Summer Music Festivals Edition #5 July/August 2015 €3,95
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Orange Grove
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Where to get the best ice cream?
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THE INTERNATIONAL NEWSPAPER IN AND AROUND THE HAGUE
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Summer in The Hague
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The Underground is an independent newspaper for The Hague and surroundings. 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!
Note from the publisher
Art director Remy Rond, Ronde Vormen remy@ronde-vormen.nl
I love summertime in The Hague. As I am writing this it is the middle of June and fourteen degrees outside, but looking out the window I still see people walking around in shorts and T-shirts – I think it says something about the optimism of the people of this city, making the best of the Dutch summer. Many people may be going away on holidays, but you don’t actually need to leave the city to enjoy the summer, and for this issue we’ve looked at some of the fun things to see and do in The Hague.
Graphic Designer Meijer-Durinck Melinastijl Grafisch Ontwerp Newsroom Ailie Conor, Arto Salojarvi, Megan Lloyd, Pascalle Kok, Ana Marija Prpic Antolic, Wendy Troost Print Colorworks, Fred van Hoorn info@colorworks.nl Distribution Publiciteits Service Sales & marketing info@theunderground.nl The Underground Saturnusstraat 6o, unit 16 2516 AH Den Haag tel: 0031 (0) 70 8903535 info@theunderground.nl www.theunderground.nl © 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. Cover Photographer: Maarten Fleskens, Maarten Fleskens Photography Models: Charlotte de Keizer & Dimitar Vassilev, Bar tender at Mama Kelly Make up artist: Mandy Rond Assistant: Mimouna Awal The printing of this issue has been sponsored by Colorworks.
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Summer in The Hague is always great, regardless of the weather. Check out some music festivals or enjoy the chilled and cozy atmosphere at the beach bars and make sure to visit F.A.S.T. Surf Village before they close. Or maybe hop on a bike and follow the graffiti street art route in Segbroek and make pit stops to eat all the ice cream at parlours across The Hague. Walk along the “Vormidable” sculptures on the Lange Voorhout and eat even more ice creams. And if it happens to rain, there is always the cinema… As well as looking for fun summer activities, we have also been working on our website. The full paper will be available online just after distribution day, due to the increasing demand. We also have a lot more online-only articles coming up, from weekend activities to music and community news – visit the site to explore all the cool summer happenings in the city with us.
Saskia Laurijsen
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Summer Music Festivals
k
By Ailie Conor
The Dutch are internationally known for great
summer festivals.Whether you are camping at a boutique forest affair or hitting up one of
the big name events you can be guaranteed a pretty amazing time – at least if the weather holds. We got together and selected some of the most anticipated summer festivals in and around The Hague this year, from the wellknown favourites to the smaller, newer festivals we think you should know.
Photo Š ZeeZout festival
Edit: Remy Rond
Festivals
The big ones Jam De La Creme
July 31 Strandpavilijoen Zuid €15
As you might have noticed we quite like F.A.S.T Surfdorp. This is because, among other reasons, they consistently deliver great events and festivals, and this year’s ‘This Is Summer Festival’ looks to be no different. With acts like Will & The People, Photo © Anonymous Gentlemen and My Baby F.A.S.T is offering something a little smaller and alternative, and definitely worth attending. The dress-code is bikinis and board-shorts, but we are sure you could get away with a Kaftan too.
When: Where: How Much:
July 18 – July 19 F.A.S.T Scheveningen €15 ahead, or €17.50 at the door
Amsterdam Woods Festival
Schollenpop
Another big local favourite is of course ‘Schollenpop’, which has been part of The Hague summer scene since 1997. The talent this year will be a mix of local and international acts, everything from Death Angel from the USA, to The Indien a talented Hague band. This is definitely one not to miss.
When: Where: How much:
...and a little on the side F.A.S.T This Is Summer
Described as a rotating musicians collective ‘Jam de la Crème’ is a staple part of the Dutch music scene, and the Jam de la Crème festival is a Hague favourite. This year is the 9th edition, and we are looking forward to seeing some big local talent, like Sue the Night and The Miseries.
When: Where: How much:
5
August 1 Zuiderstrand Scheveningen Free!
Although not quite in The Hague, this festival is a newcomer and, for its first edition has already attracted some great acts – we are particularly excited about The Veils, Kovacs and Intergalactic Lovers. This festival is idyllically situated in the Amsterdamse Bos, as the name suggests and you can camp in a tent, cabin or caravan. With the perfect mix of nature, food and indie pop and rock, hopefully we will see Amsterdam Woods festival return next year too.
When: Where: How much:
August 28 – August 30 Amsterdamse Bos €20 – €70
ZeeZout Festival
Last on our list is another newcomer – this year will be the first edition of ‘ZeeZout Festival’, from the minds behind the fantastic Ohm Festival in Delft a few months ago. Also scenically located, this festival is by the lake in the Diemerbos and promises to be a small and intimate festival with a great location and a focus purely on the music. There will be big acts, like Bicep, Omar S and Hunee.
When: Where: How much: Photo © Tom Swinkels
Nirwana Tuinfeest
September 5 Diemerbos Amsterdam Final release tickets €34.95
Don’t forget to check information about age restrictions, transport, parking and any other requirements you have before booking tickets to any of the above festivals. Most importantly, go have fun.
Although not located in The Hague, ‘Nirwana Tuinfeest’ is another oldy but a goody. This is the festival’s 40th anniversary, so we are expecting something great and it’s longevity is certainly a testament to the great atmosphere and top line-ups. This year you can expect Celtic punk-rock band The Dropkick Murphys, British darlings Blood Red Shoes and an Underground favourite, Typhoon & Band, and if you get a camping ticket expect a fun few days.
When: Where: How much:
August 21 – August 23 Nirwana, Lierop €30 - €50 + camping. Free entry Sunday
Photo © ZeeZout festival
Streeters
SHAKE-ing Up The Urban Art Scene
Do you like eating fresh and light dishes in an outdoor setting during the summer? Or do you prefer highenergy and starchy food to keep you going? Dorine Schreiner asks people in The Hague:
What’s your favourite summer food?
Nadine Galante (36), teacher “Salad with grilled fish and grilled veggies. I also like guacamole. All of this with some champagne or a cold Corona on the beach with friends and family makes for a perfect summer meal.” Photo © Jelle Boontje
Leandro Gonçalves (20), assistant chef “I’m from Madeira where the weather is always good. When I’m there, I just eat whatever my mother serves me. She makes really good lasagna. I wish I could eat more of it this summer.”
Rosie Spijkers (19), optician “In the summer, I love eating salad with boiled potatoes and chicken on a terrace or in my backyard with cordial and water. Ideally, I’d do this with my boyfriend or my family.”
Jeanette Pestana Ferreira (51), medical assistant “I love having a BBQ and a prawn salad with neighbours and friends in my garden. I also really enjoy lemonade with lime, mint and ice cubes in a pitcher.”
Nicole Small meets local artist Jill Martens whose journey has taken him from his roots in illicit graffiti to highly sought after artist, designer and instructor. Humans have always felt a desire to express themselves through art, leaving a personal stamp in the public domain for others to interpret and react to. Art in the public domain today is generally referred to as street art or urban art, terms that can wrap themselves around an array of creative expression, ranging from painting to 3D installations and even performance art. The terms, however, are still most closely associated with graffiti, a public artform involving paint, stencils or stickers. First evidenced in the 1920s, it has been used over the century as a means of marking gang territory, to assert independence from the constraints of authority, and to express political and social commentary. Today it is also increasingly associated with urban beautification and even prized commercial art. While the legal distinction between ‘art’ and ‘vandalism’ remains purely a question of consent, the artworld is moving to expand the public’s definition of art, with graffiti fast becoming a desirable (and lucrative) commodity for galleries and auction houses. It is doing so, not by denying the gritty origins of the graffiti subculture, but by simply embracing graffiti’s journey from that to more respected artform. Local artist, Jill Martens (also known as Shake) is amongst those have witnessed the gamut of graffiti’s good and bad public perceptions. Martens began producing art at age 6, and by age 13, with the surfaces of the family home full, his art had broken free and onto the streets. Polite and friendly, Martens’ persona is contrary to the stereotype of a rebellious graffiti artist. He has little interest in using his passion to broadcast opinions to the world, and began using public areas as his canvas simply because conventional or indoor spaces could not contain his artistic expression. His joy comes from the work itself, creating something aesthetically interesting or appealing. While much of his earlier work survives only in photographs, some examples around The Hague and Delft have endured. Martens is pragmatic about the loss of much of his legacy and reveals that most street artists have a finely tuned ability to accept the very temporary nature of their work. It is perhaps the fleeting existence of their work that propels them to keep finding new and different ways to create. Since the 1980s, Martens has developed a style instantly recognisable to his large fan-base, with the use of bold lines and vibrant colours. Equally comfortable on canvas and concrete, and with acrylics and aerosol, it was perhaps a natural step for Martens to add graphic design qualifications to his skillset and branch further into mainstream art. With an impressive portfolio of commissioned work, including murals, indoor walls and portraits, Martens also went on to become an art coach, holding workshops in The Hague for young artists, and is currently working on a urban beautification project in the Binckhorst area.
In the Spotlight
7
Photos © Samira Tatuhey
The Hague Street Art Tour
The app that is your map to The Hague’s street art By Megan Lloyd
Do you notice the electricity houses when you cycle through The Hague? A project that started off in 2009 saw over 2000m2 of walls and electricity houses transform into pieces of art, spray-painted by local and international graffiti artists alike. The Hague Graffiti Platform, along with the city council and the Gemeentemuseum, wanted to transform the city and let their residents enjoy art rather than posters and illegal graffiti. Cities such as Berlin and London have shown that it also brings great value. It’s become a tourist attraction and people have started to really recognize graffiti as a form of art, rather than vandalism. Just under 50 electricity houses have been transformed thus far. Most of them in the Segbroek neighbourhood.
Jochem Cats, coordinator at The Hague Graffiti Platform, explains how it benefits the city. “It’s such a great opportunity for everyone involved. It brings economic value to the city and it creates a more colourful environment to their residents. It is also a great way for artists to get more recognition and showcase their art. We’re lucky that The Hague has recognized its potential. The Hague has a great (free) graffiti cleaning program. It makes sure that all the illegal graffiti gets removed, leaving a few legal graffiti spots in places such as the Binckhorst and the Zuiderpark. They want to get across that the art pieces in the tour aren’t made by any old artist. These are made by some of the best graffiti artists around. They’re all professionals. If you look at their website and their background stories, you’ll find out more about them. It’s a great platform for them and a treat for the residents in The Hague.
