Jackman. Anything is possible.

Where to find us?

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The Underground The Hague

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Events February Dance & Party Event EXPATATION XXL. Biggest Expat Party in The Hague. EARLY BIRD Tickets available in February. www.expatevent.com

The Underground The Hague

Available Here www.theunderground.nl

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Get in touch! sales@theunderground.nl ACCESS Alexandre Le Salon kapper AmbassadorsChoice Chacalli American School of The Hague American Womans club Amerikaanse kerk Appeltje eitje Australian Embassy B.I.E. International Bagel Alley . Wassenaar Bank of Friendship Bel Air Hotel Berlage brasserie Library Wassenaar Bieb Cafe de Big Ben Kids Bilberberg Europa Hotel Boterwaag BRISDET SPIEGELER LAYERS British Embassy BROOD Cafe Broeders Cafe de Bok Carlton Ambassador Hotel Carlton Beach Cheesecake Company City Hall Atrium Koninklijk Conservatorium Court Garden Hotel Crowne Plaza De Markiezen van Wassenaar De Paljas Den Engel Domestic Outsourcing Dr. Anton Philipszaal/Lucent Danstheater Dudok Duitse bieb English Church EPO ESTEC . Noordwijk Excelsior Hotel Expatriate Archive Centre The Fiddler Flavor’s Franse Bakker Haagse Lente Hotel des Indes H.U.B. Haagsche School Vereeniging Haagse Kluis Hands at work Hilton Hotel Hogere Hotelschool

Hungry Minds Inst.of Social Studies Insteken Omslaan International School of The Hague Indian Embassy Isabelle’s Nature Juliana’s Kaatje aan de Rein Kaldi Wassenaar Kelly’s Expat Shopping – The Hague & Wassenaar Kon. Aca. V. Beeldende Kunst Kurhaus La Mano Maestra La Ville hotel Mercure hotel Murphy’s law NATO C3 Agency Library Novotel Nul 70 O’Casey’s Irish Pub OPCW De Paas Pakschuit Paleis Hotel Parkhotel Posthoorn Quirky Cafe Rijswijkse Schouwburg Scallywags Schlemmer September Shell outpost Sherlock Holmes Sofitel Babylon Statenhotel Den Haag StayOkay The British Club The English Theater – STET The Hague International Centre Undutchables Thomas Consultancy Toni&Guy Tulip Expats Services Tweeduizendvijf UN Vitale Functies Opleidingen VVV Mondial Walong Warenar Theater Wish 4 Windows Zeldenrust Zwarte Ruiter * Top distributors January 2012

Date: 31 March 2011 Place: Het Paard van Troje Time: 22.00-04.00

Music Concert Savina Yannatou Discover Greek singer Savina Yannatou, she will enthrall you with her voice.

Date: 4 February 2012 Time: 20.15 Place: Theatre de Regentes, Grote Zaal, Weimarstraat 63 Price: € 22.50, includes drinks!

EXIT by Bit bent Braam Anton Goudsmit, winner of the prominent Dutch Jazz prize the Boy Edgar Prize in 2010, will be performing with his vibrant quartet.

Date: 3 February 2012 Time: 20.15 Place: Theatre de Regentes, Grote Zaal, Weimarstraat 63 Price: € 19.50

Theatre & Dance AIDA the musical A musical must-see. This season, the fabulous classic by Elton John and Tim Rice is brought once again to the stage by the youth of the Nurten.

Date: Saturday 4 February 2012 at 20.15 or Sunday 5 February 2012 at 14.00 & 19.00 Place: Rijswijk Theatre, Main Hall, Herenstraat 67, Rijswijk Price: € 16.00 Swanlake as a new experience.

In Swanlake ‘Siegfried and Odette’ will take the audience on a contemporary journey through a choreography created by Lonneke van Leth. Tickets are for sale via: www. zwanenmeer.nu.

Dates: 22, 23, 24, 25, 29 February –Start 20.30 26 February (afternoon performance) – Start 15.00 1, 2, 3, March – Start 20.30 4 March – Start 15.00 Place: Fokker Terminal, Binckhorstlaan 249

Auctions Venduehuis Bric-à-Brac Auction Auctioning household goods, moveable furniture and antique collectibles.

