THE OHM PROJECT
A recipe for romance with Menno de Koning
Page 26
of Marcel Veenendaal
Page 33
Edition #2 January/February 2015
THE UNDERGROUND'S ULTIMATE
VALENTINE GIFT n
Page 27
Competitio
Can you
Resist? Have you grown cold to the art of seduction? Or will you let us guide you to the sweet temptations of The Hague?
Colophon Publisher Saskia Laurijsen saskia@theunderground.nl Editor-in-chief Rosy Brega rosy@theunderground.nl
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 remy@ronde-vormen.nl
We like to have our team meetings in the heart of the city where we can absorb the energy and vibrancy of The Hague. On a cold November afternoon the well-known photographer Maarten Fleskens and art director Remy Rond met us for a drink and to brainstorm about the cover for the second edition. We’d had so many enthusiastic responses to the first cover that we thought it would not be easy to top that. Our beautiful Pascalle lying naked in a bath filled with milk and flowers turned out to be a very convincing reason for people to pick up our newspaper.
Print Colorworks, Fred van Hoorn info@colorworks.nl Distribution Publiciteits Service Newsroom Ailie Conor, Arto Salojarvi, Megan Lloyd Irene van Exel, Lisette van der Ende, Dorien Boeren, Pascalle Kok. Contributors, Journalists & Photographers Danielle Saris, Edith Dohmen, Samira Tatuhey, Sophie Draisma, Vanessa Leyland, Nicole Small, Willem Post, Danielle Emans, Damini Purkayastha, Miki de Best, Susannah Palk, Annaloes van Waarden, Hedda Pier, Limo Baroud, Laura Dragulin, Eelkje Colmjon, Heather Beasley Doyle, Daniel Taylor, Fleur Beemster, Maxime Zech, Molly Quell, Anita Vervoest, Chris Goto-Jones, Ivonne van der Kroft, Cissie Fu, Remy Rond, Maite Virouleaud, Dorien Boeren, Dorine Schreiner. 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 Model: Maarten Bos Make up artist: Mandy Rond Assistant: Caspar van Waasdijk
“Discover the hidden temptations of The Hague”. Seduction, intriguing, powerful, we needed all that to be conveyed in just one photo. We decided that for this cover we wanted a man, strong, sexy, with just a little bit of the Scheveningen surfing type. And how on earth do you find someone who fits this ideal? Well, he just sat down at a table ten meters away. Our editor-in-chief Rosy and journalist / former model Pascalle walked over and with the help of some nice smiles and a second cup of coffee our new cover model Maarten Bos took the job. The making of the cover is for me the best part of making a newspaper! In Maarten Fleskens’ studio we did a complete makeover. Mandy Rond, a very talented make-up artist turned our model into a modern The Hague Viking with the help of beads, laces and some extra hairpieces. The shoot was hilarious, with assistant Casper, playing the part of the woods, holding two enormous and quite heavy branches. Meanwhile Mandy was spraying our model with fake Christmas snow and covered him with lots of powder sugar. We thank our model for his patience and good temper and Maarten Fleskens for his artistic production. Remy Rond and Mandy Rond for their creativity and letting the magic happen. We have created the image we were looking for. By the way, our next theme is “Automate me”, any volunteers? Saskia Laurijsen
Visit our website: www.theunderground.nl twitter.com/UndergroundTH facebook.com/TheUndergroundTH
Printing and distribution made possible by Colorworks.
Steven van Lummel’s Eclectic, Creative Life in Cases By Heather Beasley Doyle
On a bitingly wet and windswept day in December, Steven van Lummel is bundled up against the cold. Inside his studio in the Hague, he wears two sweaters; the outermost is a thick, cream-colored model that hugs the back of his neck. He wears a khaki baseball cap. Only his ankles, which flash sockless from between his black Nikes and his pants, look cold. His horn-rimmed glasses alternately perch on the bridge of his nose or dangle loosely from a chain, creating a glasses necklace. With this getup, Van Lummel seems at once teacher and student, an easy-going guy unconcerned with the visuals. The look is both apt and ironic: An artist who creates unique, lively creatures with pen, Van Lummel lives by his urge to draw images—everything from what looks like a potato crisp on a skateboard to unidentifiable hybrids on legs. But he’s also a skateboarder, musician, emcee, activist-turned-local politician who’s learned an enormous amount in his successful quest to keep the Hague as inviting for local youth as it is for international diplomats. Though many Hagenaars might not know his name, he has been a vital force behind PIP culture centre that he started and still runs with friend and colleague David Schoch, and Sweatshop indoor skateboard park that also saw the participation of David Schoch. Places thousands go to meet up and dance or skateboard the winter away. According the Hague native Van Lummel, PIP is “the art piece of the city,” a club that opened in 2007 and describes itself as “…a low-barrier place where everyone from young
to old is welcome.” Sweatshop isn’t simply an indoor skateboard park, he adds, it’s also artistic expression: “People don’t realize they’re skating in the sculpture. “Creating intentional gathering spots, the idea of catalysing a positive collective experience—that’s what art is all about for Van Lummel. The 33-year-old studied fine arts at the Hague’s Royal Academy of Art. When it came time for his final project, Van Lummel’s work took an activist turn. The city’s government wanted to severely limit the availability of legal skateboarding spots. Although Van Lummel “didn’t have a clue” about politics or government, he decided to initiate a petition supporting skateboarding in the Hague as his final project. When he took the petition to local political parties, the Haagse Stadspartij members “…were the only ones who said, ‘cool initiative,’” he says, “they really got into it and responded quickly.” After Van Lummel handed in the petition, the Haagse Stads partij asked him to run in the local election. He did, and has been a Haagse Stadspartij member ever since, representing youth, culture and the hospitality industry for more than a decade. “It changed my whole perspective on the city,” he says of the experience. “I learned that the Hague really wants to be a city of peace and justice,” he said. This goal works well for many in the city, he adds, but other residents
People & passions
5
©Maite Virouleaud - Lumière Blanche photography
feel it as something “…very stiff and rigid,” that strictly divides poor and “posh” neighbourhoods. “Being creative and a little bit wild is an important feeding ground” for the city’s youth, he says; skateboarding, music and other creative pursuits offer vital outlets. “As a young kid, it’s nice to break out,” he says.Van Lummel, who deeply enjoys “being able to participate in the way the city looks,” also seems poised to break out—this time, with his visual art. His artwork has appeared in solo shows in Tokyo and Brooklyn, New York, where he was an artist-in-residence. Now, he’s looking forward to more group and solo expositions, and to “the biggest gift” of his life, a three-month artist-in-residence program in southern Japan. While there, Van Lummel will study Japanese woodcarving and papermaking. The resulting work will be part of an exhibition at the Naitonal Museum of Japan. “This exceeds everything; it’s my biggest challenge,” Van Lummel says. Challenging as it is, he looks forward to returning to Japan; he fell in love with Tokyo while there earlier this year for his solo show. This love is partly a reflection of how appreciated he felt there, where he realized “there are actually some people who enjoy my work.” A number of friendships also grew from his Tokyo show. “This is, for me, even more important than, or just as important as, the work itself,” Van Lummel says.
At a glance, one of Van Lummel’s drawings seems from another world, with unidentifiable beings. But look a little closer, and there’s order to it, which Van Lummel explains: “It’s rows and rows of families, with space in between.” An interesting concept, one that Van Lummel lives by, keeping his own nearby family, his skateboarding, art and politics families all nourished, all different, all thriving. Sitting bundled up in his studio, evidence of various projects surrounds Van Lummel—neat piles of paper, a super 8 camera, guitars on the wall and three keyboards in close quarters. Talking about his life, Van Lummel waves to a neatly organized, motley row of cases. “Everything fits in a case for me,” he says, “it just gives me peace of mind.”
Kingdom of fire and clay
PICKS Dh5 Festival
TOMORROW: FUTURE AS PERSPECTIVE FOR MOVEMENT 30 JANUARI – 1 FEBRUARY In a city like The Hague, famous for institutions such as the ICC, the 2.Dh5 festival “for activists and world-changers” offers an alternative forum for political and social discussions, for those who prefer to work outside the traditional structures. Held in The Hague for the second year, at PIP, the festival requires a 5 Euro entry fee however on top of workshops and talks it provides cost-price food and if needed, a rudimentary camping space. Join other like-minded people to look to the future, and discuss opportunities for social, economic, political and climate reform along ethical lines. Some workshops are held in English, and though the majority will be in Dutch, whisper-translation may be provided.
5 AND 7 MARCH - THE ENGLISH THEATRE
Israeli Raphael Rodan and Iranian born Sahand Sahebdivani’s performance of ‘The Kingdom of Fire and Clay’ is returning to The Hague after a year touring the Netherlands and the UK to critical acclaim. Friendship and friction are played out against a backdrop of historical conflict, both artists bring their personal experiences to the table, blending them with music and a mix of traditional Jewish and Iranian storytelling. They challenge assumptions of a culture clash, using stories to explore the notion of home, delving into their countries long-standing enmity while exploring their own backgrounds and discovering common ground where they are overwhelmingly encouraged to believe there is none. The performance is in English and will be showing alongside the sister project, ‘When Abel met Cain’. For tickets and more information go to http://www.theenglishtheatre.nl/
Romantic Fashions
MR DARCY MEETS ELINE VERE NOW - 22 MARCH HAAGS GEMEENTEMUSEUM More information: www.2dh5.nl
Endless Possibilities
THE 3RD-YEAR PHOTOGRAPHY STUDENTS OF THE ROYAL ACADEMY OF ART, THE HAGUE 16 - 25 JANUARY
Rustling silk, breathtaking embroidery, frills and flounces, vast crinolines. Sharply tailored suits for dandies and elegant ball gowns for ladies. This autumn’s major 19th-century fashion exhibition at the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag features costumes from the time of Pride and Prejudice, Jane Eyre, Eline Vere and Downton Abbey. In addition to entire costumes in all their glory, the show will include glamorous accessories, tightly laced corsets and original fashion prints and photographs. With the help of the Prince Bernhard Culture Fund, many items have been restored especially for the occasion and will be on show to the public for the very first time. The inclusion of contemporary creations shows how the 19th century still influences life today, as modern designers continue to draw inspiration from its forms, silhouettes and techniques. Famous examples include the magnificent embroidery of Jan Taminiau, the dandyism of Vivienne Westwood, and the (often dark) romanticism of Jean Paul Gaultier and Edwin Oudshoorn.