The ‘The Hague Street Art Tour’ map is a great initiative to show and teach people about the art works they are enjoying in their area. With a very clear map, you can easily plan your route by foot or by bike and read about the artists you are seeing in front of you. The map is available as a free download on their website and a hardcopy is available in different locations all over The Hague. On their website you will be able to read about the artists and get background information about your favourite street art pieces.
www.thehaguestreetarttour.com
Swim as You Are by Jiggs Nava
Political Arts The art of making nothing happen By Cissie Fu
Nothing can come of nothing: speak again.
Summer is almost always synonymous to swimming. However, swimming does not always mean “at the beach”. I sat down with Plons, a 23-year old LGBT swimming club, expecting to learn the ins and outs of chlorinated fun and exercise, and instead got schooled on discipline, respect, and real inclusion.
J: How was Plons formed and why? Helene Kalmijn (president of the board): Plons was actually formed more by chance than anything else. A few gay swimmers got acquainted in 1992 during regular swimming hours in a now forgotten swimming pool somewhere in The Hague. Through some well placed advertisements in the (Dutch) Gay Journal and word of mouth, the number of swimmers gradually grew to over 30, allowing us to hire the whole swimming pool.
Since 1992, how much have things changed and what do you think makes Plons long-lasting? Thijs Fleer (treasurer of the board): I think Plons’ longevity can be explained by two factors: first, Plons is a very open and accepting club to everyone and anyone who is into swimming. Second, they have a professional and serious approach to training. People often ask “isn’t that the gay swimming club”, followed by cliché reactions that are surprisingly still prevalent in present day 2015. Yes, we are a LGBT swimming club, but everyone is welcome and we also have heterosexual swimmers here who enjoy swimming and professional training in an open and ‘gezellig’ atmosphere. Before joining, I too was a little sceptic, but after my first training session I realized how powerful and effective the training is. Helene: I’ve been a member of Plons now for 10 years. I would say the biggest change is that we’ve given an official status to the “friends” of the gay swimming club, some years ago when we opened the doors of our swimming club to non-LGBT members. At the time, some were concerned that this would have a negative effect on the atmosphere, but in the end only a few members felt strongly about this. We now have a “safe swimming environment” where everyone can be him-/herself.
What is your best or worst memory from a competition? Thijs: My worst memory was of a competition where I participated in a 200m medley relay for the first time. It was a Sunday afternoon, and I’d had a beer the night before. It wasn’t my best performance, on the final lap I felt I wasn’t moving at all.
Leaning into the long, leisurely days of Summer 2015, an ad hoc assembly of artists, authors, and academics huddled in the cellar of The Hague’s De filosoof to experiment with making nothing happen—
For poetry makes nothing happen: it survives In the valley of its making where executives Would never want to tamper, flows on south From ranches of isolation and the busy griefs, Raw towns that we believe and die in; it survives, A way of happening, a mouth.
Besides the weekly training, are there other social activities that bring your members together?
These words from W. H. Auden’s In Memory of W. B. Yeats assert that poetry does not and should not because it cannot effect political change. Perhaps chastened by George Orwell’s criticism of his negligent nod to the violence of the Spanish Civil War in an earlier poem, Auden tried to fail better under the umbrage of the Irish War of Independence in Yeats’s The Man and the Echo:
Thijs: Of course! Every Friday evening after practice there is the opportunity to eat together with other members at an Italian restaurant. We also have beach parties, training weekends, and going to competitive events is always fun and very social.
Did that play of mine send out Certain men the English shot? Did words of mine put too great strain On that woman’s reeling brain? Could my spoken words have checked That whereby a house lay wrecked?
What is it about swimming that you like so much?
Without disavowing their respective political commitments, both poets differentiate poetic language from political discourse. The latter strives for the unification of causes for unanimity in action; the former thrives in tensions and subtlety, contradictions and irony. By making nothing happen, poetry resists the dictatorial impulse of rhetoric and frees us from the conventional usage and usefulness of language. Expression exceeds communication: the mouth that enables dissent and embraces ambiguity opens a way—and by extension diverse, idiosyncratic, complex ways—of happening.
Helene: I like the gay competitions the most, the atmosphere is always amazing.
Thijs: When swimming I can clear my mind. I love just focusing on the movements of my body in the water. The great advantage of swimming is that you train your whole body. Also, though swimming seems like an individual sport, during and after practice you also learn much about the other members. Helene: I agree. For me it is a nice opportunity to relax, to clear the mind and to be active. And of course participate in competitions.
What’s next for Plons? Helene: To protect and keep our identity intact and continue to excel at competitions. We value the environment we’ve created for talented swimmers to grow and develop their skills. We want to build forth from that. Finally, just for fun – would you rather; have goggles coming off after you dive during a competition, or having the smell of chlorine still on you during a first date? Thijs: Oh, easy - having the smell of chlorine on you during the first date. Just makes it easier to show off how active and athletic you are!
In a year of local uprisings and global unrest, between rethinking the Dutch higher education landscape and recovering from mass kidnappings and financial crises, the revolutionary power of poetry, and non-propagandist art in general, remains in their invitation to multiple possible readings. Against ideology’s decimation of individuality is, prior to speech, sound:
Sound a word or a sound. Listen for a surprise. Say a word as a sound. Say a sound as a word. Say a sound until it is a word. Sound a word until it is a sound. Let this text score by Pauline Oliveros guide your experiment with making nothing happen as you take stock this summer, and stay tuned for more artistic-activist-academic resonance through the Political Arts Initiative. (subscribe at www.politicalarts.org).
Community
9
WHY WE NEED
F.A.S.T
IN SCHEVENINGEN
Photos © Evi Záborszky
By Zeno Siemens-Brega
Beyond the boulevard of Scheveningen, past the throngs of people on a sunny day, the monumental Kurhaus and the ubiquitous ‘strandtenten’, just outside the harbor and right by the lighthouse on a little outcrop of the dike, lies a small village. On a quiet, rainy day, you might drive past the colorful congregation of containers oblivious to what goes on inside, but come on a summer evening during one of the numerous festivals and events and you’ll witness it bustling with life, laughter, music and colour. This is F.A.S.T. (Free Architecture Surf Terrain) and it has transformed that little outcrop at the end of the dike for the past five years into a firm favourite of the Hague’s surf and alternative beach scene, of music and culture lovers alike. But since being handed the keys to the then empty parcel in 2009, F.A.S.T. has seen its share of struggles. Deemed a temporary project from the start, there have been reports of the colourful surf-village having to vacate the premises for the past couple of years. Extensions upon extensions have been granted by the local Gemeente, but now it seems with the finalization of plans for building a new 3-star hotel at its location, that the F.A.S.T. we’ve come to know is really going to have to go. It’s not all bad, however, and as Geert Verhoeff, co-founder and general manager explains, the very fact that it was always a temporary project allowed F.A.S.T. to be run flexibly and grow in the way that it has. Besides housing a restaurant, bar, hostel, surf shop, surf school, bunker museum and open-air theater, the complex offers a space for an artist-in-residence, numerous small start-up businesses, a surf-
board shaper who can 3D-print his surfboards, and of course, the legendary parties and events F.A.S.T. has become so well known for among locals. “I think its identity has grown with F.A.S.T.”, Geert continues, “having a combination of music, start-ups and surf has made this a vibrant place, there’s always something going on, I think that’s what’s been the driving force behind F.A.S.T.’s success”. By providing a go-to location for the booming surf scene in Scheveningen, but also being open and flexible toward it’s own development, F.A.S.T. has become somewhat of a unique spot in Holland: “Nowhere else in The Hague can you rent a space for as little money as at F.A.S.T. as a starting entrepreneur within this [surf] niche” And that’s exactly what Geert underscores when he talks about F.A.S.T.’s unique role as a place where “young people feel at home and at the same time have the freedom and opportunity to initiate something, be it a business, sport, art, music, organizing events and parties or whatever, in a place and with people with which you can identify”. Geert hopes eventually F.A.S.T. can pave the way for similar concepts in The Hague and Scheveningen: to repurpose unused pieces of land in interesting new ways and provide opportunities for young professionals to work in an inspiring environment. ‘Stichting Marketing Scheveningen’ Director Heino Walbroek agrees that F.A.S.T. as the ‘beating heart of the surf scene’, could provide precisely that: “the type of borderless, boundless thinking that could serve as an catalyst for other entrepreneurs in Scheveningen, providing the kind of impulse that Scheveningen really needs”.
The issue of permits to remain on the beach of Scheveningen in the winter for certain surf-schools is another important step according to Heino, “in connecting the city and the beach, entrepreneurs and inhabitants, and really speaking to a certain generation, F.A.S.T. has shown that it’s possible to create something really special with a vibrant community.” Actively involving young people with the development of Scheveningen in new and exciting ways could be the solution to growing in an interesting organic way. By providing living and working opportunities for all sorts of different people, both Heino & Geert see an important role for the Gemeente in uniting The Hague and Scheveningen. Geert: “For The Hague as a city, to create these little enclaves where you can have this combination of small businesses, food, and culture resulting in a unique vibe and spirit, is incredibly important.” Let’s hope that when the time comes for F.A.S.T. to leave, its legacy will remain an inspiration for entrepreneurs in Scheveningen and beyond. But for this summer at least, F.A.S.T. remains where it is, at the edge of the port: boisterous, vibrant and one of The Hague’s best places to hang out this summer.
By Anneloes van Iwaarden
In celebration of 20 years Dutch - Flanders’ cultural relations, this year’s sculptural extravaganza focuses on contemporary Flemish sculpture and goes by the name of Vormidable. The Lange Voorhout (The Hague), museum Beelden aan Zee (Scheveningen) and a few satellites, showcase numerous works by no less than 34 contemporary artists from Flanders, Belgium. Previous years have had visitors enjoy sculptural highlights from China, South Africa, Russia and France.
Alice in Vormida And although this year’s chosen ‘country (or region) of origin’ is really only a stone’s throw away, visitors will still feel like they have been transported to an entirely new and foreign world. In the enthusiastic words of co-curator Alessandra Laitempergher (Sculptuur Insitituut): ‘the quality of the arts in Belgian Flanders is amazing’.