To attend please contact the Venduehuis directly at: +31(0)70 365.88.57 or e-mail info@ venduehuis.com Dates: Viewing: 6 February 2012 Auction: 8 February 2012 Time: 10.00-18.00 Place: Nobelstraat 5

Festivals Holland Dance Festival Featuring performances by various artists, this display of modern dance will take place throughout various theatres in The Hague.

For more information regarding locations, performances and tickets visit www.hollanddancefestival.com or call 070-3616142.

Date: 26 January – 25 February 2012

February 2012

Submit your event!!!

National Art Deco Fair This will be the 14th Annual Art Deco Fair to take place in The Hague and will feature dealers and galleries that specialise in Art Deco. Mark your calendar! For more information: www.aadf.nl or call 06-54333666.

Date: 2 - 5 February 2012 Place: Grote Kerk, Torenstraat, City Centre

Museums & Art XXSmall Doll’s houses and other miniatures A delightful display of miniature houses that reflect Dutch domestic quarters through the years, it also includes a mini museum!

Date: ends 25 March 2012 Place: Gemeente Museum, Stadhouderslaan 41 Price: € 12.50 Timeless Dutchscapes Exhibition of paintings by The Hague artist Paul Dirkse www.stargalerie.com Time 15.00 - 19.00 Date: 18 – 26 February 2012 Place: Star Galerie – Borneostraat 116 Silver Camera 2011 Admire the best photographs of 2011 shortlisted for the Wildlife Photographer of the Year award.

Date: ends 26 February 2012 Place: The Hague Museum of Photography, Stadhouderslaan 43 Price: € 12.50 Golden Earring exhibition at the Historical Museum of The Hague The past, present and future of Holland’s oldest rock band forms the basis of the Golden Earring exhibition titled Back Home.

Date: ends 26 February 2012 Place: The Historical Museum of The Hague, Korte Vijverberg 7 Price: € 7.50 Tagore in Kantha Indian embroidery exhibition A unique exhibition of traditional West Bengali embroidery.

Date: 30 January – 6 February 2012 Place: Atrium, Spui 70

Sports & Leisure Butterfly Farm Vlinders aan de vliet A fantastic display of butterflies in Leidschendam, just a few minutes from The Hague. For more information visit: www.vlindersaandevliet.nl (in English and Dutch).

Opens: 19 February 2012 Place:Veursestraatweg 195b, Leidschendam Price: € 8 p.p. (regular price for adults) Valentine Ball If you are looking forwards to having a ball this Valentine’s Day, what better way than to attend the Valentine Ball organized by the R.C. Church of our Savior in The Hague. For more information call 070 - 328 0816.

Date: 3 February 2012 Place: Hotel Den Haag-Wassenaar Zijdeweg 54, 2245 BZ Wassenaar Time: 19.00 to 00.30 Price: € 50 for the ticket that includes a 4-course dinner & drinks (excluding spirits).

February 2012

Bookings: www.micazu.nl/vakantiehuis/la-marteille-10437

Your Classified here?

ONLY €10,sales@theunderground.nl

Driving Lessons Driving Lessons Driving lessons given in English or German in the area of the Hague and surrounding towns.

Ron Keislair, for information telephone 06-4430 2594 or www.ronkeislair.nl

Home Improvement Handyman Services English speaking maintenance specialist. Carpentry –painting –kitchen/ bathroom –minor plumbing For a free estimate call Ronald 06 55913888

Cooking Course Italian Cooking course (6 lessons), in Leiden. Every evening we prepare and enjoy typical Italian dishes using a different theme (appetizers, pastas, meat, fish and desserts) combining them with Italian wines. For information visit the website: www.bplusc. nl and click on: Centrum-voor-kunsten-cultuur/ volwassenen/ lifestyle/ eten-en-drinken or contact : maria_marone@yahoo.com

For Sale/For rent Service flat Cees Laseurlaan 1005. spacious living/diningroom/2 bedroom/ Located in Clingendeal/ near Wassenaar/Diner service & Restaurant/ shops and public transport 5 min. walk. Also rental possible.