Stukafest Since September, the 3rd-year photography students of the Royal Academy of Art have been exploring the scope and elasticity of the theme Endless Possibilities. The results they’ll present in an exhibition fully built and organized by the students themselves. Raamweg 47, The Hague http://www.endlesspossibilities.nl
STUDENT'S DORMS BECOME HOTSPOTS FOR CREATIVITY, CULTURE AND PARTY 19 FEBRUARY For all you students out there – now that exams are finally over it’s time to see the first few weeks of term start off with a bang; Stukafest is back! The Studentkamerfestival will see dorms in cities around the Netherlands become hotspots for creativity, culture, and what students do best, partying. The Hague can look forward to these events on the 19th of February – we are particularly excited about ‘de muziekbonbon’ – so head to the website for tickets, information and your personalised Stukafest events calendar. www.stukafest.nl/denhaag
Going out
7
A maze..ing! By Arto Salojarvi
Looking to do something special for Valentine´s Day? A little escape with your loved one? Perhaps a bit of role playing to spice up the relationship, or maybe some group fun with some friends? ... Why not try the Crazy Doctor´s Lab at Amaze Escape! Amaze Escape offers a live action escape room experience, where couples or groups are locked into a room with sixty minutes on the clock to escape. Rather than physical performance, the rooms focus on brain games; finding hidden objects, solving puzzles, riddles and math problems to open combination locks and connecting the dots to solve the mystery in order to escape. There are three rooms to choose from, each with their own theme and puzzles. The KGB room is set in the Cold War era, and your team
Ready To Play? By Megan Lloyd
Ever imagined yourself on stage with your band, singing to a crowd that’s singing your songs back to you? But the biggest audience you’ve sung to are your two dogs that seem to be very impressed with your impersonation of Brandon Flowers while you sing into your remote control? Let’s make 2015 the year to change that and bring you to an actual stage, with real musicians, a real audience and a real chance for you to make music. Because according to Rick Jillissen
of CIA spies must escape with stolen documents. The urban legend room deals with the mystery of a disappeared graffiti artist, and the Crazy Doctor’s Room, vaguely reminiscent of the Saw films, has the team investigating the fate of a kidnapped girl. The Escape Room concept was first brought to the Netherlands in 2013 by Amaze Escape founders Adam Kondor and David Horvath, and the game has quickly become a very popular group activity for friends and office teams alike. The rooms are roughly the equal level of difficulty, but some of the challenges are more suitable for groups of up to six people. The escape rate for the rooms is about 70% and the games are designed to keep the escapees struggling till the last minutes on the clock. So, do you have what it takes to solve the mystery of the kidnapped girl? Can you escape with your life and bring an end to the Cold War? To find out, put on your thinking cap, grab your partner and a few friends, and book a room on www.amaze-escape.com.
from Ready to Play, it doesn’t matter if you’re 6 or 60 years old, if you’ve never touched a guitar in your life or if you’ve been playing for years. Ready to Play was founded in 2001 by guitarists Rick Jillissen and Johan Witt. They offer band coaching lessons by the best in the music industry. You’ll be able to learn an instrument of your choice and they’ll put you in a band with people with similar interests. Want to learn how to write your own songs? They have some of the best songwriters in the country in their team. Want to know what it feels like to play to thousands of people? Ask one of Rick’s former students, Spike from rockband Di-Rect, who pops in every now and then to help out. Isn’t this mainly for the young ones? Rick disagrees; “We’ve got a student that’s 57! You’re never too old to learn. Of course, our approach would be different with older students than with the children or with teenagers, but the aim is the same, to get the best out of them and teach them everything they want to know”. “Den Haag is a great place to do this as we’ve got good connections with venues such as the
Paard van Troje, HPC and Musicon”. The biggest bands in the country have performed on those stages and it’s such a great platform. Ready to Play started with band coaching, but they now also offer workshops, individual music lessons, master classes and much more. “We’ve given workshops to loads of companies. You’ll be amazed what it can do for their team spirit. They can all learn something in a couple of hours. You just need to push the right buttons”. Want to know more about Rick Jillissen and Ready to Play? Head over to www.theunderground.nl and read the full interview and find out how you can get involved!
The Sponge Maxime Zech, aka The Sponge
Do you fondue? Ah … Winter. Like a Billy Holiday song it’s fraught with gloom, but quietly beautiful. The Winter Blues. Sadness settles on the city. The warm sun has gone to flirt with another hemisphere. But we’re not bitter about it, are we? We’re a strong, independent and enterprising species who have devised mechanisms to dispel the dreariness that comes with the season’s shadows. Like fuzzy slippers, fairy lights, and pie. Yeah we’ll be fine, sun. You enjoy South Africa; I hear Cape Town has crazy parties. Just among us Northern Hemisphereans: there’s plenty of ways to have fun that don’t require tank tops, garden parties and beach-modified sports. Have one of those spontaneous days in which you throw caution to the wind, do away with social media and call an old friend to come over and watch Thelma & Louise. Crank up the heater, crack open a bottle of wine, crème de menthe, milk, whatever you’re into, and put the world to rights together. Debate the crises du jour and marvel at the foaming insanity of the world. Create a personal philosophy and then abandon it. Pick a tree in your neighborhood and give it a name. Mine’s called Cletus. Then, when spring comes back around you might find yourself go pink with pride as your tree gets its leaves again, like a mother embarrassing her son by lingering her eyes too long on a newly-sprouted whisker on his lip. Go out on the town. Winter adds a sense of higher purpose to the act of leaving the house. The amount of preparation you do before the act may have something to do with it, what with the layering and the internal pep talks. Going to the movies, or a theater show or the museum feels so much more of an occasion in winter. A refuge of moving color, sight and sound awaits you inside warm halls. I get theme-y in winter. Blasting roaring 20s music and trying to write like Hemingway, feeling a kinship with the whole lost generation thing. I get inspired by themes and let them spirit me away. My newest theme is fondue. I know, it conjures images of leisure suits and swinger parties, but it’s really very good. It’s just a classy-ish excuse to put cheese on literally anything you want. Yeah, sun. Take that. We don’t need the likes of you fair-weather friends around these parts! No, we really do, please hurry back, we miss you so.
Passion for Words Writers Unlimited brings together writers, poets, thinkers and performers from all over the world in a vibrant intersection of creative ideas and discussion. Nicole Small took a look at the festival which ran 15th to the 18th Jan, and is celebrating its 20th year. Food, water, air, shelter, sleep. The basic things that we human beings need in order to survive are fairly self-evident, and the absence of any of them has obvious and calamitous effects. Interestingly, the things that elevate our lives from simply 'surviving' to 'thriving' may be far less tangible, but are vital for wellbeing. Amongst these secondary requirements is a fundamental desire for a sense of belonging. Not to be confused with a desire to conform, all human beings have an inherent requirement to feel acceptance within a group, whether that be family, a work environment, community, club or country. We all have a primal desire to form connections with the other members of our species and to belong to something greater than just ourselves. It is this idea of belongingness that was explored in the 20th anniversary edition of renowned Netherlands literature festival, Writers Unlimited (formerly known as Winternachten). Themed 'At Home', this year's festival delved into what it is that makes us feel at home in the broadest sense of that word, what gives us that sense of belonging. Is it simply a place, or could it be set of conditions, or even a state of the mind? Is acceptance contingent on finding a suite of 'sames' that we can identify with, or we capable of bestowing and receiving acceptance with full acknowledgement of our differences? Regular attendees of this festival may spot a sense of continuity from previous themes. Indeed, the very first festival in 1995 was centred around Indonesian literature and the sense of connection or otherness involved in countries with historical links. In 2003 the festival invited people to think about what made a nation's identity. And now in 2015, almost as a nod to the inaugural festival, the 20th anniversary asked people to consider what it is that gives them that much longed-for sense of contentment and ease that comes from belonging. Other themes explored along the way have included fear, narcissism, displacement and dreams. While the themes may change, the aims of the festival have not altered in twenty years. Founder and artistic director, Ton van de Langkruis is passionate about the power of the written word to act as a catalyst for discussion and debate about culture and life. He is excited by writers' ability to research life through story-telling. "I feel very encouraged by literature's progression over the years to a much more accepted platform for opinions and debate", he enthuses. In the knowledge that literature can be used not only to reflect life, but also to question it, and possibly even shape it through shared ideas, Van de Langkruis ensures that the festival is more than simply a celebration of new literature. "The Writers Unlimited Festival is certainly about introducing new writers, but it is equally about the exchange of thoughts that literature can provoke", remarks Van de Langkruis. "In sharing ideas, experiences, and different points of view, we can start to at least understand our 'otherness' to one another, to respect it, and hopefully even enjoy the difference", he adds. "And given the power that the written word possesses, it is very important to also recognise those who put themselves at risk in the name of free speech". You don't need to be a well-read bookworm to enjoy Writers Unlimited, just allow yourself to be enthralled by talented storytellers from around the world.
WWW.WRITERSUNLIMITED.NL
Museum Underground
9
House of Stairs, lithograph, 1951, M.C. Escher (1898-1972); © The M.C. Escher Company BV, Baarn
Museums Underground: The romance of illusion By Damini Purkayastha
Stare long into an MC Escher frame and you almost lose your sense of self. You realise that his mirrors can lie. In Still Life with a Mirror you see an entire street where there should be none. Space is confronted by infinity and time gives way to continuity. Water flows up and down the same stream in Waterfall and staircases lead to everywhere in House of Stairs. The artist draws you into this world, real and unreal. He doesn’t just want to show you something, he wants the earth to shift a little bit as you experience it.
of wonder and hence to evoke a sense of wonder in the viewer,” Escher once wrote in a letter to a friend. In keeping with the theme, one room has been redone with mural-sized photographs of the school’s stairways. This opens into a bigger one, where the woodcuts and lithographs of this series are displayed. Along with the new exhibition, certain other innovations were also made - QR codes have been linked to 5 works, including Hand with Reflecting Sphere and in 2015 five more will be added. There is also a new mini-biopic on his life and interactive TVs. The museum also hosts workshops for children every Sunday.
The fight for The Hague One of the last rooms in the exhibition has woodcuts on the theme: Metamorphosis. Valleys become houses, which morph into geometric shapes that open to flying birds becoming fish and so on. In the centre of this room, in a unique circular display, is Metamorphosis III. This 7-metre long woodcut was commissioned by the Den Haag Post Office in 1967. The woodcut was enlarged into a 42-metre print for a wall in the main office. As the post office shrunk, the wall was moved to Schiphol Airport. “But, it’s time to bring it back. We have started a dialogue to bring it back to The Hague; it will be a great addition to the renovated Centraal Station. The work belongs to city and people should get to see it as the artist intended,” said Piller.
The Romantic Micky Piller, the curator of the museum Escher in Het Paleis in Den Haag, calls Escher a ‘romantic’. Castrovalva, a 1930 lithograph, is a great example of his romanticism. A simple landscape at first glance, it shows the view of a small Italian village from a mountain top. But, Escher has shifted the village from its real location slightly closer to the mountain in way that highlights the steepness of the fall. “Having lived in flat Holland all his life, when Escher moved to Italy in 1922 he literally got a whole new perspective about life. He wanted his viewers to actually feel like they too were standing on that precipice, to feel the awe of the moment. If that is not romantic, what is?” said Piller.
Deja Vu and Wonder In 2011, Piller was invited to Escher’s old school in Arnhem. There she felt overwhelming sense of Deja vu. The staircases with their distinctive balustrades were exactly like those in his House of Stairs and the archways reminiscent of other works. For the next two years, Piller explored the similarities and wrote about how this boyhood image was part of his subconscious even in his later experiments with optical illusions. This lead to a new exhibition at the museum: A Sense of Wonder. The exhibition explores not only the school and the staircase, but Escher’s own emphasis on wonder in the experience of art. “Perhaps all I am trying to do is express a sense
Image left: Drawing Hands, 1948, lithograph, M.C.Escher (1898-1972) Image right: Hand with reflecting globe, 1935, lithograph, M.C.Escher (1898-1972); © The M.C. Escher
Ways to attract talent By Danielle Emans
The Willem Post 2015 will be a year of remembrance. 70 years ago the Second World War ended. So on the one hand we are in a sober mood because of all the tragedies. All together it was a new form of mass murder with the use of the most modern industrial tools of the day showing the darkest side of mankind and its so called intellectual 'progress'. Destruction, total destruction! But 1945 was also the year of hope. And yes, in 2015 we may celebrate. Of course, in a moderate way. The United Nations, the brainchild of war president Franklin Roosevelt, was born in 1945. The expectations were high in these first days after the War. Eternal Peace. Never again! Well, in hindsight there was a lot of naivete. The “Rue de La Paix” soon became a boulevard of broken dreams. The new Cold War brought us also real wars. Think of Vietnam and Korea. But don't blame the United Nations as such. It is not a supranational world government but a loose gathering, indeed an Assembly, of sovereign nations. Fact is that for the first time in world history there was, and is, a global platform of peace and security. The main political organs are in New York but the judicial main organ is in The Hague: the International Court of Justice! Finally we have a formal, permanent institute to avert war. Many potential conflicts between countries are settled in a peaceful way in our town. So my hope, my sincere wish is that we as the global community can seduce many more countries in conflict zones to come to The Hague for peaceful dispute settlements. There is no alternative for hope. I assume, I hope, you totally agree with me. So dear readers, let us toast on a real The Hague year in the sense that The Hague is everyone's city. A city for peace loving people from all over the world. But let us be realistic. No bottles of champagne. Better to drink a decent glass of wine. Maybe two glasses. Cheers!