Flanders may be small but its art is definitely not. Laitempergher explains how the 20-year anniversary was the perfect excuse to delve deeper into the development of contemporary sculpture in Flanders over the past few decades. She and Flemish guest curator Stef Van Bellingen picked 34 artists from an initial long-list of almost twice this number, which only goes to show that quality and quantity sometimes do go hand in hand. ‘We looked at not only the best, but the best for our public’, says Laitempergher. The result is a diverse and thought-provoking exhibit of Flanders’ finest; internationally established names like Panamarenko, Delvoye, De Bruyckere and Fabre rub shoulders with upcoming rising stars like the young Ervinck. The idea is that visitors will leisurely meander through this sculptural world and discover it, sort of like a real-life Alice in Wonderland. This inadvertent wink at Lewis Carroll’s much-loved children’s story
Photos © Evi Záborszky
is especially poignant given the title of the exhibition Vormidable, which obviously points to the diverse sculptural forms on display as well as emphasizing the important role that size and scale play throughout the exhibit. In fact, the exhibition should trigger almost all of the senses of those venturing through this Vormidable-land. So, take a sip from Alice’s bottle labelled ‘drink me’ and be transported to the Lange Voorhout, where many of the 16 sculptures are so colossal in size (figuratively as well as literally) that you are left feeling incredibly small. The formidable owl Le Grand Vivisecteur by Johan Creten for example, solemnly watches over you at the beginning of this sculptural stroll. You might not automatically be reminded of the grinning Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland, but the owl does bring about similarly uncomfortable feelings; is he my friend or foe, a protector or predator? And that overwhelming sensation of earthiness and soil on entering
Wim Delvoyes’ Earth Car housed in the greenhouse… perhaps reminiscent of the smell of a rabbit hole? Sample some ‘eat me’ cake by relocating to museum Beelden aan Zee. Here the size of sculptures have shrunken to human proportions; there is even a room dedicated to the super-small model scale. Be amused and baffled by what might be classified as (though probably not intended to be) an artist’s interpretation of the Mad Hatter’s tea-party. Jan De Cock’s Le Berceau II of De Wieg egg-like structure on wheels opens to reveal a tea set, a pair of old slippers and hundreds of coloured button-ended tubes filled with spices. Honoré d’O uses the most ordinary, everyday bits and bobs, such as cotton swabs and clothes pegs, and assembles them to create beautifully, delicate works. Panamarenko’s robotic, mechanical sculptures clearly do not work or have a function per se. But equally clear is the fact that this is totally beside the point.
Museum Underground
11
Naked Politics Polly Hofwijck Once Neglected, now Elected
able-land
There are no walls or confined spaces to be seen in either of these locations (with the obvious exception of Leo Coper’s one-man prison Prototype VIPER). This feeling of openness underlines the ambition of the curators to come up with a festival of sculptures to attract as many visitors as possible. ‘We wanted to show quality and diversity. We also wanted it to be an all-round experience and an exhibition for a very broad public’, says Alessandra Laitempergher. On all accounts this exhibition delivers; you will reluctantly wake up and eventually have to leave Vormidable-land, but the experience of these strange and wonderful sculptures lingers in the mind, like a pleasant, nonsensical dream…
Vormidable 20 May – 30 August 2015 Lange Voorhout Satellite locations: Kloosterkerk, Koninklijke Schouwburg, wCrowne Plaza, Raadhuis de Paauw, A Gallery Named Sue, Galerie Maurits van der Laar en Pulchri Studio 20 May – 25 October 2015 Museum Beelden aan Zee www.beeldenaanzee.nl/engels
The famous Parliament building dates back to the Middle Ages and so it would seem some of the current codes of conduct inside. Rumour has it that even a few Senators are still lost in former centuries. No, dear readers, I’m not talking about the US Senate. This is all about the Dutch Parliament. And not the one that is in the daily news and that you probably also haven’t understood well either. This is about the very very hidden Dutch Parliament, the Eerste Kamer (First Chamber). Now here’s your chance to meet 75 Senators you’ve never heard of before. They are located in the Binnenhof, right opposite the Tweede Kamer, (Second Chamber or House of Representatives), where 150 MP’s still think they rule the real and present democracy in our country. But no – there has been a quiet polder revolution inside the Dutch House of Lords (and I don’t mean the former cosy pub next to the Parliament that we still miss every day, although the Nieuwspoort Bar –members only – gives us a bit of solace, but I’ll come back to that later), as I said dear readers, a secret revolution took place behind the solid doors of the Binnenhof. Let me be your cicerone and take you behind these doors, eavesdropping, oops…. microphones left open, and introduce you to the Wandelgangen (informal circuits) around The Hague’s political arena. The latest upheaval happened on June 26th when 517 Members of the Provincial Parliaments anonymously voted for the appointment of 75 MP’s in the Dutch First Chamber. All possible and impossible political colours were involved, but sssttt…..don’t mention it to the ruling coalition in the Cabinet of Mr. Mark Rutte, our Teflon coated PM. The Dutch PM isn’t really the Chairman of the Cabinet, he doesn’t even have the right to veto or a double weighted vote because in our country all MP’s are equal. So what exactly is happening here? I predicted the Rutte coalition would lose their majority in the First Chamber. And those long time neglected 75 political dinosaurs happen to be the ones who have the right -and duty- to vote on all new laws, regulations and budget proposals of Mr. Rutte’s Cabinet. Imagine a bunch of oldies looking after our internet privacy laws and the education budget for your youngest kids! You might ask: What about the Real Parliament, the Tweede Kamer? We see their 150 bobbing heads on tv all the time. How the f…. is this country run? I’ll let you know, dear readers, in my next column! Meanwhile, enjoy watching those pitiful MP’s in the “Tweede Kamer” who will now need the “Dinosaurs’ agreement” on most issues. Political TV has just got interesting again!
A celestial experience Photo © Jannes Linders - courtesy Stroom By Ailie Conor
The sky is sometimes referred to as the celestial dome, vast and infinite. American artist James Turrell has carved from this dome his ‘Celestial Vault’, among the Kijkduin dunes right here in The Hague. Turrell is originally from California, and although a famous artist he studied Mathematics, Geology and Astronomy as part of his degree. These disciplines are all prevalent in his art-works, constructions which revolve primarily around the themes of Light, and Space and have won him innumerable awards and honorary degrees from 9 different universities. His works are exhibited in modern art galleries around the globe, including the Guggenheim, the Tate Modern, and the Chichu Art Museum. The Celestial vault bears a number of similarities to some of Turrell’s other works, for example his work in progress, ‘The Roden Crater’ in Arizona, which the artist himself has described as a ‘naked-eye observatory’. The vault
in Kijkduin was completed in 1996, despite initial doubts about its construction. It is 30 meters wide, 40 meters long and has a height of 5 meters. To enter the vault you climb a set of wooden stairs, walk through a long passageway into the artificial crater which is lined with green grass and is in itself, picturesque. The view, much like the vaulted ceiling of a church or stately building is magnificent, and if lying on the stone bench in the centre it seems the sky opens above you. There is another bench further up the side of the dome which offers a view of the horizon and sea-side. From either viewing point you feel like you are not merely looking at the sky, rather experiencing it. The emphasis on experience over observation is something you can find among many of Turrell’s works. The Celestial vault has become a fixture in The Hague, and is a must see for art lovers, star-gazers and dreamers alike.
A little bit of magic in The Hague. By Megan Lloyd
The Hofvijver in The Hague has something magical. The backdrop makes it look like a scene in a Disney movie. Or maybe it resembles Hogwarts a little bit. But it’s definitely something that takes my breath away when I see it in the evenings during sunset. I’m not the only one who feels that way. Plenty of benches have been placed along the Hofvijver, to let people sit and enjoy the view. It’s a favourite spot for lots of markets and events.
The little island you can see in the middle was only placed about 300 years ago. It is not accessible to the public. In recent years, it’s been the location for daredevils that wanted to demonstrate there and occupy the island to get the attention of the politicians that can be found in the adjoined ‘binnenhof’. People have often tried to swim to the PrimeMinister’s office, the ‘Torentje’ (little tower). In 2004, they decided that enough was enough and they built an underwater gate to ensure that people wouldn’t be able to swim there. .
In recent years they’ve even built stages on the Hofvijver. At least, I thought it was a recent thing. Did you know that Count Karel de Stoute ordered to build an archery platform on the Hofvijver in 1462? It wasn’t just a merry place either. Death penalties took place here.
If you’re Dutch, you’ve probably heard of the song “In Den Haag daar woont een graaf en zijn zoon heet Jantje”. Across the Binnenhof, alongside the Hofvijver is a statue of a little boy called ‘Jantje’. Named after the Count of Holland, John the first, who died at the age of 15.
Recently, the Hofvijver was the stage for the World Championships Beach Volleyball 2015. A unique location, showing The Hague at its best. More than 5500 people were able to see the finals in a specially built stadium on a platform on the historical pond. And the week before that, it was the location of an annually organised classical music event.
Thankfully, the Hofvijver isn’t just an historical place. It’s being used and is the centre stage at lots of events. We’ve mentioned the Beach volleyball, but what about the National Lottery Fireworks at NYE or the Christmas markets and the fun fairs? We hope that when you visit these events, you’ll stop for a minute and enjoy the view. And when you have people over visiting, that you’ll show them this gorgeous place we like to treasure. On a clear day, you can see the skyline of The Hague behind it as well. A picture perfect moment.
Photo © Arto Salojarvi
Picks
PICKS The Crave Fest PIP, THE HAGUE 15 AUGUST
Held near PIP Den Haag on the 15th August, in an old industrial train, The Crave Fest is a music event which will feature 12 artists spread over 2 stages. There will be international acts, like Marcel Fengler from Denmark, and Perc from the UK, as well as a swathe of local talent. The first edition of Crave Fest sold out last year, and with only 1500 tickets available this year, we recommend you buy yours post-haste! www.thecravefest.nl
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SCORCHING HITS SUMMER MOVIES TO WATCH OUT FOR By Jiggs Nava
Summer is synonymous to a lot of things, but for those who regularly frequent the theatres; it is that one time of the year when we turn into insatiable maniacs as the film studios rake in at the box office. Here’s a short list of box office movies that have generated a buzz so strong, we’ll probably find ourselves watching them on day one.
Animated Comedy: Minions – July 10
(Featuring the voices of Sandra Bullock, Jon Hamm, Michael Keaton, and Allison Janney) Minions takes us back to a time before our favorite yellow sidekicks served Gru, and instead worshipped the villainess Scarlet Overkill. Based on the trailer alone, it is safe to expect more laughter, gibberish, and of course… banana!
Returning Classic:
Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation – July 31 (Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg, Rebecca Ferguson, Alec Baldwin)
Jazz in de Gracht
BIERKADE AND SURROUNDING STREETS, THE HAGUE 20-22 AUGUST
For the fifth time now, Tom Cruise impressively reprises his role as agent Ethan Hunt. This time, he and his team would need to go against an organization as secret and dangerous as their own: the Syndicate.