Price: € 197.000 k.k.

Phone: +31 (0) 6 54957490

The Underground

Classifieds

Garage Sales Garage Sales in Denneweg: Design Furniture, Antique, Book & DVD, Kitchenware, Complete Bathroom, iPod, speaker, etc. For full brochure, price & appointment, pls email cdebuysscher@hotmail.com

Health & Fitness Creating Waves In the ‘Mind your Stress’ program you will learn to increase your emotional balance, recognize your stress triggers . neutralize the effects of your stress reactions . increase your energy & vitality . transform your stress ‘on the spot’ anywhere, anytime . improve your mental clarity . make more supportive choices for yourself. Starts 23.03.2012. More info: maryjane@creatingwaves.nu www.creatingwaves.nu

HandsatWork Hara Center

Massage & Wellness - Detox & Body Toning - Health & Vitality Laan van Meerdervoort 45, 2517 AD Den Haag, T: 06-11910900 For online reservations please visit our website: www.haracenter.nl HandsatWork B.V. Business Vitality, Motivation and Inspiration T: 06-51776196

Music Lessons Guitar lessons by a well-trained and experienced guitar professional. Beginners and advanced.€ 18,50 per 30 minutes.

Please contact: Bart Berman Adriaan Coenenstraat 22 2584RH Den Haag Phone: (+31)(0)623627334 Email: bartberman@gmail.com www.demodokosbb.blogspot.com

The Hague

Cello and piano lessons with Ania Katynska a graduate from the Royal Conservatory in The Hague. All ages and levels are welcome. Lessons can be in English, German or Polish and take place at student’s home, in The Hague and surrounding areas. Education: MA, Koninklijk Conservatorium Den Haag, KA, Universität der Künste Berlin, MA Academy of Music in Katowice. E: aniacello@gmail.com, Mobile: 0681 655 154 www.aniakatynska.webs.com Sing Speak Listen Learn Laugh Voice Lessons with Nancy Mayer Ages 12 and up. Breathing, posture, voice projection, vocal technique. All styles of music welcome. www.nancymayer.com mob. 06 14 851 832

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24/7

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Your own caretaker for all your maintenance.

A membership for EUR 180,=, with 24/7 standby service and annual HV-maintenance.

Waisting no more time on finding good craftman.

We got them! www.uwhuismeester.info T: 070 737 03 10

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24/7

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Recorder Lessons Teacher with over 10 years of experience offers recorder lessons for all ages and levels. Groups are also welcome! (Bachelor’s, Master’s and teaching degrees from the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, Doctorate in course at the Leiden University) Lessons in English or Portuguese, but a little Dutch, Italian and Spanish is also spoken. References available and complimentary 20 minutes trial lesson is offered upon request.

Inês d’Avena Braga inesdavena@yahoo.com

Tax Consultants Suurmond Tax Consultants Experts for Expats.

J.C. Suurmond & zn. Tax consultants is a Dutch tax consulting agency with an international perspective. No matter what tax situation you encounter as an expat, we know how to handle it in your best interest. Consult our independent professional team by phoning +31 (0)174 244725 or e-mail taxadvice@jcsuurmond.nl. Alternatively visit our website www.jcsuurmond.nl.

Your Classified here?

ONLY €10,-

Love at first bite!

Visit us online @ www.craze4cupcakes.nl or call 06-53981428

sales@theunderground.nl

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La Marteille - Troche-Pompadour

Located near Pompadour/Brive/ Limoges/Dordogne in France. A lovely get away in the country for 2-4 people/2 bedrooms/2 bathrooms/veranda/fully furnished/garden/wood burner/ etc Per week € 595,-

Reduce, Relieve, and Release your stress www.creatingwaves.nu

12 week beginners, intermediate, advanced, NT2 level II 2 week intensive beginners and intermediate courses

Laan van Nieuw Oost Indië 2593 BS Den Haag Tel: 070 3654677

www.directdutch.com

E S T. 19 85

Holiday Home

Teaching you stress resilient tools for handling stress where it matters most in your

275

The Underground The Hague

Your ad here?