Human capital is the engine of competitiveness for today’s globally connected mobile economy of which we are all part – locals and internationals. Countries that have mastered the art of lowering the barriers for foreign talent and aligning their education and labor market internally, are creating innovative and sustainable economies in the face of the geo-political, economic and social shifts that take place at a global level. In 2014, the International Community Platform asked internationals about the status of their life-careers. The results refutes some of the assumptions often made about ‘expats’ (read more on The Underground Newspaper #1) and displays their main barriers:
– government, business and education – need to join forces and show all internationallyoriented opportunities. For 2015, ICP has instigated multiple actions: It will be providing formal documents ALSO in English and aims to have these available by the end of 2015. At present, formal documents related to registration, work (permits) or home-related matters arrive and must be filled out in Dutch, conform Dutch legislation. This regards public services as the IND, Dutch Tax Office, RDW and private services in healthcare (insurances), housing (rental and purchasing contracts), childcare (contracts, allowances) or utilities (Water Authorities, Energy, Telecom). Access to formal documents also in English will help towards a smoother transition into the Dutch system. Also, local service providers must be stimulated to show what they offer to the international community and align with their criteria as regards language, customer service and availability. Check-NL.com website has been set up to list providers in healthcare, childcare, housing, financial services, insurances and education. It also stimulates quality through peer reviews and recommendations.
Language barriers are reported on a professional and personal level. Employers prefer Dutch speaking candidates and at the work floor the tendency is to retreat into the comfort zone of the ‘native’ language. In daily life, a lot of information from the (local) government, utilities and service providers is still only provided in Dutch. Internationals show a narrow perspective on growth opportunities in NL including a paid job, voluntary work, starting a business, study or any other ambition one can have. They often lack the overview of chances at startups, SME’s and local providers. Limited access to new professional networks is the number one issue for internationals settling all over the world. As regards NL, the Dutch culture is found hard to fit into and integrating into the local community is seen as far from easy. In general many career opportunities exist but internationals indicate that for the above reasons they cannot always be found or accessed. Stakeholders in the region
In 2015, the focus will also be on the topic of career so talent will know where to find their next opportunities. Highlighting internationally-oriented and innovative sectors ; the unusual opportunities at the ‘usual suspect’ multinationals, great jobs at innovative SME’s and actively present ‘local champions’ who would like to internationalise. By facilitating access to (future) career opportunities The Netherlands can become the ‘land of opportunities’: for non-native and Dutch specialists, generalists, partners, students, future and present internationals.
About Check-NL.com Check-NL.com organises a national competition to become ‘Best Expat Provider’. The election is based on reviews given by internationals. So is your doctor the best in town? Or does your real estate agent speak Spanish, French, Mandarin and Russian? Then recommend them by submitting a review on Check-NL.com, you can win an iPAD Mini! The Award ceremony will take place on June 12 2015.
News & views
Crossing the borders of styles by Dorien Boeren
Creating a beautiful piece of jewellery that matches any outfit, but is still a unique and eye-catching piece of art. That is one of the ways to describe the art of The Hague based jewellery artist Petra Reijrink. There is a lot more to her though! “People tend to connect jewellery to a certain emotion”, Petra explains. “Sometimes life hands you memories you want to keep, that make you long for symbolism, beauty and sentiment. For example, when starting a new chapter in your life.” Petra’s hand made jewellery matches all these criteria, are all one of a kind and suitable for any outfit. “I do not conform to any design hype. I make the jewels that I like.” Yet her timeless necklaces, bracelets, brooches and more have made it to a wide range of fashion magazines. “When you look at my jewels, they fit many styles, for example punk, romantic and minimalistic. I think there are too many stigmatised styles. People should quit sticking to one style and not be afraid to mix and match.” Petra creates all the jewellery by hand in her studio in The Hague: “I don’t have a standard collection available. I like to keep creating new things. As a result, no two items are the same and at every store that sells my jewellery, you’ll find different items selected especially in the style of each store.” The new Exclusive line is an exception to this. ”These are the only jewels I don’t create by hand. I design them, a befriended Tokyo based silversmith makes them.” All items are made from 18-carat gold or sterling silver, precious stones, fresh water pearls and enamel; the designs are inspired by fine French antique jewels and Petra’s travels. “Everywhere, nature is a big inspiration. The colourful mix of lush flowering plants, bright coloured berries and nature in motion have inspired this collection.”
It is hard to imagine Petra Reijrink has not been a jewellery artist all her life. Until four years ago, she worked for a big cooperation. When she started to sell items to her colleagues, shops got interested and before she knew it she was an entrepreneur. “It got out of hand!” she laughs. “And in the beginning I was still developing my own style. But now, I have one: fine details, originality and wearability are what characterises my jewels.”
The Lantern: The Hague by Night.
By reading ‘The Underground’ newspaper I discovered a Cafe-Bar called “The Lantern” situated on Valkenboslaan. One evening after concluding far more than the 8 hours work required by my job, I decided to relax for a short time before going home. Diplomacy, contrary to the common understanding can be a stressful career, if done in a proper manner. I quite often heard people questioning the reasoning behind having representation abroad. There is a perception that diplomats are privileged people sent to other countries to pass their time in cocktails receptions, discussing affairs in a soft manner while drinking excellent wine. That they smoke Cuban cigars before sitting behind the chauffeur in an expensive car who will drive them back to the expensive mansion supplied by the Government. This kind of mentality is still persistent in the minds of many, and unfortunately a few diplomats behave in a way that gives credit to this assumption. We forget easily - especially in times of peace - the role of diplomacy. We only tend to recognise the role of diplomacy in war time and in financial/economic crisis such as the one the world has been through since 2008. Upon entering ‘The Lantern’ you will be welcomed by the manager Donna, who is a citizen of the UK but fluent in Dutch. If you want to have dinner the Chef, Mr. Ledio will serve you while you enjoy live music on piano by Mr. Bart. The clients are from all over the place. I met there people from Santa Lucia, UK, Chili, Italy, Canada, USA, Rwanda, and of course plenty of Dutch. The discussions all came easily among those present, and all this in an enjoyable atmosphere. The Lantern is a reminder that The Hague is really an international city and a welcoming one at that. How simple things can give much pleasure!
www.petrareijrink.com
Guillaume Kavaruganda Minister Counselor Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda The Hague
11
Lunch-Diner - Catering - Bruiloften Bedrijfsfeesten Workshops - Vergaderingen - en meer...
Italiaans Restaurant Restaurant-disopra.nl 070-306 09 66
Picanto X-treme Extremely complete! Now available from € 9.057,85* Excluding VAT/BPM
Kerketuinenweg 26, Den Haag (The Hague) Tel. (070) 36 66 100, www.kia-denhaag.nl Fuel consumption: 4,1 – 5,3 l/100km, 24,4 - 18,9 km/l. CO2-emission: 95 – 125 g/km. *Terms and conditions: This offer is only valid on stock car’s for the current model program of the Kia Picanto with final date of purchase and registration request for license plate 31-12-2014 and final registration date 27-2-2015. The promotion, unless stated otherwise, cannot be used in combination with other actions. The quoted price is, unless stated otherwise, excluding VAT/BPM, excluding metallic paint, delivery costs, fuel, governmental fees, recycling contributions and optional paint protection. For more information go to www.kia.com. Model as shown may vary from the described embodiment. Modifications and errors excepted.
Living in The Hague
Healthy
in The Hague Megan Lloyd finds out if The Hague is embracing the health movement.
Were you part of the health movement that became extremely popular in 2014? Chances are that you heard about Quinoa, Chia Seeds and Goji Berries. Health stores were extremely popular, boxing and pilates classes were fully booked and the biggest selling cook books were from Rens Kroes and Gwyneth Paltrow, who endorse readers to eat clean and nutritious. Big supermarkets such as the Albert Heijn started selling superfoods and spelt bread was often sold out. We asked Roxanne Springer, health-coach at Welzijnspraktijk Hooigracht if The Hague is accommodating this change. “I’m noticing that people generally are becoming more conscious of their lifestyle and food choices, but I still think there’s enough room for improvement. What I’m missing in The Hague are more healthy and affordable take-out restaurants. It’s a shame, because I think that there’s a real need for it. I notice that it’s an upcoming market, but it’s still not what it should be. People are often busy and want to eat straight after work and will therefore choose a take-out or a ready meal when they haven’t prepared anything beforehand.”
But where in The Hague should you eat if you’re going for a healthy lunch/dinner? Roxanne’s favourite healthy restaurants. Green Bowl Green Bowl on the Fluwelenburgwal offers loads of different healthy food options and the great thing about them is that they’re also registered with thuisbezorgd.nl, so you can order from your app and have it delivered!
Madal Bal Madal Bal on the Denneweg is an organic supermarket and recently started offering fresh and organic take-out meals. Unfortunately they don’t deliver, but they do stock a large selection of special foods that you can’t buy in a regular supermarket.
Boosty Roxanne also explains; “There’s also a misconception that going to a juice bar once a week will give you great health benefits. There’s a ‘smoothie hype’ going on. But really, adding two pieces of fruits and 200gr. of vegetables to your diet is just as good, if not better”.
Boosty on the Frederikstraat and on the Frederik Hendriklaan is a popular destination for the ‘foodies’, offering juices, smoothies, healthy sandwiches and you can even get your wheatgrass shot in while your there!
I think that’s a good point, but the ‘smoothie-hype’ does see (often) teenagers drinking more fruit and vegetables that they would normally. They aren’t filled with just fruits anymore, many of the popular smoothies include ‘super foods’ kale and spinach. They often even throw in some beetroot to get a pink drink. Now there’s a drink we would endorse!
Do you know of a great restaurant, juice bar or heathy take-out option in The Hague? Visit www.theunderground.nl to get in touch, for more on health in The Hague and to view Roxanne’s healthy chocolate treat recipe.
13
ŠMaite Virouleaud - Lumière Blanche photography
By Megan Lloyd
Located in the Frederikstraat, you will find Celeste Parfums. Here are the most gorgeous-looking bottles of perfume and the very best scented candles in the world. Celeste Parfums, owned by Virginia Borsboom is however, a family business and they are passionate about perfume and it shows. "The brands we have here haveso much history and a story behind them. A lot of these bottles are handmade and limited editions. We have established great connections over the years with a lot of brands. I'm proud to say we sell the very best. We travel a lot to countries such as Italy and France to be able to buy and sell all of these. We've got customers in every corner of the Netherlands, because we are often the only store in the country to sell certain brands."
THE ULTIMATE SEDUCTION. Research shows that choosing the right perfume could prove the most effective pick-me-up of all. So before the more rational side of the brain can process signals from your nose, you have an innate, primitive response to what you smell. Everybody has a different response to a certain smell. We have all subconsciously built up a personal scent library. It can trigger memories and a ray of emotions. Perfume is also very seductive. You might not have seen a person, but you will have noticed them because they were - Coco Chanel wearing a scent that drew you to them. Or in some cases away, which is another reason to pick your own perfume. Choose a perfume that reflects you and that gives you satisfaction. "Perfume is incredibly personal. You should preferably buy perfume for yourself. But when
you are buying for others, I would advise an eau de toilette to start with. Eau de parfum can be overwhelming and only few people can actually wear it. Bestseller for the younger generation is 'Guerlain La Petite Robe Noire'. A must have that every girl should have. The Hermes range is doing very well when it comes to men's perfume. They seem to capture the imagination." The most seductive perfumes? Lorenzo Villoresi 'Teint de Neige' is definitely one of our bestsellers, with a gorgeous powdery scent. Robert Piguet 'Fracas' a perfume from 1948, also referred to as 'an Intoxicating fragrance in Parisian style'. Escentric Molecules is a molecular perfume with a lot of seductive power. Celeste Parfums don't just offer over 30 brands of perfume, but other luxury products such as soaps and scented candles by Diptyque and Cire Trudon.