Jazz in de Gracht is a Hague classic, a great way to spend a few warm summer evenings and definitely not to be missed this year. From August 20 to August 22 enjoy drinks, food and music on and along canals of The Hague, and although they haven’t released the list of acts for 2015, we anticipate it will be a good one. www.jazzindegracht.nl
Superhero Reboot:
Fantastic Four – August 7 (Miles Teller, Michael B. Jordan, Kate Mara, Jamie Bell)
Regahfest Barbeque Festival PIP, THE HAGUE 29-30 AUGUST
Also at PIP Den Haag, Regahfest offers the pinnacle of summer fun: Barbeque + Festival. 24 teams will compete for two days, Barbequing their little hearts out to impress the panel of judges. The festival is open to the public on the second day, from 10am, so we encourage you to head down as this is sure to be a singular summer experience! Find more details on their website. www.regahfest.nl
Meryl, ‘cause why not:
Ricki and the Flash – August 7 (Meryl Streep, Mamie Gummer, Sebastian Stan, Kevin Kline, Audra McDonald) Just when you thought you’ve seen every possible role Meryl Streep could play, this film puts her in the shoes of an aging rock star that suddenly has to go back to the family she left behind to follow her dreams of fame and fortune.
Trek Food Truck Festival WESTBROEKPARK 10-13 SEPTEMBER You will have seen photos and reviews of this festival already, as it has been travelling around the Netherlands since Spring. Now, finally, it is The Hague’s turn! From September 10 till September 13 in Westbroek Park you will be able to see what all the hype is about, and find out why food from trucks really does taste better. As well as food and drink there will be live music and theatre. www.festival-trek.nl
A reboot of the 2005 superhero flick that starred a pre-Captain America Chris Evans, the movie has already caused quite the stir when the cast was announced. Nevertheless, this seemingly “darker” take appears to have more promise, and hopefully, more grit.
Photo @ Jake Lundqvist
HEET STRIJKEN
Photos © Jeannette Slütter
Previously located on the Westeinde ,Heet Strijker is now nestled on the Boekhorststraat where we hope it will be staying for the next wee while. Originally from Germany, owner Lisanne studied art and now stocks her store with a mix of jewellery and accessories from upcoming designers and fellow art graduates, and fantastic vintage pieces from both the Netherlands and the UK. From colourful 80s jackets to cute plaid skirts this is a great place to revamp your summer style with a few classic, individual items. Photo © Jiggs Nava
8tea5 Besides getting a tan, nothing is more enjoyable to do in the summer than quenching one’s thirst. Lucky for us in The Hague, we have 8tea5: a quaint shop in the city center that offers an alternative to the usual cola – bubble tea!
Skatestore The Hague
Scheveningen isn’t the only place to enjoy boarding this summer - the squares and open spaces in The Hague can be great for skate-boarding and soaking up the summer sun. Luckily for us, a Skatestore recently opened up on Torenstraat, and they stock everything from boards, and shoes to men’s fashion. Whether you are into trick skating, or just want a quick way to get around town, the helpful friendly staff can help you find a deck that suits your needs and expertise. It is also recommended for stocking up your summer wardrobe – their selection of bucket-hats is impressive!
With a line of refreshing concoctions - from staple milk tea flavors like vanilla, taro and Taiwanese classic, to fruit teas, and then the more special summer teas like mojito, caramel chai, and strawberry teaquiri, the choices are enough to last the season. So drop by the Nieuwe Passage and find out for yourselves, how thirsty are you really?
Photo © Sharon Reyes Jurjenz
Bánh Mì Girls
Experimenting part-time with their small-business last summer, owners My and Sarita, from Vietnam and Hong Kong respectively have been running the Bánh Mì Girls full-time since January of this year, and are already making a splash. They are bringing crisp, fresh and genuine Vietnamese street-food, to The Hague and now Amsterdam. If you have an office or building with a kitchen the Bánh Mì Girls will use it to cater a healthy, authentic and alternative lunch,
and if you don’t have an office you can find them at many of The Hague’s summer markets where they are selling out of rolls and ‘pho shots’ - check their Facebook page for dates. We are hoping to book them for ourselves, and you should hurry to do so too at hello@banhmigirls.nl We highly recommend the Hot’n’Spicy Pork Bánh Mì, after this you will never want another plain tosti for lunch again.
Community
URBAN SUMMER mindfulness
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By Chris Goto-Jones (www.mindfulnessphilosophy.com)
‘The summer, in some climates, makes possible to man a sort of Elysian life.’ Henry David Thoreau, Walden, 1854 It is a very common conceit that being mindful is easier in particular places and at particular times. This is despite the incontrovertible fact that mindfulness is always and irrevocably here and now. One of the most popular beliefs is that mindfulness is most effective, most satisfying, or most relaxing in places of exceptional natural beauty and at times of pristine sunshine. The Elysian moment is summer, and the place is a forest, lake, or mountain. This belief leads many urban practitioners to find excuses for why their practice is going badly (howsoever they define this): the streets are too noisy; the rain is too depressing; the evenings are too cold; city life is too hectic. ‘If only,’ they say, ‘I could get away from the city and live in perpetual, rural summertime. Then I would be able to find my mind.’ A couple of summers ago, I found myself sitting in a tiny boat in the middle of Lake Como in northern Italy. It was an astonishing summer’s day. The blue of the sky was almost indistinguishable from the blue of the water. There was not a cloud in sight and not even a ripple on the surface of the lake. There was nobody to be seen in any direction.
Chris Goto-Jones (concept), Ricardo Bessa (art), Copyright asiascape.org
ratically towards the opposite bank. I imagined its resolute determination. For a while, it seemed to me that it was the only living being in the world. And then, even as I watched, it seemed to falter. It had exhausted its energy; despite its determination, its wings couldn’t beat rapidly enough; it dropped into the lake and died.
While I sat and enjoyed the feeling of the sun on my skin, absorbing the remarkable scenic beauty, indulging in the unearthly, bobbing sensation of undulation, I noticed a solitary butterfly fluttering over the water towards me. I watched it for some time, transfixed by the incongruous image of the tiny insect striving to cross the vast expanse of water. The effort that I imagined it was exerting filled me with admiration for this dancing fleck of life.
Last week, I was standing in Den Haag Central Station waiting for a friend. The station was riddled with people, bustling and hustling and rustling their ways to elsewhere. They trailed ever-darkening tracks of water as they trod the torrential rain into the station in their footprints, lacing the ground with a chaotic web of memories and intentions. The murder of rain on the glass roof echoed reassuringly.
After a while, the butterfly reached my boat and settled momentarily on the prow. Only seconds later, it was back on the wing, fluttering energetically but er-
While I stood, I enjoyed the energy of the station: the screeching, monstrous clattering of the trains, and the dashing ballets of complicated people living
Summer Reads If you get the chance to holiday and relax on the beach, in a park or on a borrowed chaise longe, why not try to read a Dutch author, and if it’s too much effort to read in the original language, here is a suggestion for a good translated one.
These Are The Names -Tommy Wieringa (translated by Sam Garrett) Reviewed by Keith Brighouse
This is a poetic but a sober book but no less a page- turner for all that. It is as much a modern parable as a novel, a fairy tale full of dark comedy. There are two related themes running through the book, migration and belonging or more accurately, the lack of belonging. Police officer, Pontus Beg and a group of wandering migrants are the centres around which these themes coalesce. A concrete world firmly based in a crumbling Eastern Europe and a metaphysical world full of biblical allusions. The writer doesn’t try to hide these narratives they are there for all to see and to make the connections. On some levels, the world we currently live in is recognizable, the migration is happening all around us. Beg is a flawed, even violent character, in a town corroded by corruption and more physical crime. He is a man who senses something is missing from his life
rain-coated lives. I glanced at my wrist and realised with pleasure that I’d forgotten to wear my watch: either my friend was late or I was early. I smiled to myself, happy to find some moments outside of time, like a lucky penny: it’s now o’clock. Just then a fluttering speck of white caught my eye, stark against the concrete greyscale of the drenched station and the sporadically spinning colours of umbrellas. A solitary butterfly was ambling between the rafters of the roof. Gyring, spiring to and fro, it played with its freedom in the spaciousness above the mire. A moment later there was another and then another, until I could see a dozen white butterflies in an intricate dance above the roiling anoraks. One of the greatest lessons of mindfulness is perfectly captured by Jon Kabat-Zinn: ‘wherever you go, there you are.’ Summer brings its own joys, but we don’t have to flee the city to find them.
and indulges in eastern philosophy. Trying to make up for lost time he talks to the rabbi, the last of his people in the town. It all seems a little too late. The arrival of migrants, who have been tricked by people smugglers into thinking they had crossed the border into the Promised Land, takes Beg’s education from the abstract, into reality. He is aware of the parallels between the Jews wandering in the desert and the arrival of a few migrant stragglers to the safety of the town. In These Are the Names, a book where we never learn the names of the migrants, with all its allusions and analogies, Weiringa never falls into the trap of being didactic. This is a multiple layered book that can be interpreted on many levels. For all its sombreness of subject matter, it is a good read and has you turning the pages with enthusiasm.
het oordeinde N Shopping route
Het Noordeinde is one of the best-known shopping areas in the old centre of The Hague. There are many brands and international fashion stores and, closer to the Noordeinde palace itself, merchant shops that are official purveyors to the Dutch Royal Court. But just after ‘the working palace of the king’ the street has also many smaller surprising shops with great individuality. The area is known for its art galleries and dining/coffee bars. The Underground has made a mixed selection of places that are distinctively different and stand out. Photos by Nick Simonis
Da Lina’s Little Eataly A recent addition to the Noordeinde, the breakfast-lunchroom-patisserie and -take away ‘Da Lina’ is the place to stop for a taste of traditional Sicilian food, run by Mamma Lina and daughter Tamara, with a bright, spotless and cozy ambiance: friendly and very hospitable with good food to match. Mamma Lina, so called affectionately by residents and regulars alike, lovingly prepares different dishes daily and is passionate about the freshness of the ingredients she uses. For lunch, try their pastas and/or salads or a delicious panino. A good selection of pastries and cakes make for the perfect sweet treat. You’d be hard pressed to find more authentic cannoli Siciliani—roll of pastry filled with sweet ricotta – anywhere else in The Hague. Mamma Lina’s cannoli reign supreme. Enjoy with coffee, for high tea or take away for your perfect Italian party or after dinner dessert. They also sell great Italian ice creams. Order at info@da-lina.nl Noordeinde 119
Penny Wise but not pound foolish
The Maziestraat is a small side street of Noordeinde and one of the prettiest blind alleys of The Hague. Follow the sign to Penny Wise, a swanky second-hand designer clothes store. Housed in a beautiful building, through a large entrance where music is constantly played, up the wooden staircase to the first floor, and you’ll enter a room with rows of clothes. Find some terrific bargains and fill your wardrobe with designer clothes that won’t make your bank manager sweat. Recognisable designer brands include Armani, Patrizia Pepe, Paul Smith, Vivienne Westwood, Kenzo. Penny Wise is a place to come back to again and again, as the collection is always changing; there is a small section of men’s shirts and jackets too. Open Tuesdays to Saturdays, 10:30 to 17:30 and it is closed between 21st July and 18th August. So better hurry. Maziestraat 5 (side-street Noordeinde)
HCH gallery - Het Clyne Huys The Small House -The Big Wonders Inside
It is impossible to walk down this street without noticing some pretty amazing art galleries. But our special choice is HCH gallery for its unique combination of a modern art gallery, a shop entirely dedicated to the paintings by well known and popular artist Guus van Eck, a framing shop with exquisite hand made frames and framing by renowned Gehring Heijdenrijk, and the most beautiful sculpture garden that can be rented for events in the centre of The Hague. We all need to take a deep breath here because this shop/art gallery can overwhelm you with its array of stunning items. Make sure to take your time to check the fine selection of contemporary artists’ works, or get your art work framed here and choose among hundreds of frames. Behind the gallery is the approximately 1000 m2 sculpture garden, adjacent to the Royal Stables and the palace garden, a fabulous setting for festive receptions, weddings and meetings: info@hetcleynehuys.com. Finally, spend time and invest in one of van Eck’s famed landscape paintings, popular with Dutch and Internationals alike. Noordeinde 154
Shopping route
Studio 40
We Love This City
75 years ago, this family run business had the vision to bring new and modern furniture design to The Hague, which was back then a conservative and not very daring place qua interior innovation and furnishings. For the last 40 years’ they ‘ve had a store on this street and have brought the best modern designers and brands to this city, and continue to do so. The four storey shop will astonish you with the trendy pieces on display, with exclusive furniture and lightings.