Advertising rates from E55,sales@theunderground.nl

Lunch

PANTOSTI’S Mozzarella, tomato and pesto Tomato and cheese Cheese and ham

WRAPS Chickenbreast, tomatosalsa and cheese Smoked salmon with wasabi mayonnaise and capers Tender loin of beef with truffle mayonnaise and Parmesan cheese Tuna with onion and capers

9,95 9,95 6,50 9,95 7,95

4,95 4,50 4,50

6,95 7,95 7,95 7,95

The Hague

Drinks

RED WINES (GLASS) Copertino Alenya tempranillo

ROSÉ (GLASS) Selection cazal viel rosé

WHITE WINES (GLASS) Inzolia Chardonnay Sweet wine

B BEER Heineken uitje Heineken vaas Heineken 0,5 ltr.

Affligem Double Affligem Blond Wieckse Witte Westmalle Double Amstel Malt

Fresh orange juice small Fresh orange juice Large Milk Apple juice Ice I Tea Tomato juice T Fristi F C Chocolate milk

4,50 4,50

3,70 3,70

3,70

3,70 3,70 3,50

2,20 2,40 4,50 3,50 3,50 3,50 3,50 2,95

2,75 4,00 2,00 2,30 2,30 2,30 2,30 2,30

TAKE AWAY

CAVA (GLASS) Sparkling (rosé) Sparkling (white)

3,00

Spare-ribs and Chicken saté

2,00 2,50 2,10 2,10 2,50 2,75 0,50 0,30 6,50 6,50 6,50 6,50

HARD LIQUOR From

2,00 2,20 3,00 2,30 2, ,30

Espresso Double espresso Macchiato Dilmah tea Fresh mint tea Hot chocolate Whipped cream Decaf (extra) Irish coffee French coffee Italian coffee Spanish coffee 2,20 2,20 2,20 2,20 2,20 2,20 2,20 2,30 2,20 2,20 5,00 5,00

Today is the best day of your life! ( Tip de Bruin ) *1920 - † 2008

Burgundian Flavor’s bread, with aioli, tapanade and garlic butter 4,95 Tender loin of beef with truffle mayonnaise, Parmesan cheese, croutons 9,95 Salad with au gratin Goat cheese 7,95 Smoked salmon with wasabi mayonnaise, croutons and capers 9,95 Shrimpcocktail ( Dutch ) 9,95 Escargots (6 or 12 ) 6,50/11,50 Soups: Crème tomato 4,50 Onion soup 4,50 Soup of the day 4,50

Starters

Apple pie with whipped cream 3,50 3,50 Chocolate pie Flavor’s raspberries cheesecake 3,50

SOFTDRINKS Coca cola Coca cola light Fanta Cassis Sprite Bitter lemon Royal Club Tonic Royal Club Ginger ale Chaudfontaine Chaudfontaine with bubbles San Pellegrino 0,7 ltr.

Aqua Panna 0,7 ltr.

HOT DRINKS Coffee Cappuccino Cappuccino large Latte macchiato

Reservations recommended!

SPECIALS Home made meatball with Twister fries and saté-sauce Hamburger with salad and Twister fries Toast with mushrooms Clubsandwich with Twister fries 2 Van Dobben kroketten with Twister fries

9,95 9,50 9,95 9,95

BURGUNDIAN BARRA GALLEGA / SOFT ROLL XXL SANDWICHES Fried eggs with ham / cheese 7,50 6,50 8,50 7,50 Fried eggs with tenderloin of beef Omelette with ham / cheese 7,50 6,50 Home made meatball 6,50 5,50 2 Van Dobben kroketten 6,50 5,50 Smoked salmon and horseradish 8,50 7,50 Thinly sliced tender loin of beef with tunamayonaise 8,50 7,50 Chickenbreast with mustardsauce 7,00 6,00 Tunasalad 7,50 6,50 Cheese (old/young) 5,50 4,50 Warm or cold ham, honey mustard sauce 6,50 5,50 Spare-ribs meat with pickled cucumber 6,50 5,50 Grilled bratwurst with sauerkraut, bacon and mustard 6,95 5,95 Healthy 6,50 5,50 2 eggs with chive mayonaise 4,95 3,95 Américain let special 7,50 6,50 Warm meat (onions, mushrooms, saté-sauce) 7,50 6,50 Sprinkles (milk) 3,50 2,50