"No elegance is possible without perfume. It is the unseen, unforgettable, ultimate accessory."
ASPA is more than a spa
Spotted
15
(Advertorial)
A walk away from the famous Peace Palace, off the busy Javastraat, discreetly tucked away in Alexanderplein lies ASPA, a onestop holistic boutique dedicated to personal grooming and wellbeing. Its focus: effective service and personal attention.
ASPA’s passion is using 100% natural products in all its treatments and make-up. It is the only salon in the Netherlands to use the aromatherapy product range by Aromatherapy Associates, known for its therapeutic, healing and balancing effect. Also known for its natural mineral products ASPA stocks Jane Iredale make-up, recommended by the ‘Skin Cancer Foundation’. If you are looking for an alternative to invasive anti-aging treatments and a non-surgical face lift, ASPA is the place to visit. By combining electrical technology with the most active and effective products, ASPA can offer instantly visible results using the Aroma Radiance Lift Machine. This stimulates the body’s own bio-electric pulses through low level and gentle micro currents which help to lift, even skin tone, smooth texture and illuminate your complexion. Alternatively, if you have a problem with acne this unique machine uses high frequency energy on the skin which dries the skin and limits sebaceous secretions. Great for spots and increases your circulations and metabolic rate. A real treat at ASPA is that if, after your facial you want to have your hair done too, there is an experienced hairdresser on hand to take care of all your hairstyling needs. ASPA’s concept is for all round wellbeing and health.
Apart from a vast choice of beauty treatments from anti-aging facials, hair styling, nail care or massage, there is also the opportunity to do yoga, Pilates, fitness training and it is one of the few places in the Netherlands that offers MIHA Body tech at Wellbeing Studio@ASPA. ASPA’s objective is to create a personalised and individual service for each of their clients. No two faces are alike; therefore, no two facials are either. The multilingual staff’s main focus is to cater to your very own specific needs in a calm and relaxing atmosphere making this salon your first port of call for beauty and wellbeing. For more information please visit www.aspadirect.com Facebook page www.facebook.com/aspadirect For appointments call: Tel: 31 070 345 0215 / Cell: 31 065 113 7656 info@aspadirect.com
The Wouw-factor Art, antiques and vintage with no particular expiry date combined with deciduous 17th century forest flowers ensuring a Parisian atmosphere. Poespas-Fuss, is a real discovery on the Molenstraat. This special shop is a mixture of art, antique and vintage, but most of all you will find amazing bouquets of flowers surrounded by impressive photographs of celebrities. From the moment you enter this shop, the ambiance takes you back in time. This is a treasure trove for special gifts for your loved ones, friends or for yourself. The owner, Michael van Wouw, is in fact an inspiring artist with magic fingers and a passion for breathtaking flower arrangements. Photos and Text: de Bestpix / Miki de Best
Sissi's Tea Lounge Sissi’s Tealounge is serving up traditional Chinese tea with a modern twist and a great atmosphere, and we absolutely love it. Drop by to sample any of the 25 blends they have in house, and be sure to check out their Tea of the Week. They also serve Bubble Tea - which for the unfamiliar is a must try – and Hello Kitty cakes, if you like a side of twee with your tea. They are located on Gedempte Burgwal and are open from Monday till Sunday, 11:30 – 19:00.
A ticket to taste
By Susannah Palk
It's a restaurant that certainly turns a few heads, especially if you happen to be waiting for a tram. On any given night the Hoftrammm can be seen rolling its way through the streets of The Hague, serving passengers its culinary twist on traditional Dutch cuisine. The first tram restaurant to operate in the Netherlands, the man behind the concept is Bobby van Galen, who was inspired while on holidays in Australia when seeing people dining on a tram in the city of Melbourne. "I thought somebody should do that in The Hague," said van Galen. "Then I thought, no, I should do it."
Dining through the streets of The Hague
"We're of course different to a normal restaurant," he said. "We have to really think about the menus and our aim is always to serve the highest quality of food. We are not just on a moving tram but we are serving 44 people all at once. That takes a lot of organisation." Working with Van Galen to create the Hoftrammm's creative menu is celebrity Dutch chef and Hague resident Pierre Wind. "He's our Executive Chef and he's very dedicated to the concept," said van Galen. "He has a traditional background but with his creative mind he gives a twist to the food he serves. He really thinks out of the box and this project needs someone like that."
"Everything is made from scratch, we bake our own bread, smoke our own salmon, make our own sauces - we're very proud of that." Soon after returning home van Galen started planning his culinary venture, an endeavour that took him almost four years. But in May of this year, the sliding doors of the Hoftrammm restaurant were finally opened.
Starting at the Grote Kerk the roving restaurant takes various tram routes throughout the city, weaving it's way down to Scheveningen and back to the city centre twice over. Now, after almost a year in operation van Galen says his staff know the route by heart.
While the inspiration often comes from traditional dishes, the menu is a very modern take on Dutch and European cuisine. With only one menu served on board, which is changed every eight weeks, van Galen says the emphasis is on fresh and seasonal produce.
"We have a very dedicated team and most have been here from the start. They know the turns and bends coming up and they know when not to serve something." "The first ride saw a lot of plates break," continued van Galen. "Not from the tables but from where they were being stored. Now we know we cannot stack the plates more than 12 high. There are many things like that we learnt along the way." With only one tram in service The Hoftrammm runs five to seven nights a week, depending on the month, and the response so far, says van Galen, has been overwhelming. "To date every ride has been fully booked and the feedback has been great. We work really hard for that and it's great when people appreciate it."
Wine & dine
The Cocktail Renaissance By Dorien Boeren and Saskia Laurijsen
Prosecco and rosé are soo old school. Nowadays we expect at least 4 different kinds of gin in your liquor cabinet. Cocktails are lovely and simple: a mixture of flavors and spirits, great to get an appetite going and pleasing to the eye. In The Hague you will find many places to enjoy a trendy cocktail, like Spark, The Blueprint, Thirty-seven and more. We picked one of the most luxurious spots in The Hague, the ever enticing Des Indes, and sat down with cocktail expert Remo Dekkers. Of course we expected that he would be throwing around shakers and bottles, but no: the secret of a perfect cocktail is that every drink is exactly meted out with jiggers and spoons. Cocktails these days have less ingredients, at most, three or four; it is the quality of those ingredients that makes all the difference. Remo makes his own syrups - like ginger syrup - he uses fresh fruit, and chooses the brands of the liquors very
carefully. Some of them even have to be specially imported. He sees a future for barrel-aged cocktails, these are 100% alcohol cocktails that get an intense flavor by maturing in wooden barrels. You can taste them yourself at “Drink at Des Indes”, a special evening with the atmosphere of the Roaring twenties. After tasting 4 cocktails we tried making one ourselves and that immediately went wrong. We will spare you the details, but got some very useful “do it yourself tips”… First, you must keep hold of your shaker. Second, never put anything sparkling in the shaker itself. It goes all over the place! Third, never use full cream to prevent shifting, instead make a mixture of full milk and cream. And last, but not least: use lots of ice! It won’t make it watery, but keeps it cold for much longer. Inspired? Remo offered to share the recipe of his favorite cocktail with us: the Clover Club. Cheers!
Clover Club: 4,5 cl Monkey 47 Gin 1,5 cl Raspberry Syrup 1,5 cl Lemon Juice 1 Egg White Dry shake all ingredients in the shaker to fully emulsify egg white, add ice and shake again. He serves this Clover Club in a cocktail glass.
BAR KITCHEN
SOUTH OF HOUSTON DEN HAAG
The best meat in The Hague. We'll steak our reputation on it. When it comes to meat, we don't mess around. We dry-age it ourselves in a contained cooling environment, ensuring a perfect tender structure and intense taste.
Dry aged
Awarded Best Restaurant-Bar of the Netherlands 2013
Lange Houtstraat 3, 2511 CV • The Hague • Tel. 070-3260328 www.southofhouston.nl • info@southofhouston.nl
17
Fifty Years of Bond Style in Five 007 Seductive Design Lessons While it is still a long wait for the latest James Bond film to hit cinemas around the world, Bond fans in the Netherlands are now able to get their Bond-fix by visiting the Kunsthal in Rotterdam. On loan from the Barbican in London, Designing 007: Fifty years of Bond Style is being exhibited in the Kunsthal until the 8th of February 2015. And judging by the crowds of visitors, the exhibition is just as popular as the films have managed to stay over the years. The image of Bond, created by Ian Fleming on paper and bought to life by filmmakers and designers on screen, has become a seductive force to be reckoned with. But what can these fifty years of Bond-design actually teach us in real life?
Designing 007: Fifty Years of Bond Style 12 October – 8 February at the Kunsthal, Rotterdam www.kunsthal.nl/designing007
Image: Sean Connery relaxes on the bumper of his Aston Martin DB5 during the filming of location scenes for Goldfinger in the Swiss Alps. Copyright Notice - © 1964 Danjaq, LLC and United Artists Corporation. All rights reserved.
Reach the international + local community in The Hague,
Advertise in The Underground! 10.000 editions every two months
Available at 200+ hotspots in The Hague
Interested?
Call: 070 - 8903535 email: info@theunderground.nl or vistit: www.theunderground.nl
24.000 visitors monthly on our website
ALWAYS FRESH, ALWAYS HOT
best coffee in town 7 DAYS A WEEK BURG VOOR
PARKWEG 56 – VOORBURG COFFEE_WORKS_VBG
/COFFEEWORKSVOORBURG
Art & seduction
19
by Anneloes van Iwaarden
On display are over 500 items from the sets of 23 Bond film productions, luring visitors back into the exciting and exclusive world of British espionage. Thanks to Fleming’s 007, weapons, cars and girls have become Bond designer classics in themselves. But it is the unapologetic use of a certain precious metal that is iconic of true Bond-design. We enter the world of Bond through ‘the Gold Room’. This space houses, among many other items, Scaramanga’s infamous Golden Gun (and bullet), a semi-naked, gold-painted mannequin draped over ruffled bed sheets and Mr Bullion’s solid-gold necklace. Which leads us to the first lesson of Bond-design 101: Diamonds might be a girl’s best friend but Gold is everybody else’s.
James Bond owes his iconic style to a meticulous tailor, a good set of wheels, and an endless array gadgets. A limitless travel budget brings him to all corners of the globe (it is a universal Bond-truth that criminals and rogue states can be found absolutely anywhere on the planet and beyond). On any other person scuba gear, ski attire or a space suit would look distinctly un-sexy if not a little silly, but 007 pulls it off. Even the villains haven’t been forgotten; who would dare question the aesthetic beauty of Jaws’ jaws or the ingenious simplicity of Oddjob’s top hat? Lesson number two: No matter who you are or where you come from, everybody benefits from a little style.
Let’s not forget the seventy or so Bond girls who adorn the Bond films. Be they friend or foe, all Bond girls exude provocative seductiveness, luring a very willing 007 to dizzying (but very much controlled) heights of ecstasy. It is the Casino Room that showcases all the glamorous evening gowns worn by these lovely ladies. In this Bond pool of passion it’s easy forget that even Bond has had to succumb to a little bit of modernity; are we witnessing a slow but steady transformation of the Bond girl into a Bond woman (with an actual mind of her own)? The fourth lesson of Bond-design: Nothing lasts forever, in the meantime dress to impress (yourself!)