Trendy designers have come together with a new concept: to fill empty stores in great locations and nice buildings into fashionable concept stores. Their very first, We Love this city #1, opened in May on this street. This hip store has a group of seven designer labels offering a range of clothes, accessories, bags and gift ideas, like Bijoux, My Treasure Hunt, the sturdy bags of Willemijn van Dijk, fun gadgets from Housedoctor.dk and sophisticated Jee Bags. The store, beautifully decorated, also serves great coffee, (another initiative to look out for) by Pop-Up Espresso.
The Grand Dame of Modern Interior Design
Even more, the store is run by experienced interior designers, who can provide tailored advice for your home. Tip: If you are not going to buy an iconic modern piece of furniture right now stop by Studio 40 and liven up your home with one of their choice accessories or decorative objects from International and Dutch designers. Some of our favourites are the wood objects from the Danish Architectmade group. Noordeinde 85
It Rains Fishes We could not overlook this multi-award-winning restaurant on our Noordeinde route. Excellent French cuisine with Asian touches and the friendly environment have kept this restaurant in business for over a decade. Open for lunches and dinners, it serves grilled, fried and poached fish, mussels and scallops, lobster and much more. The menu reflects what's fresh. The food that comes out of chef Erik Bijsterveld’s kitchen is hard to fault, perfectly cooked and bursting with unusual flavours and the venue's charming vibe, nice outdoor garden, makes it worthy of your time and taste buds. On offer are also some meat dishes and a large selection of white and red wines. Incidentally, it’s named after a children folklore story from Thailand and their motto is “on the sunny side of the street”, defying the Dutch weather and rain of all kinds. Noordeinde 123
…and This Shop
Store #2, will be opening in the coming months on the Papestraat. Meanwhile, come and enjoy We Love this City store here, an exiting and alternative model for promoting young designers, made successful by the remarkable objects and snazzy fashion items they make. Noordeinde 109
House Of Green Brings life to the city garden
Create the perfect relaxing place in an urban context: your very own “Green Oasis”. Whether you have a balcony, a terrace or small garden, House of Green can help you maximise the space and create your personal beautiful green area to unwind or dine. This shop and company of landscape and garden designers will craft together with you the ideal urban outdoor living space, with conscious choices; they will help you realise your dream garden according to your own pace and budget. The shop also stocks exclusive garden furniture, planters, outdoor decorative products and garden related gifts items, which make great gifts for summer. So if you have a roof terrace, an itty-bitty balcony or lush cityscape, get inspired by House of Green design ideas that are perfect for city gardens. www.houseofgreen.nl Noordeinde 102
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“VINTAGE GEMS. JUST FOR YOU.
AND A LITTLE BIT FOR US TOO.” (Advertorial)
Keen on spicing up your IKEA interior with unique accessories? A fan of beautiful furniture with a story to tell? You will have to look no further than online treasure shop Verified Vintage run by mother Nelleke and daughter Dominique, with a little help from Terrier
In August 2012, Verified Vintage was born from necessity: both avid collectors of vintage and antique items, Dominique and Nelleke reached a point where both of their homes were filled to the brim. “Opening a shop on Etsy seemed like an exciting and logical next step”. Their plan to ship European vintage worldwide took off, and today this shop can pride itself on steady orders from the USA, Australia and Europe. According to the team, the trick is to “only source pieces that you’d like to see in your own home. This philosophy keeps you sharp during the hunt, and ensures quality finds.” Most memorable experiences? “Our first market was in Antwerp, and we nearly sold out within a few hours! A little overwhelming but great fun. At the moment, we’re looking forward to our quirky fishing stool appearing in the July/August issue of Country Living Magazine USA. A dream come true.” Go-to places for inspiration? “We love England, and London is fantastic: the shop windows at Liberty and Selfridges are a treat, as are the free museums. The Hague is bustling at the moment, with lots of new
Teddy. Based in The Hague, these ladies scour markets, fairs and charity shops for exclusive items that will beautify your home. Read on to find out how this shop turned from a bulging shed of bargains to a succesful webshop appearing in Country Living USA.
shops and creative festivals. Also, we’re addicted to pinning, so check out our moodboards at pinterest. com/verifiedvintage.”
Readers of The Underground will receive an exclusive 10% discount on group bookings placed before Friday 17 July at www.verifiedvintagetours.nl
Future plans for Verified Vintage? “We have so many! Right now we’re leaping into new territory with amazing vintage furniture, including a very hip 1950s drinks trolley by German designer Wilhelm Renz that has just come online. For these pieces, we offer delivery service to attract local customers: 95% of our current clientele is based outside The Netherlands, and we’d like to improve our Dutch presence. We source pieces on request and offer styling advice, so the possibilities are endless.”
www.verifiedvintage.nl | www.verifiedvintagetours.nl
Tell us about Verified Vintage Tours. “Another exciting venture! We want to bring together vintage enthusiasts and show them what The Hague has to offer. On our ‘Fabulous Fashion Tour’, we take our guests on a bicycle trip to the best secondhand boutiques - tea, cake and advice included. Perfectly suited for a unique bachelorette or birthday party. We look forward to meeting you!”
Fashion
The Sponge
FESTIVAL
FUN FASHION
What Would Dr. Dre Do? To me, a successful summer should always include a montage of beach shots and people waving their hands in the air like they just don’t care, impossibly golden light casting a magic glow over sundowners cocktails on a terrace at Scheveningen, tanned bodies rotating in the sun, some sort of beach version of a sport being played by shiny people (who are shiny with exertion because beaches make any sport immeasurably more difficult), barbeques, and ice creams melting down arms. All this of course in slow motion with the interchangeable seasonal mantras such as California Love or Miami pumping from some unknown speaker of the Gods. Otherwise, as popular lore of successful summers will have us know, your summer just wasn’t all that. Since a couple of weeks after Christmas, people have been getting ready for this season. Working to physically match a Dr.Dre-approved 90s music video. Like inventors these good people have been working hard behind closed doors, beads of sweat collecting on their foreheads. They are constructing the perfect human. **thunder clap and lighting for effect**. The arms of Heidi Klum, the waistline of Jennifer Lawrence, the legs of Beyonce, the ability to withstand carbs like Rens Kroes. The time for the great reveal is now. She’s alive. SHE’S ALIVE. AND SHE LOOKS GREAT IN A BIKINI. This would be about the time when I smack my hand to my forehead, and a speech bubble with D’OH written in it hangs next to my head. I’M NOT READY. I’m never ready. Nor do I think I quite know when ‘ready’ is. Is it when an article of swimwear is able to cover certain socially prescribed body parts? Because if so, I’m there, with minimal preparation done! Most of my flesh wants to be the wild mustang that it is and fervently rebel against the polyester prison, but there’s nothing I can do now, I didn’t prepare. Unless there’s a new body category I can say I have prepared for. It’s not “beach bod”, it’s not “dad bod”, it’s not “mom bod” either. Let’s call it “academic bod”, “writer’s bod”, “enjoys a burger and a pint on a terrace” bod, or a “will get there next time” bod. Whatever state of preparedness your “bod” is in, I think if you picture your summer plans and can see Dr. Dre giving you the slow-motion nod of approval then you know you’re heading in the right direction in life.
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Summer is here and it’s the season that’s packed with outdoor festivals. From the Parade (Westbroekpark 3-12 July) to Schollenpop (1 August) to Beach Volleyball (28-30 August) and Beach Tennis championships (5-6 September), everyone’s taste is catered for. Now what do you wear to these festivals? You need to be able to dance and walk for miles without being in pain. To start with you will need trendy sunglasses. And a dress and a pair of sturdy sneakers. Since we are in the Netherlands, be sure to bring an emergency rain poncho! By Wendy Troost
ROUND RULES!
Round sunglasses rule this summer, judging by the photos we saw of Coachella on Pinterest. All the celebs including Jourdan Dunn, Zoe Kravitz, Fergie and Behati Prinsloo donned a pair of round shades at this trendsetting music festival in California. This is a style that was introduced in the 1970s during the hippie era. This trend is now making a huge comeback. Originally the frames were slim, nowadays we see slim frames, thick lining, coloured glasses… So to complement this season’s biggest retro trends, a pair of John Lennon inspired sunglasses is a must. The Underground went shopping for a pair of round frames and found plenty of choice at The Good Life.
Vision in New Babylon. The Good Life Vision New Babylon www.thegoodlifevision.com
HIP IN THE RAIN The Dutch climate may come up with a wet surprise during your festival visit. Be prepared and make sure you look good in the rain. Dutch website www.hipinderegen.nl provides you with colourful options to look hip in the rain.
DRESS TO THE MAX
This maxi dress is easy to wear and the plunging neckline is simply stunning. If it gets chilly, combine it with a jeans jacket. The stars are on trend and the dress is made of comfortable fabrics. Check www.scotch-soda.com.
SALE 30 tot 50%
KORTING
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COOS is quite the heavy lifter. Without breaking a sweat, he launches a full-blown social media campaign, effortlessly raises brand awareness and captivates any audience with his powerful stories.