SALAD (with bread, croutons and almond pin) Flavor’s Ceasar salad (chicken llet and bacon) Greek Salad (olives, red onions, feta and tomato) Grilled goat cheese with a balsamic glaze Tuna with honey-mustard dressing

4,50 4,50 4,50 4,95 9,00 3,95 4,95

Including fresh juice, coffee or tea.

Every Sunday from 10.00 - 14.00

English Breakfast 9,95

SNACKS Shrimp croquettes (6) Mini cheese souffle (6) Burgundian meatballs (6) Yakitori saté (4) Mixed snacks (12) Mixed olives cken Wi ngs ng gs wi wit th ttwo th wo ssauces auce au cess (6 ce (6 p iece ie ces)) Spicy Chicken Wings with pieces)

The Underground

Main Courses

MEAT ( FROM THE LAVAGRILL )

HOUSE SPECIALTIES

Fillet of beef:

Flank Steak (Tender beef):

Spare-ribs: Naturel ( garlic butter ) Ketjap UNLIMITED SPARE-RIBS !!

Honey Old Burgundian eating Hot with the hands Mixed Rib-eye:

± 200 gram ± 400 gram ± 200 gram ± 400 gram ± 200 gram ± 400 gram ± 250 gram

± 300 gram ± 300 gram single double ± 200 gram ± 400 gram

114,90 4 114,90 4 114,90 4 114,90 4 114,90 4 16,95 22,95 16,95 22,95 18,95 26,95 19,95 14,95 18,95 18,95 12,95

13,95 12,50 13,95 17,95 9,95 14,95

At a lunch dish: the child menu is 3,50 a child.

*Only free if the parents take a main course

Choice of Twister fries and frikandel / croquette / chicken or spare-rib and applesauce

*CHILD MENU FOR FREE

Ask for the weekspecials

Prime rib (Roast of beef): Steak with mushrooms Mixed-grill (4 pieces of meat) Fillet of beef saté à la Robèrt Soigné Chicken saté à la Ho Soigné ..

ALSO DELICIOUS...

Haas chop: Wiener schnitzel: Pork tenderloin:

Chicken breast:

2,50

SIDE ORDERS Fresh vegatables of the day 2,50 Peppersauce 2,50 Mushroomsauce 2,50

SPECIALTY: PIZZAIOLA SAUCE

Di Paulinho

FISH DISHES Big shrimps with piri piri 16,95 Dover sole (naturel/herb butter) 16,95 Salmon llet with wasabi mayonnaise 16,95

VEGETARIAN Day special

5,00 5,00 3,50 3,50 3,50 4,95

9,95

All dishes served with a coleslaw and Twister fries or from 17.00 a potatoe in a jacket.

DESSERTS Dame Blanche Dessert of the day Flavor’s raspberries cheesecake Chocolate pie Apple pie with whipped cream Trio Bonbon

Willem de Zwijgerlaan 44a 2582 ER The Hague Tel: 070-4049607

www.avors.nu

Open every day

from 10.00 - 22.00

Every...

MONDAY

llet of beef or dover sole

13,95

TUESDAY

mixed-grill or llet of salmon

13,95

WEDNESDAY

unlimited spare-ribs or a rib-eye

13,50

THURSDAY

llet of beef saté or ank steak (Tender beef)

13,95

FRIDAY

big shrimps with piri piri or pork tenderloin (choice of 3 warm sauces)

13,95

steak

SATURDAY

with fried mushrooms

13,50

SUNDAY

wiener schnitzel or chicken saté

9,95