It’s safe to say that the Bond franchise has managed to stay true to itself for the previous five decades and that Bond-design will undoubtedly spread seductive style and class for many more years to come. It is a comforting thought that James Bond will always be around to provide the necessary escapism in this sometimes sobering world of uncertainty. The final lesson of Bond-design 101: Feel free to enjoy a bit of luxury whenever you can because, rest assured, the baddy always gets caught in the end.
Steve Jobs might have been the first to effectively apply design to technology in real life, in the world of make-belief it is Bond (Q branch, to be precise) who wears the crown. The gadgets featured in this exhibition prove that from the outset the Bond franchise has successfully combined sleek design elements with high-end technology. Bond is not complete without a signature wrist watch, a pen that does absolutely everything but write and, of course, an Aston Martin. Lesson number three: Accessorise, accessorise, accessorise (even when it comes to ‘boys toys’).
Discover
Voorburg THE HERENSTRAAT IS A SMALL SHOPPING OASIS, SURPRISINGLY CLOSE TO HOME
By Dorien Boeren & Saskia Laurijsen Photography Fleur Beemster
The city centre of The Hague is known for its shopping,
Theun Bloemen Herenstraat 120 One of the most outstanding florists in this region, Theun makes incredible creations using flowers, benches, and everything else that gets him inspired. This shop is unlike any you have ever seen before. Theun does not do anything standard, and you will not be able to leave this shop without at least one of his beautiful floral works of art.
but only a few minutes away you can find plenty of fun
BY MO
and lively areas to do your shopping. This is why we
Herenstraat 159 a
visited The Herenstraat in Voorburg. The Herenstraat
Be surprised at this amazing collection of jewelry, antiques, crockery and much more. Monique Blom is a true collector, and with BY MO she has fulfilled her long-time dream of establishing a truly individual shop. She collects her tableware, paintings and even furniture from antique markets throughout Northern Europe. Perfect for an original and surprising gift.
is one of the oldest streets in Voorburg, next to the station and only a bike ride away from the city centre. With its historical atmosphere and beautiful, authentic buildings it has a lot of character and is a great place to do your shopping. The shops here all specialise in their
Photo: Charles Groeneveld
field and in these stores customer service is key. If you are a regular, they remember your name and will help you find products that exactly fit your taste. So why not check out this street’s specialty shops, each with their own identity; they may just help you discover the perfect shopping experience.
Natural Skin Herenstraat 102 Natural Skins' owner Angelique will never fail to greet you with her big smile and warm personality. It is immediately clear that she just loves her work, and the results she gets with her facials, specialised in skin improvement and permanent hair removal are top notch. This is how a beauty-parlour should be, all about immersing yourself in the treatment so after a few hours the most beautiful you leaves the store. No time for a treatment? She also sells professional beauty products, which are great as gifts, or you could just keep them for yourself...
Blink Herenstraat 123 From the outside, Blink looks like a cute little lingerie store, but you will be pleasantly surprised when you walk in. The store is big and has an enormous product range, from cup size A to J. Besides lingerie, Blink also has a great swimwear collection, the biggest one in The Hague area, and also their swimming collection goes to bra size J. The owner Ingrid, with her perfect knowledge and friendly approach, will definitely help you find something special. It’s like a little candy store, but not only for women, Ingrid also has a great men’s collection. So, if you want to find the perfect lingerie this is certainly one you don’t want to miss. The great thing is she also organises fashion shows, so keep an eye out and don’t miss the next show!
Shopping
Neptune Herenstraat 6 One of the famous total design centres of Neptune is based in Voorburg! You will find everything here that you might need for your home: handmade furniture, lightning, kitchens, bathrooms. But the best part is undoubtedly the personal service from the owners, they know exactly what another colour, decoration or set-up can do to turn your house into a little palace.
Diciassette & Undici Herenstraat 17A & 11 These multi-brand stores are always spot-on with the latest fashion trends. You can easily find a new complete outfit here, from beautiful dresses to great shoes and accessories. And the pleasantly helpful and friendly staff can also advise you with your make-up, hair style and lingerie. The high end materials and exclusive brands will perfectly fit your needs, and you can even book your own shopping evening and have the whole store just to you and your friends for an entire afternoon or evening. You can personalise the event with your favourite playlist, and a few drinks and nibbles. Who wouldn’t want that?
Elpidio Enoteca Herenstraat 120 This is Little Italy on the Herenstraat. The enormous collection of cheeses, pasta, wine, tapenades and cookbooks is almost overwhelming, however the atmosphere here is amazing. Much of this is thanks to the owner, better known as “Elpi”, who swept us off our feet with his quintessential Italian charm. Between all the delicious food and wine products, he was able to fit a few tables for us to sit down at and enjoy one of the fresh pasta dishes in the authentic Italian atmosphere.
So Funny woondecoratie Herenstraat 110
Coffee Works Parkweg 56 If you go before 9 am, you will get a free croissant, already a good reason to go, as we all know us dutchies love our free stuff! Aside from the free croissant, it is genuinely a great place to hang out, enjoy a good cup of coffee, a slice of cake and the very comfy environment. It’s also a good place to meet your friends or get some outof-office work done on your laptop. It is simply great coffee, espresso, cappuccino and delicious cakes!
De winkel van Ginkel Van Schagenstraat 5 A butcher shop is not the first place that comes to mind when discussing the best shopping spots in town. However the Winkel van Ginkel is one spot you should definitely add to your shopping list. They give you personal advice, whether cooking for dinner parties or if you are just out of inspiration for what to make tonight. Traiteur de winkel van Ginkel is owned by Rick and Lisette who are happy to serve you the freshest, finest quality cuts of meat. With the best local products and personalised service you get a far better meat experience than at your local supermarket.
Your eyes will probably become bigger than your purse when you walk into in this store. So Funny home decoration is where you can find the perfect house gift for that one person who has everything, and it is hard to resist buying something for yourself. They give you personalised interior design with brands like Angel des Montagnes, Jolipa, Bastion and the well-known brand Riverdale. The store is small but the collection is expansive, and you can find candles, pillows, mirrors and many more unique products to make your home cosy, or as we say in Holland: Gezelligheid!
21
Be
HOT
This Winter
An easy way to start is by having a great jacket. Stay away from the puffy coats and go for something that highlights your length, like a tan-coloured TRENCH COAT (oversized works best), or a black-leathered jacket (pick one that’s longer rather than shorter).
By Limo Baroud
Whether you’re cozy-ing up with your significant other, or ridin’ solo, there’s one thing that shouldn’t be lacking: Style. People may say they don’t care about appearances, but let’s not kid ourselves, a good outfit will get you extra points whether it’s on a date or in a job interview. Having lived in Bushwick, Brooklyn I have been in Hipster Mecca and have seen the weird, the wonderful and the downright insane (assless chaps with a pink top-crop anyone?). Most importantly I have realized no matter how much you can conform to a fashion trend, if it doesn’t feel right, it’s just not going to work. TIP #1: BE BOLD, NOT BONKERS.
BECAUSE OF THE CHILLY WEATHER, THE TENDENCY IS TO LAYER UP AND BECOME A BIG FAT WARM BALL OF WOOL BUT LET’S FIND SOMETHING THAT’S BOTH WARM AND STYLISH.
TURTLENECKS, buy one now; they are making a comeback faster than Frank Underwood’s rising up the political ladder. If you wear a t-shirt underneath, make it black and fitted, sweaters have a way of deforming, a fitted T keeps them straight (roll up your t-shirt sleeves slightly to look more cleaned up). If T-necks are not your thing, look at tweed jumpers. As for the pants, SKINNY/FITTED is still the way to go. Black is the most neutral and stylish of the colours, if you prefer denim, get tight-fitted bleached denim jeans (tuck your jeans into your shoes for a tighter look). Then last but certainly not least, your shoes. It’s Holland, shitty weather is around the corner; try Timberland-style TAN BOOTS, OR BLACK-LEATHERED BOOTS, they both finish any outfit perfectly. My three favorite websites to look for inspiration are the Zara, Pull & Bear and Primark shop-sites (yes Primark), you’ll find all you need in a variety of prices. Keep it clean and simple. Who said winter was for staying in?
Fashion
Be the SEXY version of yourself! Style consultant, blogger and stylist Edith Dohmen gives us some tips and tricks to feel good about yourself. These products make sure you will feel very feminine and sexy. Look stylish and attractive for Valentine's Day.
In l♥ve with Africa! Lady Africa imports only the original, creative, trendy and qualitatively strong African Designer Fashion & Accessory Labels and follows African fashion trends closely. Lady Africa concentrates on fashion that has a direct link with the African continent and its heritage, fashion that values quality and crafstmanship, fashion that may be taken seriously. Lady Africa Denneweg 21 • Den Haag
Perfect sexy red Put on some red lipstick and live a little! Matte or glossy, retro or modern, diffused or solid, a bolt of red lipstick can update your look instantly, and everyone has their own style. MAC's high-impact Ruby Woo is a much loved among confident lipstick-wearers. It's aready in the collection since 1999 and still the best selling product. Ruby Woo, MAC €18,50 Mac says about this lipstick: "Ruby Woo is the perfect sexy red from the runway to you.” MAC store Hoogstraat 39 • Den Haag
Underneath your clothes
'Collar' up! Lovely collar TRIS by Jee Bags (€19,95) makes your oufit pop! Accessorize your outfit with collar TRIS. The collar is available in many colors and prints, from smooth to glossy extravaganza and closes easily with a metal push-button. Jee Bags was founded in 2010 by Janneke Peters and is based in The Hague. Jee designs and manufactures unique, handmade leather items that exudes the fact that a little toughness, femininity and sophistication combines wonderfully together. www.jeebags.com
A beautiful quote from Dita von Teese: “Lingerie is not about seducing men, it's about embracing womanhood." Topmodel Rosie Huntington created a lingerie collection for Marks and Spencer. Bra €21,95 and bottom €8,95 Marks & Spencer • Grote Marktstraat 32 • Den Haag
23
About a room...
By Hedda Pier and Vanessa Leyland
Boudoir. To many this word conjures images of Versailles, lavish fabrics, four-poster beds and beautiful women. Surprisingly, the word boudoir actually comes from the French verb ‘bouder’ meaning ‘to sulk’. The boudoir formed part of the private suite of rooms of a "lady" for bathing and dressing, adjacent to her bedroom. In later periods, the boudoir became a private drawing room, and was used for activities such as embroidery or spending time with one's romantic partner. In more recent years, boudoir style has become asso ciated with eroticism, a bit like burlesque dancing. Whilst claiming to be an art movement, the increasingly popular boudoir photography genre resonates this. Unsurprisingly, boudoir style bedrooms have held fascination throughout history. Although we no longer need to fit the stereotype of the ‘Moulin Rouge’, it appears the boudoir is making a comeback, particularly in concept. In today’s world, through the demands and changes in technology and flexible working culture, more people are spending time in the comfort of their own home. The bedroom is no longer just a place to sleep; it is a retreat, a private space. Our interpretation of the boudoir is all about the luxury of having a carefully considered spatially planned bedroom or bedroom suite. It is about
what ‘Luxury’ means to the individual. It is no longer just a bedroom, but a whole suite, which incorporates a small living space/snug, bathroom and dressing area (space and budget provided). To design your very own boudoir it is key to consider what is important to you. Do you need a private space where you can work? Or do you want to meditate or practice yoga there? Will your partner use the space? Think about what style appeals to you, picture a place where you feel the most comfortable. It can help to look at magazines to determine what you are naturally attracted to. Should it be a dark and moody space or should it be light and airy? A few pointers. Creating a boudoir does not mean cramming a desk (to work at) and sofa (to
relax on) into your bedroom. Remember that the primary goal is to create a comfortable private retreat. In a limited space this might be achieved by just adding an upholstered armchair, a side table and a lamp. Lighting is crucial for setting a mood; clever lighting solutions can be easily overlooked but are instrumental in changing the atmosphere from ‘working’ to ‘relaxing’. Finally, buy the best quality bedding you can afford. You now have a boudoir. Close the door, dim the lights and enjoy the peace and quiet. If you are in need of inspiration, we recommend spending the night at The Dylan or The Waldorf Astoria in Amsterdam, or at Hotel des Indes in The Hague. These beautiful hotels exemplify the contemporary boudoir; understated luxury combined with epic comfort.
e t a l o c o Chroute The
By Sophie Draisma and Lisette van der Ende.