• Social media platforms with strong engagement & interaction • Publication of international magazines & newspapers • Storytelling, from Dutch and English to 宦姦娜宜 • From branding to launch event
Mostly, he loves doing this for you. Tell him your challenge and be amazed at the quality of the concepts and execution.
The most international locally based communication company in town. Saturnusstraat 60, 2516 AH Den Haag • 070 890 35 35 • www.bij-coos.nl • welkom@bij-coos.nl
Beauty
FROM PALE AND INTERESTING TO DARK AND MYSTERIOUS WHICH TANNING TRIBE DO YOU BELONG TO? Everyone has a special talent. I have a friend who speaks 12 languages, not all at the same time. And mine? Tanning. If there were a PhD in Being Brown, I would have been given one long ago. There is no one, but no one, except maybe George Hamilton (remember him?) who knows more about the subject than me.
After living in the Netherlands and being so very sunshine deprived these days, I developed this skill to perfection and I use it in my daily job as beauty expert. It is Sunday, end of May, I am sitting in my woolly jumper, heating is on and I am writing about tanning. You get the picture?
NOW TAKE SOME TIPS FROM AN OLD PRO. Before you start- All skin types are different and allergies vary, it could be that you are sensitive to perfume, alcohol or in some cases DHA (Dihydroxacetone - the skin colouring agent present in fake tan). If it is DHA that you are sensitive to, the best option is the St Tropez Wash Off range, which is perfect as it contains no DHA ingredients or Jane Iredale Tantasia Self Taner & Bronzer. Step 1- often forgotten, but essential! Sloughing/ brush. Yes that’s right, sloughing. Whether it’s by body scrub, Malden salt and/ or a good old brush or a combination thereof, get all that old dry skin off your body!! A good tan needs properly primed skin, otherwise, take it from me, it’ll come off. Before you start tanning, apply body lotion to the whole body and the face and pay the special attention to your knees, ankles and elbows. Second tip is to try something called Tan Preparer by Lancaster, a water spray you put on daily for two weeks before you get in the sun which does just that; prepare your skin for the onslaught of sun. If you do not get to see sunny days, a bronzer comes in helpful here; try So- Bronze 1 from Jane Iredale for your face, a matt bronzer (avoid glitter!!), or Huile Prodigieuse by Nuxe, a gold coloured mineral oil which you can put on your hair, face and body, but have a thought here for the poor person who has to deal with the sheets. Another option is Golden Shimmer Face and Body Lotion by Jane Iredale that creates a subtle veil of shimmer designed to warm and smooth the complexion. Tip number three. Go for subtle results and use daily self tanners! Today I’m an altogether more subtle self-tanner - more the colour of a milky latte, I’d say - and use daily self tanners rather than the full-blown creosote stuff for a gentle glowing effect (favourites are St Tropez Gradual Self Tan Everyday in Medium/ Dark and James Read’s Gradual Self Tan in Medium and I just love, love Jane Iredale Tantasia Self Taner & Bronzer).
Tip number four. Creamy sun protection or dry mineral physical sunscreen - the question is which? If you have sensitive skin, if you are a runner, menopausal or have acne prone skin go for dry mineral physical sunscreens that contains 2 main ingredients: TITANIUM DIOXIDE • Listed by the FDA as one of only two physical sunscreen actives. • Helps to calm inflammation. • Provides coverage and color. ZINC OXIDE • Listed by the FDA as one of only two physical sunscreen actives. • Helps to calm inflammation. • Provides bacterial protection. Put factor 30 on your face in the summer, a hat with the wide brim and sunglasses in the summer. In the winter use SPF 20 UVB/UVA and put it on first thing, before you even go to the loo, if you are like me and the kind of sort that forget about doing it as the day wears on. Tip number five. Avoid spray tan. Yes, you read it good. It dries the skin out and can be patchy. Go for hand application and if you want the tan to stay longer, you must repeat all this 24 hours later, which I do diligently. And you know what? The tan really does last two weeks. To say it lasted three would be a lie, however. What’s more it does not turn all patchy but fades away evenly. My favourite are St Tropez Gradual Self Tan Everyday in Medium/Dark and James Read’s Gradual Self Tan in Medium/ Vita Liberata PHenomenal and Jane Iredale Tantasia Self Taner & Bronzer ).
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ORANGE GROVE
By Pascalle Kok
This summer is going to be a promising one in The Hague; get ready for dancing in the sun, bare feet in the sand and beachy vibes, thanks to the sounds of Orange Grove! This year the originally Caribbean band will bring us a mixture of extremely relaxed yet energetic and danceable reggae, rock and pop right here on the shores of Holland. The Underground had an openhearted interview with Orange Grove about the band’s recent developments and those yet to come. Orange Grove has been around for several years and is now back after being away for a while. Since the start of the band the guys have been through quite a special journey together. “Me and Jacob (rhythm guitarist) are both from Saint Martin and go way back making music together. We had our own rehearsal space in a little dorm where we were playing around, at the time,” Mike (singer) tells us. “We knew all our band members indirectly from the music scene. Daniele (bass guitarist) played with Kane and Robert (drums) with Glennis Grace. We started off with two singers, me and Roger Peterson, which created quite a unique sound. But in 2002 we split the group in half. Roger was joining the famous Dutch TV-program ‘Idols’ at the time. He got a lot of media attention and record deal offers. He continued with his own band ‘Intwine’ and we continued with Orange Grove. I was experimenting with music and decided I needed to bring Orange Grove back together. It was something that I really believed deserved the best shot. Jacob, who joined Intwine on their journey before, came back to the band we had created together. In 2010 we decided to do things differently and get much more serious about our approach. To be honest, in all the years that I worked with all those different musicians, we’ve always had something cool going on, but it wasn’t until this group that it all really came together. Now we want to achieve the
Photography: Nick Simonis
same thing, to stay true to what we love at all costs. Now it’s starting to pay off!” Daniele adds: “I was the last one who joined the group and I think we now finally found the balance that forms a crossover of sounds from The Roots, hip-hop, rock and those original Saint-Martin sounds.” “For me, one of the biggest achievements of Orange Grove is the strong feeling that this is the right group of guys for the band… I have never had a group where the vibe was always so positive and relaxed,” Mike tells us. This is definitely something you experience while attending an Orange Grove performance. “One of the biggest achievements was also being able to record a single with Glennis Grace!” Jacob adds spontaneously. This year Orange Grove is on fire, with their single ‘Easy Love’ and their collaboration with Glennis Grace ‘Some things last forever’. “We received great compliments online about the videos within very short period of time, people loved it,” Jacob lets us know. And the future? “We will be heading to L.A.: that place has got exactly the vibe Orange Grove fits. And if we can keep playing music in all the different styles we deliver, people will appreciate this and if we can bring our music to various places, we are more then happy!” Tim (lead guitarist) ends.
Music
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KOEN HERFST:
BACK TO BALANCE By Pascalle Kok
Photography: femous.nl
Anyone with even a little love for a pair of drums, metal or the biggest DJ in the world, Armin van Buuren for that matter, is familiar with the name Koen Herfst. As a versatile drummer from The Hague, playing rock, metal, pop, hip-hop and dance, Koen is reputed one of the best in his field. Playing at a professional level since he was 17, he has played in over 35 countries. So, as an international newspaper based in The Hague, you can imagine The Underground just wondered… What the hell, dude?! We got together with Koen and talked about his drumming career and his first solo album ‘Back To Balance’ that he released on the 27th of June this year, which brings together many musicians he played with along the years.
Photography: Marc van der Aa
Creative centipede But first things first. Koen is known for his work with, amongst many other bands and projects, metal bands I Chaos & Dew-Scented and his first very own crossover band Bagga Bownz. He just finished a massive world tour with Armin van Buuren where he, as part of the ‘ARMIN ONLY’ show, played drum solos in venues most musicians can only dream of; at Madison Square Garden (New York), The Forum (L.A.), Coca Cola Dome (Johannesburg) or a Ziggodome (Amsterdam), to name a few. And if that were not enough, readers of famous Dutch drum magazine ‘Slagwerkkrant’ recently voted him as #1 rock/metal drummers of his country and #3 in the ‘Drummer’s Drummer’ category. He’s an official endorser for Tama drums, Zildjian cymbals, Evans drumheads, Balbex drumsticks (Koen Herfst signature) and Roland electronics. Aside from the many projects in his drumming career, Koen also works as a freelance marketing/communications advisor. …Yes, we did ask this creative centipede where he actually found the time to create a solo album as well.
them in my bands. Eventually, I had the idea to create a solo-album where I would play the drums, amplified by various (25!) musicians from different backgrounds and styles and create songs that would bring out a variety of sounds. Then suddenly it becomes music instead of just pieces of it.” And Koen succeeded in that: you can listen to lots of extraordinary collabs on ‘Back to Balance’.
Finding balance “I was so busy at one point that I asked myself: what do I really want and what do I enjoy doing most? I concluded I’m an organizer, marketing- and communications advisor, but most of all I am a drummer at heart. I went through a rough phase in which I also experienced a heavy breakup and got a little burnt out. I needed to find balance in my life again. Hence the name of the album: ‘Back to Balance’,” Koen explains.
The itchy part “I’ve always wanted to bring out something of my own,” Koen tells us. “When I was 18, I tried out that old music-making software ‘Reason’ that I still work with today, next to Logic and Pro-Tools. I found out I’m capable of writing and producing music as well. I always had tons of ideas; bits and pieces, but could never use all of
Curious? Especially for the readers of The Underground Koen is giving away a free copy of ‘Back To Balance’ and a signed pair of drumsticks! Follow us on Facebook and discover how to claim your prize.
Experience the Napolitan atmosphere in The Hague. Pizzas designed and prepared by our chefs from Italy who have graduated from the Accademia Pizzaioli. They are still monthly trained by world Pizzaioli Andrea Bosio. The pizzas are baked in a wood oven Stefano Ferrara, the eye catcher of the restaurant. The traditional Italian dishes are prepared by our chef Mauro Cassatta , came especially for Pulcinella to The Hague. Mauro has the best wines selected for the dishes, we will advise you with this. Our delicacy corner features the delicious fresh Italian delicacies, such as Bel Paese, Fontina, Salami and Prosciutto invited to make proposals together your panini for lunch. The pizzas and paninis are also for pick up . The kitchen is open daily from 11:00 to 23:00 Visit our website for an impression
www.pulcinelladenhaag.nl
T a w O n n e p O
4 n i e l p n e G e The GOudenr
Food & drinks
WE ALL KNOW THERE IS NO BETTER WAY TO END THE DAY THAN WITH A COLD WINE OR BEER IN YOUR HAND, WATCHING THE SUNSET FROM THE TERRACE OF A NICE BEACH BAR. NOW ANYONE CAN STICK UP A SHACK ON THE SAND, STOCK IT WITH DRINKS AND CALL IT A BEACH BAR. BUT WHAT MAKES IT A
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GREAT BEACH BAR? WE’VE SELECTED THE SPOTS WE LIKE BEST AND WHAT THESE PLACES HAVE IN COMMON IS THAT ONCE YOU’VE BEEN THERE, YOU WILL WANT TO GO BACK THERE SOMEDAY, ALL DAY, THEN DANCE AWAY THE NIGHT AT A CLUB ON THE BOULEVARD.