De Zoete Zonde
Valentine special
The Underground has made a special “Chocolate Route’’ with the best chocolate shops in town for a classic Valentine surprise. From the bubbly city centre to the charming upscale Statenkwartier, we have selected the most delicious sweet temptations for you.
Denneweg 9b
If you like to spend Saturday mornings going to the trendy shopping street Denneweg then you definitely have to stop by the chocolate store De Zoete Zonde and buy some delicious chocolates for your loved one. De Zoete Zonde is for sure the place for a sweet sin with all the choices they offer. From lavender, creamy cookie dough or strawberry to a delicious champagne filling: they have it all. There is one chocolate in particular that makes the customers come back every time. An 80% cacao truffle with a pure whipped cream filling. Looking for something extra? They also sell chocolate fondue-sets and chocolate roses.
Bonbon atelier Westerbeek Hop & Stork Van Slingelandtstraat 121 This hidden treasure can be found in a street parallel to the Frederik Hendrikstraat. This shop is definitely a seventh heaven for chocolate lovers. You can you smell the sweetness of the chocolate, while watching the owner, Nico, making bonbons. Each bonbon contains an explosion of passion, love and chocolate, ingredients for a perfect treat. With a choice of 30 unique bonbons we are absolutely sure that you can find a special treat for that special one.
Passage 82
It’s impossible to miss Hop & Stork in the city centre of The Hague. The tempting chocolate creations in the shop window are a real eye catcher. In the shop all your senses are stimulated to try one of the tasty, delicious and handcrafted bonbons. Hop & Stork also has a coffee lounge where you can enjoy one of their treats with some delicious fresh coffee.
Patisserie Philippe Galerne
Aert van der Goesstraat 24 Philippe Galerne is an artisan and traditional patissier located in the fancy Statenkwartier area. He gained his experience at Maitre Patissier Hellegouarche and Lenôtre, two prominent pastry chefs in Paris. Philippe uses pure, mostly organic ingredients with no artificial additives. Next to the traditional chocolate bonbons, Philippe Galerne has many exclusive, delicious pastries like mille-feuille, poached lemon pie with Italian meringues, mango-lime bavaroise and many more. For Valentine’s Day, Philippe designs special delicacies such as heart shaped pastries with an amazing macaron-pistache and chocolate filling (also gluten free available). One thing is for sure: the luxury bonbons and special pastries make you feel like you’re in Paris on a Sunday afternoon.
ChoX
Frederik Hendriklaan 263 At ChoX on the Frederik Hendriklaan you can choose from an assortment of irresistible, cheerful and delightful bonbons. If you decide to surprise your loved one with chocolate treats, it better be with a handmade bonbon by Boulanger from ChoX. If you don’t know which one to choose, you can invite your sweetheart over for a date at ChoX. Together, you can enjoy a cup of coffee or some delicious chocolate milk in the cosy sunroom accompanied by a lovely chocolate. Photography: Samira Tatuhey & Maite Virouleaud
25
A recipe for romance 365 days a year we should spoil our loved ones. But there is one special day a year that you should pamper your sweetheart even more. The Underground searched for the perfect, sweetest and most delicious surprise for all the Valentine celebrators in The Hague. And because Valentine’s Day isn’t complete without treats, we asked baker Menno de Koning, winner of Heel Holland Bakt (Dutch version of The Great British Bake Off), to create the ultimate Valentine’s surprise. With this recipe of sweet cupcakes made by Menno, the success of a perfect Valentine’s Day is guaranteed! By Lisette van der Ende
I met Menno in the cookware store where he works, in his customary favorite spot ‘the baking section’. He recently won Heel Holland Bakt, and I asked Menno if his life has changed since. “After I won the TV show everybody knew who I was and a lot of people came to the cookware store for me and to take pictures. That was strange in the beginning. But winning the TV show has brought me a lot of opportunities. Not only can I share my passion for baking with a larger audience, it has also made it possible for me to bring out my first baking recipe book, that will be launched 3rd of February.” Menno’s charm comes out in what he does, says and everything that he bakes. He tells me he only wants to bake if he can share the results with others. “I’m very proud of the result of my first book. It’s going to be a great book with lots of my favourite ingredients and flavour combinations. For example, peanut butter and chocolate. I get a lot of inspiration from the American style kitchen. There is also going to be a chapter with vegan recipes. Those recipes don’t contain animal products but other substitutes.” Menno continues: ”For Valentine’s Day and for The Underground readers I have a receipe for tempting cupcakes. These cupcakes are as sweet as love. The red fruit represents the color of love.”
"Count the memories, not the calories."
Photography by Eelkje Colmjom
Menno’s recipe for 12 love cupcakes: 200 g flour 1 tsp baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1/4 teaspoon salt 115 g butter, at room temperature 175 g caster sugar 1 organic egg 2 organic egg whites 60 ml buttermilk 80 g strawberry puree (about 8 large strawberries) 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 5 drops of red food colouring liquid 175g strawberries, diced Ingredients for the glaze: 150 g strawberry puree (about 15 large strawberries) 175 g butter, at room temperature 350 g icing sugar 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 4 drops of red food coloring liquid
Preheat the oven to 175 ° C. Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a mixing bowl and set aside. Whisk in a bowl the butter and sugar until white and fluffy. Then slowly add the whole egg and egg whites. Add the buttermilk, 80 grams of strawberry puree and the vanilla extract. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture, then 1/3 of the buttermilk, repeat till all mixture is incorporated. Add the drops of food coloring and keep stiring until it has a nice pink colour. Fold the pureed strawberries into the batter. Fill the cupcake tins 3/4 full with the batter. Bake the cupcakes in a preheated oven (at 165 degrees) for 20-23 minutes, or until a skewer comes out clean and dry. Let them cool for a few minutes and let them cool completely on a wire rack. To make the strawberry buttercream icing: put the strawberry puree in a saucepan. Slowly cook the puree until most of the liquid has evaporated and you only have 3 to 4 tablespoons of concentrated puree left over. Make sure it doesn’t burn! Put the cooked puree in a bowl and let it cool off completely. In a bowl whisk the butter lightly. Add half of the icing sugar. Add the cooked strawberry puree, vanilla extract and food colouring. Add the rest of the icing sugar and continue to mix until it becomes light pink and fluffy. If the cream remains liquid, add some extra icing sugar. Put the butter cream in a pastry bag and decorate the cooled cupcakes however you want them to look like: little hearts, roses or maybe some sweet words. Garnish with a fresh strawberry and your cupcakes are ready to seduce your Valentine!
Valentine special
27
THE UNDERGROUND'S ULTIMATE
VALENTINE GIFT tition
We at The Underground, love you! That's why we're giving away five AMAZING prizes! All you need to do is tell us just how much you love us!
Send us your declaration of love for The Underground. It can be a loveletter, a picture, a work of art, be creative! Make it funny, sweet, sexy... As long as you can submit it as an attachment in the webform on www.theunderground.nl Oh, and make sure you do it before 7 february, 5pm.
3RD PRIZE Worth €250,Let you and your Valentine get spoiled at Caesar Fitness + Spa Resort, worth €250,Caesar Fitness + Spa Resort is a brand new luxurious Fitness and Spa Resort located in the centre of The Hague, where you can find an abundance of excellent facilities. Think fitness, lessons, yoga, saunas, hamam and beauty treatments. You and your partner can win the ultimate spoiling experience: a full day entrance to the Resort for two people, including a welcome drink, a hamam treatment for one person, a hot stone treatment for one person, lunch for two and coffee/tea with cake! This wellness arrangement is worth €250. Mauritskade 10, The Hague
Compe
1ST PRIZE Worth €450,A beautiful 0.25CT prinsess cut VS-G diamond is the special Valentine’s giveaway for TU readers. The Diamond has been offered by Marcel Vermeulen, jeweler & goldsmith in The Hague, who specialises in handmade fine jewelry. By appointment, you can visit his shop & atelier and browse through his collection of golden pre-set jewelry or let him help you design something special for you. Marcel Vermeulen jeweler & goldsmith, Prinsestraat 5, The Hague 070 345 33 33 info@marcelvermeulen.com
2ND PRIZE Worth €250,The ultimate Hotel Des Indes Valentines Dinner for two, worth €250,Des Indes is probably the most famous hotel in The Hague with a tradition of over 130 years of welcoming guests, including royalty and celebrities, offering elegance and grandeur at its best. Experience Valentine’s Day in this legendary 5 star Hotel with an exquisite 4-course Valentine’s dinner including wine, coffee, drinks. You and your partner will also enjoy live music and a special surprise. Des Indes offers you this great indulging dinner, worth €250. Lange Voorhout 54-56, The Hague
4TH PRIZE Worth €180,-
5TH PRIZE Worth €140,-
Your favorite Marie Jo lingerie set at Madeleine, worth up to €180,-
The smell of Love: two exclusive perfumed products, worth €140,-
Madeleine is one of the best lingerie stores in The Hague, and is located on the Denneweg. Here you can find the ultimate collection of lingerie, swimwear and also a great collection of accessories. Madeleine offers tailor made advice and will help you to choose your favourite set worth up to €180 from the high quality and exclusive brand Marie Jo.
Celeste might be the most exclusive and special perfume store in The Hague. They sell many top brands in perfumes, skincare and maquillage, like Acqua di Parma, Creed en Diptyque. For men Celeste also offers special shaving products and skincare. Brands you will not find anywhere else, because Celeste searches all over the world to select only the best and exclusive ones. Celeste offers two of their exclusive products: a Cire Trudon Candle Giambattista Valli Rose Poivrée, an alluring mix of roses with a touch of Tuscany pepper (€72) and a Claus Porto Room diffuser, (€69).
Denneweg 67, The Hague
Frederikstraat 963, The Hague
The competition closes on 7 february, at5pm. Winners will be announced on 11 February. Head to www.theunderground.nl to enter and for terms & conditions.
Bas de Mos Bas de Mos is the youngest, most talented Hagenaar photographer that you probably haven’t heard about. He is a volunteer for Atlantikwall Museum Scheveningen, always on the hunt for a new adventure to kick off his bucket list, or an undiscovered redoubt to shoot. But he stopped a few minutes to talk with The Underground about his passion for WW2, decay and urban solitude.
The 23 year old photographer is a pretty straight-forward artist, his work inclining towards realism, without cosmeticisation or too much self-promotion. Born and raised in a little village on the coast, he used to play in the dunes, discovering bunkers with small rabbit-hole entrances. Since childhood he felt his adventurer blood boiling, confessing how exciting it was to enter those pitch-dark underground structures with weak flashlights as a kid.
World War 2 and “Light Painting” photography Having his older brother as a "WW2 encyclopaedia", Bas embarked on a bunker discovery
journey across the Netherlands and Europe. His passion for WW2 and concrete monsters came after the passion for photography. Meanwhile, he perfected his photographic technique among war remainders, using ‘light painting’ with flashlights and a slow shutter speed to “paint” the lighting into the scene.
His philosophy and artistic roots come from the fascination with unkempt and abandoned buildings: "I find decay, darkness, danger and damp underground structures to be the most beautiful things in our world". He admits that he had mixed feelings about these sorts of places as a kid, but now this developed into a passion for the rough edge of life. "When I was a little kid, I was very afraid of them! Old and decaying things just seem to radiate some kind of heavy energy that the little me couldn’t handle. When I got older those fears completely switched to admiration, or maybe even obsession."
Urban Decay Photography vs. perfectly neat Netherlands Bas explains that this inclination towards "Urban Decay Photography" is now a trend, but in 2004, when he started, there were only a handful of photographers in The Netherlands. Now, even though Bas doesn’t have a target audience, it seems that this style attracts people. “Why, you might ask? It's just an old, crumbling building, eaten alive by mould and inhabited by bats?” Well, Bas has a very compelling explanation: "We live in a world where almost everything is controlled and maintained. Here in Holland even nature areas are kempt and looked after.
"When I was a little kid, I was very afraid of old and decaying things. They just seem to radiate some kind of heavy energy that the little me couldn’t handle."
The last man standing So much order everywhere can get pretty boring. Seeing true, non-staged disorder in the form of plants growing through buildings, is like being in a post-apocalyptic world." People like to see how their past was, but mostly from pictures or from history books. That's why Bas’ pictures are unravelling a mystery-land for each of us. However, he goes thought a lot of trouble to capture these "trophies", as he names his pictures. For Bas, taking photos involves bruises, cuts, trespassing, and a lot of adrenaline, but, well, it's totally worth it, have a look at his website and convince yourself! In the end, Urban Decay Photography is more like a manifesto, a torch into the future, a belief that you can carry on remembering places, keeping them as alive as they were centuries ago. It lets you feel, for a moment, like the last man standing. "You escape from this crowded and fast world and enter no-man’s land. There is no time, no money, no competition, no civilisation. There are almost no sounds to distract you from what you’re seeing. The buildings may look gloomy but they are more peaceful than anything you could imagine." However I do feel the responsibility to pass on some advice from Bas: don’t get too excited about exploring these abandonned places, as you can get badly injured and some of them are illegal to set foot on. Better to enjoy Bas de Mos Photography and stay safe! By Laura Dragulin
The Hague:
News & views
29
City centre #1 "We have attracted a lot of big and international companies to The Hague." Frank Wetters, chairman of Stichting Marketing Haagse Binnenstad
Photography by Thomas Vahe
When you walk through the city centre of The Hague, do you realise that you’re walking through the ‘best city centre of the Netherlands?’ This is the first time we’ve won the title and we’ve worked very hard for it so it’s about time! There have been a lot of investments in the city centre and it’s all paying off”, explains Frank Wetters, chairman of Stichting Marketing Haagse Binnenstad. By Megan Lloyd
These efforts have not gone unnoticed, as a lot of international companies have moved to The Hague over the last few years. Politically, hosting the Nuclear Security Summit has been a highlight and culturally, The Hague has proved capable of hosting big sporting events. “Last year was great, when we hosted the World Championships Field Hockey and this year, we’re going to have something quite spectacular with the World Championships beach volleyball.” Wetters explains. In fact, our prime minister will have quite a view from his ‘torentje’. On the hofvijver, a large floating volleyball court will be built to host the semi-finals and the final of the tournament. “The Hague is such a diverse city. Internationally speaking, we have attracted a lot of big and international companies to move to The Hague. Diversity is something that really stands out and what makes The Hague a city to be reckoned with.” Can The Hague hold on to its title? “We are going to continue what we are doing now. Especially when it comes to events such as Shopping Night. People don’t realise that it’s the biggest in the country with over 100.000 visitors.
Cities such as Rotterdam, Maastricht and Amsterdam are now slowly catching up, but we’re still the biggest in the country. Apart from that, we’re continually trying to improve The Hague and doing all we can to make it as accessible as can be. We want the wow-factor when people walk out of the Central Station and to easily direct visitors to where they want to be. As attractive as The Hague already is visually, we want to keep working on that too. Window displays play a big part in that, but also big projects such as the new Passage and the greatly improved Grote Marktstraat.” How does having the title help with all of that? “More than anything, it’s recognition of what we’ve already achieved and hopefully will continue doing. All festivals will display the logo of the award and shops are able to point out that they are part of the ‘best city centre of the Netherlands’. Naturally, we will do what we can to prolong the title, as we want to continue attracting big events, cultural and political, to The Hague.”
Streeters There's no denying it, we're in the midst of winter and yes, it’s cold. Dorine Schreiner hits The Hague's streets to find out:
How do you plan to beat the winter blues?
Annekaat van Welsem (19), student “Escape! I'm going to Argentina for a month to visit friends. When I'm back, I'll drink a lot of hot chocolate and wear thick clothes until the sun comes out again.”
Peter van Duyn (54), consultant “I ask myself the same question. I try to stay positive: after rain comes sunshine after all. And so many people have it worse. I do love skiing and I’m going to Austria this winter, I’m excited about that.”
Reza van Vonderen (25), factory worker “Lots of sex is the way to beat any mood issue! Seriously though, I don’t really have a winter blues. My wife and I are expecting our first baby in March and we’re really looking forward to that.”
Yang Yang (27), PhD student “I will sleep longer and drink something warm. Oh, and wine helps too. I enjoy the cozy life at home. There are also winter activities to do with friends, like ice skating.”
CaDance Festival CaDance is back, and the biannual festival is offering a smorgasbord of performances to suit every taste. Korzo’s alternative approach to producing performances is attracting artists, producers and audiences to The Hague from all around Europe and The Underground is sure, whether you are a long-time fan of dance or a new-comer, there will be something to entice you too.
Dance
By Ailie Conor
The structure of CaDance does not follow that of a traditional dance festival. In addition to dance performances they are offering what they call ‘super lectures’, which investigate the themes pervading several of the festivals major productions. Korzo’s press-coordinator Djana Eminovic really emphasises that the company wants us, the audience “to get inspired, and learn about the topics the choreographers took as their main inspiration”. The festival is also offering a series of unique, intimate performances outside of their auditoriums, 4X4 invites an audience of no more than 25 to walk through the city of The Hague, starting at Hotel des Indes and visiting 4 unique buildings and in each one experience a performance tailored for that venue. This is a very different experience from a performance viewed from a chair.
We also had the chance to speak with Dutch-Brazilian choreographer Samir Calixto, whose unconventional adaptation of Milton’s Paradise Lost, set to the music of Led Zeppelin is opening the festival. A number of the performances, Paradise Lost included, draw from traditional points of inspiration in Art and Literature, re-examining them within a modern framework. The artistic director, Leo Spreksel is the one who selects the choreographers for the festival, and works with them to draw out the theme for each year. Samir really emphasises Korzo’s focus on developing and promoting home-grown talent which really shines through during the festival. For Choreographers like himself, CaDance has been a way to nurture his creative talented and help him develop
throughout the trajectory of his career with Korzo, where he began as a dancer; “this year for me to actually open the festival, it’s a sort of celebration of this relationship”. Korzo’s ability to provide both “space to research and to develop, and excellence in the level of production” combined with the festival's focus on developing and showcasing Dutch talent makes it a unique platform, integral to the dance scene nationally and internationally. For budding Dutch choreographers and audiences alike, the CaDance festival is ‘Paradise Found’.
31
32
Music
With much of the music around us evolving with the times, the same might be said about the guys working behind the scenes; the contemporary record labels who work around the clock to bring us the sounds that we hear. The possibility to reach thousands of potential followers at the click of a button certainly seems to have changed the way record labels promote and spread the music they love. In theory, it seems quite possible to run a successful label these days without ever actually having to put out a physical release, but as we found out, that's only half the story. We talked to three representatives of labels currently operating in this brave new world of music, to find out what their take is on it all.
Dave Lewis, founder of the the MJM label, elaborates: 'It basically came from a discussion group I had put together where we all shared jazz related music and topics. A few of us began to sample some of the music we shared, then one day, I thought about trying to actually put together a small compilation album and releasing it through our channels.' Though some aspects of creating and running a record label might have changed over the years, it seems there's still a set of almost 'universal' motivations that drive people to get involved in the business of distributing music. Martijn Verlinden, who has more than 11 years of experience working in the label business and who might be best known for his work with local label Antilounge, describes an all too familiar reason for getting into it all in the first place: 'There were so many producers I knew from The Hague that were making a lot of great music, I just had to start a record label so that they could be heard by a bigger audience than just their friends.'
Changes and constants
Sharing on online audio distribution platforms such as Soundcloud, Bandcamp and Mixcloud has been growing in importance for years. That's no surprise, as it's these same platforms that provide a fast, effective and free way to share your music. That's not to say by any means that running a label these days is easy. Rob Huckle, founder and creator of Italdred Records -a hip-hop/electronic label operating out Daniel Taylor of London, UK-: 'Some people may say it's In the end, it would seem record labels in easier running a label today due to all the general are constantly adapting new ways action on social media, and others may find of communicating and sharing their musical it harder. I think it comes down to the person passions, reaping the benefits of the potential themselves and what connections they have. Back new audiences such an adaptation might yield. One then, your form of promotion was putting up posters, word thing that constantly shines through however, is the willingof mouth, and handing out mix-tapes; you didn't have the ness to really get stuck in, proving once and for all that advantage of building up an online fan base and keep- there really is no substitute for downright hard work ing everyone up to date at any time of the day.' and dedication.
in contemporary label culture
There's no denying however, that the rise of the Internet has led to new ways for music to be shared, sold and appreciated. Millennium Jazz Music -also based in London-, was in fact born from such a source.
Explore your new hometown, learn to speak Dutch & get familiar with the culture. Practical, original & fun! www.dutchenroute.nl
Music
33
THE OHM PROJECT of Marcel Veenendaal
Original photo by Iwan de Brabander (IdeB Photography), edit by TU
The full moon; since ancient times perceived as one of the most powerful natural influences on seduction. The Mayan calendar counts thirteen cycles of 28 days, in total 364 days. Day 365 is ‘the day out of time’, when the cycle restarts. This natural and ancient way of counting forms the basis for Marcel Veenendaal’s (singer of the band Di-Rect) brand new music project that kicks off this month: Ohm. By Pascalle Kok
‘Ohm’ is the symbol of electrical resistance: frequency and sound, something that has always inspired Marcel. “What sound does to me goes way beyond what I experience visually. When I look at my record collection, I notice that it’s mostly cinematic music; often instrumental. Instrumental music can be very powerful, you can feel the music and it tells a story. All of that without words. That’s something I wanted to do with my own music.” Marcel has been busy with Ohm for quite a while now and is now ready to launch this project during the course of this year. “Starting on the ‘day out of time’, the 25th of July 2015, around the time of every full moon, I want to hold a recording session in different locations and involve other musicians as well. This way, I want to work towards the ‘day out of time’ in 2016 and then bundle the 13 pieces, corresponding to the 13 moon phases and release them together. Each moon phase will follow a theme.”
Marcel tells that, at the moment, the band includes Stef van Es, Joshua Samson, Jesse Smits and Paul Jan Bakker. Marcel is writing the songs, but the Ohm project will include the collaboration of many musicians as well. “In between the songs, space will be created to improvise, where other musicians can contribute their ideas to the piece. And that’s what we want for Ohm: to incorporate musical ideas. Music that softly blossoms and then fades away. I love to really take time when creating music pieces. To guide them in softly, let them take off and when I’ve finished singing, to let the music end the story.” We can look forward to a big Ohm event by 2016 with lots of musicians, but expect a somewhat different experience; not like a Di-rect performance where Marcel would say: “Let’s dance, ladies and gentleman” to a loud rhythmic beat, but rather: “Ladies and gentlemen, you can close your eyes. Sit comfortably, I hope you brought your blanket.” “Every full moon has a special theme and I wrote songs to accompany those themes”. This month, Marcel will release, with Ohm, their new single ‘Hunchback’, which coincides with the ‘hunt’ theme.” AND THE UNDERGROUND HAS THE EXCLUSIVE. Go to our website www.theunderground.nl and watch Ohm's new video produced by Rockstone.