Sol Beach is located in a quiet area on Scheveningen boulevard, about 500 meters away from the Pier. The Kurhaus Hotel, Sea Life, Museum Beelden aan Zee (sculpture museum), parkings and public transport are all within walking distance. Sol Beach has been completely renewed and offers service with a smile, great food and beautiful views. You can have your own BBQ on the table with family, friends or colleagues and prepare your own food. For bigger groups you can hire your own chef, he’ll do the cooking for you! www.solbeach.nl
What we love about this place is the Whoosah Post. It looks like a newspaper and contains everything you need to know about this place: the menu and the wines including the chef’s specials, their party calendar for the month, a puzzle and loads more fun. Besides that Whoosah is located on the trendy ‘Noorderstrand’, away from the busy Scheveningen boulevard but easy to reach by car or public transport. Good parties and a relaxed atmosphere. Enjoy the sunset with a cocktail in your hand! www.whoosah.nl
A team of twenty excellent pianists combine playing songs from the seventies, eighties and nineties with today’s hits every night from 8pm. Start your evening with an early dinner (they serve a very friendly priced three course set menu!) or some finger food and then dance the night away to catchy piano music. Crazy Pianos is centrally located on Scheveningen boulevard near the Kurhaus. Check the website for the Crazy VIP table, the Crazy limo & the Crazy Cocktail Workshop. www.crazypianos.com
Culpepper boasts a pure and organic menu and their crunchy pizzas straight from the brick oven are to die for. The spicy Culpepper Red cocktail (Holland gin, cranberry juice, lychee liqueur and red pepper) is definitely worth a try. The couches are comfortable and the staff is very friendly. And they guarantee that there are no jellyfish in the sea in front of Culpepper… Culpepper is located on ‘Noorderstrand’ in Scheveningen. www.culpepper.nl Photo © Jelle Boontje
THE UNDERGROUND ALSO RECOMMENDS:
STRANDCLUB DOEN!: stylish, all-white, great food, great wine, champagne and oysters, high tea/high wine… All good. STRANDCLUB WIJ: close to the harbour, family-friendly, lounge music, good food and easy parking.
STRANDPAVILJOEN DE KWARTEL: sustainable, organic, gluten free options, child-friendly. BEACH CLUB PEOPLE: the trendiest and most luxurious place in Kijkduin, every Monday sushi night.
(Advertorial)
LA GALLERIA - Kurhausplein In the middle of the Kurhausplein, you will find La Galleria. A beautifully decorated Italian restaurant in one of the best locations of Scheveningen. We love our wine, so imagine our delight when we were invited for a wine tasting event at La Galleria’s wine bar Solo Vino. A perfect way to start the evening. Sommelier Henry Kalnieks explained to us the meaning of wine and how to really enjoy it. It was his enthusiasm that really inspired us to try things we normally wouldn’t. We definitely learned a lot about wine and a few fun facts we can’t wait to impress our friends with! La Galleria has been at the Kurhausplein for over 32 years and it shows. They know exactly what people want when they go to Scheveningen. When the sun is out, you can enjoy your meal or drinks on their huge and very luxurious terrace.
Their very reasonably priced menu is a real treat. Not just for your taste buds but for the eye as well. A good mix of traditional and modern Italian cuisine with gorgeous seasonal products. So the next time you’re in Scheveningen, remember La Galleria and let the enthusiasm of their staff make your day even more enjoyable! Interested in being invited to one of their wine tastings? Just send an e-mail to sales@solovino.eu and they’ll invite your to their next event! La Galleria Kurhausplein Scheveningen Gevers Deynootplein 105, 2586 CP Scheveningen Tel: 070 - 3 521 156
BEST ICE CR Photos and text: Arto Salojarvi
Long or short stay... Enjoy the unique ‘golden’ experience in the suites of ’t Goude Hooft.
Our job’s really tough sometimes. Like this week, when we went out on a mission to find the best ice cream in town, a daunting task to be sure. With hundreds of flavours nested in ice cream parlours across the city, many made with the owner’s top secret recipes, how do you choose the best one? Flavour? Portion or size? Presentation? The risk-benefit ratio of the tummy ache from eating a whole pint by yourself? For this list, we decided to look at the overall experience of our visits. Here are our favourites:
BEST TEXTURE & VARIETY Luciano info@tgoudehooft.nl, www.tgoudehooft.nl Dagelijkse Groenmarkt 13, 2513 AL Den Haag, Tel.: 070 7448830
www.facebook.com/tGoudeHooft
There were two things that immediately caught our attention; the beautiful mural covering the back wall of the shop, and the friendliness of the staff. Luciano offers the widest variety of flavours (24) on our list, from strawberry cheese cake to Nutella, including options for special diets. They also sell ice cream cakes! Theresiastraat 41, 2593 AA Den Haag
Food & drinks
We’re sharing our ‘best kept secret’ with you – Sarah’s Garden at O’Casey’s (Advertorial)
Irish Pub & Restaurant O’Casey’s on the Noordeinde needs no introduction. It is one of the most popular pubs in The Hague with locals and internationals alike. Live music, pub quizzes, good food, friendly staff and an owner that has really put his heart in his work. Owner John Gulay knows what he wants, and notices how it’s made O’Caseys popular. “We’re constantly modernising but we are also keeping the Irish character very much alive. One of our customers recently told me that he could see that the pub is made and taken care of with love, which of course is the ultimate compliment” With up to 18 screens, O’Caseys is a very popular destination for sports enthusiasts. “We’re able to show lots of different sporting events at the same time” John explains.
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bles and a good combination of afternoon sun and shade (perfect for children!). They’ve recently added an extra outside bar to give their customers an even better experience. The food they serve is of a very high standard and the combination of everything makes you feel like you’re in a traditional Irish pub with all the modern advantages. We love Sarah’s garden. It’s a true gem in the city centre. The perfect spot to work in the afternoon or to go to with your friends and family for a drink after work or on the weekend. Good food, great service and a family friendly environment. See you there? Interested in Sarah’s Garden for your event? Please e-mail ocaseys@euronet. nl for availability.
O'Casey's Irish Pub & Restaurant What people might not have noticed before, in its full glory, is ‘Sarah’s Garden’. A large garden/terrace (named after John’s daughter) with lots of ta-
Photogaphy: Nick Simonis
Noordeinde 140 2514GP Den Haag Tel: 070-3630698 www.ocaseys.nl
REAM PLACES THE HAGUE KID’S CHOICE AWARD Bij Lotje Bij Lotje is a lovely little parlour, and our overall staff favourite. Their menu includes a unique Salidou caramel flavor, delicious homemade brownies and waffles, and special ice coffees made with ice cream. What sets Bij Lotje aside from the rest is the shop’s warm, friendly feel to it with wooden furniture and decorations painted to match the colors of different flavours of ice cream. It feels a bit like being inside a giant marshmallow. Bij Lotje is easily the best place visit with kids – especially for birthdays, they’ll have lots of fun treats and activities. Elandstraat 55, 2513 GM Den Haag
BEST PRESENTATION Palazzo IJssalon Scheveningen Sparklers, whipped cream, chocolate sauce and sprinkles. From Dame Blance to “spaghetti ijs” to more exotic ice cream cocktails (some also with alcohol), Palazzo has them all. They also offer options for special diets. Palacestraat 30, 2586 HX Den Haag
TASTE TEST WINNER Spijssalon Spijssalon was our overall taste test winner with 20 different flavours to choose from. The little shop mostly sells cups and cones to go, but also has a small, partially shaded terrace on the sidewalk. Frederik Hendriklaan 230B, 2582 BM Scheveningen
A TAKE ON STARSQUID
By Karen T Slingenberg
All photos © Starsquid
Picture the scene, a young woman dancing in slow motion, her blonde hair fanned out as she turns; a close up of her face reveals a look of ecstasy as she moves with her eyes closed. Then a transition shot to a man partying. The scene shifts again to two girls dancing in a street at night and a car is parked in the distance with headlights on, casting a soft yellow glow upon the dancers. Silver strips of confetti-rain pour onto the girls as they party on. Throughout the footage in the background the words ‘Sweet sunshine, lifting you up’ are sung. This is just one of many music videos Starsquid has worked on. The creative force behind Starsquid (a collective of music videos, photography and artwork for CDs) are two young guys from The Hague; Frank van der Steen and Jamel Armand along with Chantel Koo (Art Direction). Having started out five years ago as a fashion photography collective, Starsquid spread its artistic tentacles towards music videos with a lot of expertise to offer. Both directors are artists to the core as Jamel points out, “I was drawing all the time as a kid”. Frank is the musical artist of the two and has a band of his own called ‘Kern Koppen’ (Nuclear Heads). Frank’s musicality is one of Starsquid’s many strengths as his sense of rhythm permeates the videos in the editing process.
time. All of a sudden a car appears in the background and it remains in the same position with its yellow headlights full-on. This car was not scripted in to the take, but it appeared anyway, just at the right time, adding something special to the overall effect of the scene with the mellow yellow hue the headlamps create. Clients they have worked with vary from giants such as Universal Music Record Company to independent artists. Starsquid put their unique mark on the videos of Dutch singer-songwriter Douwe Bob’s music as well as those of the Hague band DI-RECT. What clients have come to expect is an open approach and an almost child-like attitude towards the film-making process. Their mission is wholeheartedly about “challenging yourself and having fun”, according to Jamel. Frank adds, “It’s important to have fun and not take perfectionism to extremes”. The catchiness of the name Starsquid rouses the curiosity as to its origins. Jamel explains that it was inspired by spoofy science-fiction. The image of a squid is fitting as the tentacles represent the different avenues available to them as well as their varying fields of expertise. They also like to incorporate naïve science-fiction film tricks into their work.
Frank and Jamel both agree that their working styles gel so well together that there is often a creative flow on set. “We don’t work to a formula. Spontaneous events happen when working in an open way”, Frank explains. He goes on to give a great example of this when they were filming a video for one of Douwe Bob’s songs ‘Sweet Sunshine”. Two girls are dancing outside in the street and it’s night
A zoom shot of Starsquid reveals something more about their approach to work as well as life. It turns out that their motivation for doing the work that they do comes down to “working with different kinds of people”, and being “socially-creative”. Frank adds, “to be able to make what you love a business is rare and you can be thankful”. As to the future, this out-of–the-box-thinking creative duo don’t have any concrete plans. Both Frank and Jamel are clear on one thing though and that is that it doesn’t matter what they do as long as they stick together.
Art & Design
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EYECATCHERS By Laura Dragulin
Het Nationaal Archief (Dutch National Archives) in The Hague holds the largest collection of photographs in the Netherlands; about 15 million photos of famous and lesser-known photographers of the past 170 years. ‘Blikvangers’ (Eyecatchers) exhibition that just concluded on 12th of July was part of this unique collection and contained more than 450 original photographs, exhibited for the first time. The Netherlands and the world’s passage of time and history was seen through the eyes of national and international photographers, like Alexine Tinne, Onnes Kurkdjian, Lazszl Mahaly-Nagy, Robert Capa, Eva Besnyo, Emmy Andriesse, Cas Oorthuys, Ed van der Elsken, Paul Huf, Cor Jaring, the laureate photographer Koen Hauser and many others.
Photography: Laura Dragulin
Alexine Tinne - The first woman photographer in the Netherlands Alexandrine Petronella Francina Tinne was the first European woman to attempt to cross the Sahara. However, her passion for discovering and documenting the Touareg people put an end to her tumultuous explorer life: on 1st August 1869, Alexine was killed during an attack. She became the first female photographer in the Netherlands to produce such an amazing enthnological photographic collection. Robert Capa and Gerda Taro - The Spanish civil war up close The rise in popularity of 35 mm cameras in 1920 gave photography an enormous boost. Suddenly the photographers were able to capture moments more vividly, without being noticed by their subjects. The bloody Spanish War can be watched retrospectively, just scanning throughout the gripping photo-journalistic creation of Robert Capa and Gerda Toro. Using Leica cameras, these two partners in crime and lovers, fought their own war and became the pioneers of the war photography genre. Robert Capa redefined wartime photojournalism and famously said: "If your photographs aren't good enough, you're not close enough." In an ironic way, Gerda Taro, was maybe
too close, as she was the first female photojournalist to cover the front lines of a war and to die while doing so. In 1936, Capa became known across the globe for the "Falling Soldier" photo, long thought to have been taken in Cerro Muriano on the Cordoba Front. At that time, the photographic input from the war front was exceptional, as the public could for the fisrt time follow the war extremely close through photography. A number of the photos taken by Capa and Taro, during the Spanish civil war were part of Eyecatchers. Tonny Renterghem and Frits Kahtenberg Clandestine Camera For the largest part of the Second World War is was not prohibited to take photographs in public, but military installations, exercises and weapons were not allowed to appear in photos. However, some photographers did not abide by this ban, as they wanted to capture war in all its aspects and to create a legacy for future generations. In 1943, the Dutch Tonny Renterghem and German-born Frits Kahtenberg founded the resistance group “Nederland Archief”, later to be known as “De Ondergedoken Camera” (Clandestine Camera). Together with other photographers such as Cas Oor-
thuys, Charles Breijer, Emmy Andriesse and Marius Meijboom they shot photographs of illegal activities, resistance operations, the conduct of German soldiers and the winter of famine (Hunger Winter). The information was very useful to the resistance and to the Dutch Government in exile in London. In November 1944, the Germans prohibited taking photographs in public as well, which made the work of The Clandestine Camera even more difficult and dangerous. The cameras were hidden under the jackets, built-in bags or briefcases with special made holes for the lenses. The female members were more unobtrusive and less likely to be suspicious because they were carrying shopping bags. So, looking back now, can you imagine a world where taking a photo could have cost you your life? The photos displayed captured tumultuous moments in history but are also an acknowledgment to the heroic photographers holding the camera, being at the heart of events, risking their lives to expose the reality of wars and documenting the passage of time These are just few of the subjects that were depicted in the exhibition The Eyecatchers. If you missed this exhibition, more than a million photographs can be viewed on The Dutch National Archives website: www.gahetna.nl.
The Willem Post
Are you new to the area? Recently single? Or simply looking to broaden your social network?
The Hague, a global city Congratulations, you live in a city! Especially in the last decade, cities have changed dramatically. The middle class is returning to cities all over the world. Metropolitan areas are once again at the forefront of spectacular developments. Look at The Hague; A somewhat boring government town not that long ago is now a vibrant city that got a huge influx of international organizations in a short period of time.
Where Friendships Begin Connect, Share and Thrive
Cities everywhere are hot and trendy. Harvard professor Edward Glaeser recently wrote: ‘The great prosperity of contemporary London and Bangalore and Tokyo comes from their ability to produce new thinking. Wandering these cities – whether down cobblestone sidewalks or grid-cutting cross streets, around roundabouts or under freeways- is to study nothing less than human progress. In the richer countries of the West, cities have survived the tumultuous end of the industrial age and are now wealthier, healthier, and more alluring than ever. In the world’s poorer places, cities are expanding enormously because urban density provides the clearest path from poverty to prosperity. Despite the technological breakthroughs that have caused the death of distance, it turns out that the world isn’t flat: it’s paved.’ It doesn’t matter if cities are small or big. All cities are global cities. Borders are not relevant any more in our transnational, social media world. In 2050 two-thirds of all humanity will live in these internationalized cities. Ivo Daalder, president of the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, wrote that cities ‘are no longer just places to live in. They have emerged as leading actors on the global stage. Cities need to co-ordinate the global engagement of its corporations, top academic centres, cultural institutions and civic bodies in ways that benefit the city and cities as a whole.’ Daalder mentions Shanghai with its own foreign affairs office and Sao Paulo that has established diplomatic relations with dozens of states, more than the capital Brazilia, as examples. He adds that cities, and especially their mayors, are now influential sub-state actors in the fragmented landscape of global diplomacy.
www.thedamedrum.com
(Advertorial)
HUNA
Urban expert and author Benjamin Barber once again proposed his idea of a global parliament of mayors at a recent City conference. Panel members Madeleine Albright, former U.S Secretary of State, and Jozias van Aartsen, the Mayor of The Hague, stated that cities must work together with their national governments and in the context of the United Nations to be as effective as possible. Albright requested cities all over the world to share their best practices. Van Aartsen suggested that creating a global mayors’ platform could be an effective advisory body. Albright remarked that ‘The Hague is an incredible city with all its international organizations and an example already of working together!’ Modern cities are not new mini-empires and mayors are no shepherds leading their flock of city actors. Power in an interconnected world is a relative phenomenon. But mayors can and must be intermediaries between all these ‘city players’. They are in a unique position as the representatives of their city networks in a network world. As number one city diplomats, he or she should function as the ultimate, natural bridge-builder in the city itself and in relations with other cities and regions. In short, mayors are the new diplomatic kids on the block in what indeed is a city-world. This autumn, Willem Post will be publishing a book in English on changing cities and city diplomacy.
Photogaphy: Nick Simonis
Huna is a cosy family business has been well-known in The Hague for over 70 years. They give expert attention and advice, whether you are looking for a tent, shoes or camping accessories. They cater for the adventurous traveller, so head down and see what they can do for you and why not send them a post-card from your next journey!
Lifestyle
Mandates by Molly Where’s the best place to spend the summer in the Netherlands?
I’m moving from a student flat into a real apartment this summer. But I can’t afford to furnish it. Help!
I’m off to France on my holiday. What books should I take with me?
In France. I kid, I kid. The Netherlands has lots of great places to soak up what little sun we get. Of course there’s Scheveningen, but also the beach at Kijkduin, a less crowded and tourist spot. If you really want to go Dutch, head to Texel for a weekend. Don’t want to hang out at the beach? Go very Dutch and head to Brabant to complete the 335 km long cycle tour of Van Gogh’s life. Don’t worry, it’s divided into manageable pieces of about 50 km each.
Whether you’ve graduated to a real apartment, graduated to a larger apartment or are just cheap, there’s plenty of options, other than Ikea, to get household goods. That being said, start with Ikea. They’ve got lots of cheap options, especially in their As Is section, where you can buy items that are a bit worn. Next try a kringloopwinkel or thrift store. There’s plenty, ranging from crammed stores filled to the rafters to well organized vintage shops. Everyone knows about Marktplaats but there are also plenty of Facebook groups for expats/internationals/students where members are frequently selling furniture and more.
Well, I’d take a Kindle to lighten your load, but if you’re a Luddite, paperbacks it is. If you want to go (semi) local, American-author David Swatling recently published a thriller based in Amsterdam called Calvin’s Head or David Hewson also has a thriller called The House of Dolls out about the city. Or take this opportunity to try a Dutch like Geert Mak, whose The Angel of Amsterdam was recently published in English for the first time, or In My Father’s Garden by Jan Siebelink. Don’t want anything Dutch-related? The staff at the ABC in The Hague recently recommended The GIrl With All The Gifts by M. R. Carey and I couldn’t put it down.
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PS Publiciteitsservice (Advertorial)
We make The Underground. But who are the people who make sure it gets to the places where you can pick it up? Dineke Baggerman started Publiciteitsservice (PS) in 1993 and she is still happy to take her bike or car to spread the print. “I have been doing this for 27 years now. At some point I was fed up with flyposting and running from the police, so we spoke to the municipality and started doing it legally. Our company now takes care of spreading flyers, posters and brochures in cafes, restaurants, theatres, libraries and schools.” PS has grown over the years and now employs fifteen people, four of whom work at their office in Zeeheldenkwartier in The Hague. It smells of freshly printed paper and everything is neatly organised; ‘Flyers The Hague’, ‘Posters The Hague’, ‘Flyers Leiden’ etc. The work area of PS has expanded and now includes Delft, Zoetermeer, Gouda, Rijswijk, Pijnacker, Nootdorp, Westland and the Leiden region. PS does not only distribute printed matter in public places, they also offer door to door service. And they can take care of any graphic design and printing that your company might need. “We work a lot for expats too. So if you have anything that needs distribution, a flyer for a yoga class, a theatre performance or whatever, we can help you.” What is the best part of Dineke’s job? “We always know what is happening in town. The Hague has so much to offer culturally! Besides that I like working with people, I like being out there and helping with the distribution myself. I’m not the office type and I love meeting people and being in touch with our customers. We stick to sticking!”
Publiciteitsservice
WE STICK TO STICKING!
Hugo de Grootstraat 37 2518 EC Den Haag Tel: 070 392 43 08 www.publiciteitsservice.nl www.facebook.com/Publiciteitsservice
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