Red and yellow black and By Anita Verwoest
‘Red and yellow, black and white’, the song of singer Matthew Ward sounds through my head when I visit Redeemer International Church. A Christian church that has seen nearly 100 nationalities represented at its Sunday services. Chinese, Indian, African, British, Dutch and so on. Visiting this church is like going to a global party with singing, dance and much laughter. Since 2012, Redeemer has been seated in The Nieuwe Kerk, at Spui 175. Built in 1649 and designed by a carpenter named Pieter Noorwits, it’s listed among the top 100 monumental buildings in the world by Unesco . However, since the 1970s , the Nieuwe Kerk did not have a Sunday congregation. But now, with Redeemer International Church, this building once again fulfils its old function as a place of community, prayer and worship. Redeemer is part of the Newfrontiers family of churches and has strong connections with other churches, in Holland and around the world. Every week approximately 300 people from different nationalities visit Redeemer. The audience is largely young people and students, the average age is 34.’
Redeemer doesn’t feel like a traditional church, but more like a meeting centre, where people from all around the world gather together. Some people come in already being Christians but there are also others interested in the Christian faith or looking for a place to belong. Next to meetings on Sunday morning and Sunday evening they organize midweek small groups called “Life Groups” where people meet in homes across the city. Driving force and founder of Redeemer International is Chris Taylor. Chris was born in Botswana, and worked for years as a teacher in Cape Town. Four years ago he and his Dutch wife Karin started Redeemer in The Hague with a small group of people from Holland, Africa and the UK. What started with a handful of people a few years’ ago, has become a passionate and growing group. Building relationships is an important value for Redeemer, and as a church they are a community characterized by faith. Redeemer wants to reach out to the people in The Hague, to serve and help them in any way they can. Chris: ‘We love the city and we want to be there for its inhabitants. Therefore it is necessary to understand each other. We want to bring the hope, peace and restoration of Jesus to people around us.’
Nieuwe Kerk Spui 175 Congregations on: Sundays 10:00 AM and 19:30 PM
redeemerchurch.nl
Living in The Hague
35
The Underground investigates the best gay bars and parties the royal city has to offer.
Kings and queens The Hague has a small gay scene, and there are not many events, however a few really stand out - so if you are gay and in The Hague why not check out Pop-cake, the Hof Lounge or Manjefiek. On the last Friday of every odd month is Pop-Cake, a really fun party featuring yummy pop-cakes, especially baked and flavoured according to that month’s theme. It draws a younger crowd, 20 to 35, and features all the best pop music. It is held in the Penthouse, and if it sounds like your thing see their website www.ilovepopcake.nl for tickets and info. Manjefiek is a Gay and Open minded Party that is organised on the last Saturday of the month at Luden, Plein 6 or at Uno, Grote Markt 1.Their slogan is that if are you gay, lesbian, bisexual, transvestite, transgender, yellow, green, blue or just a gayminded straight and you love a real party, then just join. Catering for various ages, they have been organising gay parties for six years. For info on their next event: www.clubmanjefiek.nl
Of note is the oldest gay café in The Hague, De Vink, established 1928, it is located on the Schoolstraat. Other popular places are De Landman, Triomf Bar, Bij HeM, café 't Achterom. However one of the best place for gays to meet is at Het Heden, a well know restaurant, wine bar and outdoor garden on the Noordeinde, where the Hof Lounge organizes gay get together on Sunday afternoons. It is a place for meeting, networking or just relaxing and listening to good music. Hof Lounge is very popular and draws people from different parts of the Netherlands as well as locals. The average age is 35. They also organize XL Hof Lounge parties, which are always very special. Here is what Josh, an International living in The Hague, has to say about the Hof Lounge:
How did you find out about the Hof Lounge? Through friends!
How would you describe it to someone who is new in The Hague? Hof Lounge is a Sunday afternoon gay ‘borrel’ in a nice bar (and garden in the summer), with a wide range of ages, and a smart atmosphere.
And what do you like about it? As for bars, cafés, and restaurants, The Hague’s gay scene is well integrated with regular places, though some are more popular with gays than others.
The relaxed atmosphere, the familiar faces, the time that means you usually don’t have anything else planned, and can go for dinner afterwards!
Cissie Fu & Chris Goto-Jones
Gaming The Hague
What do you see when you look at the railing along the sidewalk? Is it just a metal barrier? Does it force you to walk around it, taking an extra 50 steps to cross the road? Is it a reassuring symbol that the city cares for your safety? For Dan Edwardes, director of Parkour Generations, a railing is an opportunity for creative expression – it’s a chance to leap, balance, and fly. For Iain Borden, architect and skateboarder, a railing is a symbolic boundary ready to be reclaimed by a skater as a prop for a jump or grind. For Bradley Garrett, anthropologist and urban explorer, a railing amounts to an icon of oppression – blocking off routes that a truly free individual might rather choose. Cities are complex environments. They are carefully designed and controlled to ensure that people can move about them safely and efficiently. Road systems. Pedestrian zones. Bicycle paths. Architects spend years training to make beautiful, functional buildings in which we live, work, shop, and play.
But then real people actually occupy these spaces and mess everything up. Designers struggle to predict what spaces will mean to real people. We don’t just play in gymnasiums, arcades and skate-parks. People play in the streets, on park benches, between buildings, on roofs. We don’t just play in cities, with play with them. Cities like The Hague are massive, complex, playgrounds for creative expression. All we need to do is learn to see our urban environment in a new way. In 2014, the Political Arts Initiative (www. politicalarts.org) of Leiden University ran a series of events about ‘gaming The Hague,’ taking the city seriously as a major opportunity to realise an ‘urban campus’ for the historic university. Students, staff, residents, and eminent guests like Dan Edwardes and Iain Borden explored The Hague as a site for geocaching, for free-running, for skateboarding, for urban exploration, and for augmented reality videogaming. Gaming The Hague enabled us to see the city in new and exciting ways, helping us to claim this diverse, fascinating space as our own.
Mandates by Molly I come from a place that is much sunnier than the Netherlands and I don’t know how to deal with the long, dark, cold winters here.
I feel like my social life is seriously curtailed during the winter. Can you suggest some fun things to do that keep me out of the cold?
With the new semester starting, I want to develop better work and study habits. Any suggestions for managing my to do list?
The winter blues are a real mental health disorder known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) or a mood disorder with a seasonal pattern. If you think you might be experiencing such a condition, you should contact your doctor about treatment.
With all of the great things to do in and around the Hague and the good public transport, I don’t understand how anyone could find the winter months boring. Get a museum pass and check out the country’s amazing museums. There are plenty in the Hague and even more in Amsterdam. Take in a movie at the Filmhuis, where you can catch old classics and art house films. Did you know the Hague has several breweries? Take a brewery tour. They are usually free.
Judging by the number of life coaches, career mentors and advisors out there, everyone seems to have trouble with time management. And, judging by the number of people who have burned out, it seems few are mastering it.
For those of us who are fortunate to merely experience a mood slump during the winter months, rather than a serious mental health condition, there are lots of things you can do to improve your disposition. Some studies have shown that light therapy can be useful and you can find sunlight lamps at any electronics store. The best (and cheapest) thing you can probably do is learn from the Dutch and get yourself outside, into the sun, as often as possible. They don’t drag those sofas out onto the street when it is sunny for nothing. Take a walk or ride your bike whenever the sun is shining. I also recommend watching lots of adorable cat videos.
To be even more kind to your wallet, stay in. House a dinner party or go potluck and have your international friends bring a dish from their native country. Host a wine/beer/cocktail/ cheese/chocolate/whatever tasting party. Go to a wine/beer/cocktail/cheese/chocolate shop, talk to the proprietor about purchasing a selection of samples and try them out at home with friends. Organize a game or movie night. Start a book club.
There are an endless number of approaches to managing your time. You need to find the one that works best for you. Technology is great in that regard and there are lots of apps and websites that can help you track your to do list. Wunderlist, Evernote, even Gmail has a task manager. Find a method of tracking your obligations that works for you and use it. There are a similar number of calendar and agenda applications (let alone the vast quantity of printed ones.) Track your schedule closely and try to be efficient. Have meetings in Amsterdam? Book them on the same day so you’re only traveling once. Block time off for work. You’re not free on Tuesday night, you’re working on your group project.
Living in the Hague
That Inking Feeling. At the foot of Weimarstraat, behind the façade of an antique butcher’s shop is Papanatos; a tattoo shop which offers an alternative to warm fireplaces, artisanal chocolates and the traditional treats of the winter season. Owner Kim Rense opened the shop a little over two and a half years ago and since then customers have been traveling from across the Netherlands and as far as Belgium to get inked by him and fellow artist Erik de Haan. Ailie Conor
The space is decorated with their art-work and tattoo designs; South-East Asian motifs, Victorian style ‘etchings’ and everything between. While there is no doubt about what this shop does, its open aesthetic makes it accessible and approachable - to everyone from the heavily inked to the uninitiated. The atmosphere and artwork are not all that stand out at Papanatos. Erik, who studied as an art student has now been tattooing for five years and he is clearly passionate about what he does. He describes learning to tattoo as an ongoing process, a cumulative experience that constantly tests your skills; “That’s why I like it. It’s a challenge, and it just wants you to make yourself better each year”.
37
Photography Danielle Saris
People often get tattoos to represent a significant event or person in their life, and with Valentine’s Day coming up some may be inspired to do just this. However talking with Erik, it seems that people are increasingly challenging the idea that getting a tattoo must have personal significance. More and more often people are getting inked for purely aesthetic reasons, out of love of a certain style or design. As an artist this approach can make certain pieces more satisfying than others; “I like it more when people have a passion for something, they see something of your work and they just think I really love this piece… I don’t know what the hell it means but it’s just something that I like”. Such passion for tattoos extends beyond just the design, often including a love of the process - for many it is an exhilarating experience, whether getting the first or the fiftieth there is “always something exciting”. At Papanatos they treat it not as merely a matter of getting ink on skin; there is dialogue and artistry involved. Larger pieces can take several months, or even years to
finish – Erik has been working on two full sleeves for one client for around two years now - and when working with someone over such a long period of time “it’s nice to have a nice bond… if you have a good connection that makes it a lot better”. So why not spice up your life with something other than mulled wine and romantic dinners these coming months - the healing process requires 2 weeks out of direct sunlight so, if it is what you are into, winter is the ideal time to treat yourself to a new tattoo and be healed in time to show off during the summer. Be sure to check out the work on Papanatos’ website, and if you are interested drop by – they are friendly, approachable and you may just come away with a new love for tattoos too.
Papanatos Weimarstraat 32, 2562 GZ Den Haag +31 70 331 0579 http://rumrumrum.wordpress.com
To Kiss? Or not to kiss? Of course no one can study every country’s kissing etiquette inside out. In many countries, it is perfectly normal that family members, friends, colleagues, business associates and even distant acquaintances exchange a kiss or two (or even three) on the cheek when greeting one another. Yvonne van der Kroft
In some areas of Italy and other Mediterranean countries, friends greet each other by kissing on the mouth, men and women both. Arab men kiss each other on the cheek in greeting. In France, protocol demands a kiss on each cheek, while the Dutch throw in a third one for good luck.
Yet there are some cultures that do not engage in kissing at all. Kissing is apparently unknown among the Somalians and the Sirono of Bolivia. The Inuit practice the "Eskimo Kiss" by rubbing noses, or putting noses together and inhaling each other's breath. This kiss is also performed by numerous Pacific Islander cultures where it is a ritual greeting. In many Muslim countries public kissing between men and women does not occur, and in some cases people have been arrested for kissing outside the home. But as much as I would love to tell you exactly how and how many times you have to kiss in each and every situation, kissing can vary depending on one’s age, class, culture, region or personality. Most important to remember: it doesn’t really matter as long as you smile. Image from Benetton' Unhate Campaign 2011 Photocredit: United Colors of Benetton
Romance is dead. - Tinder By Remy Rond
I’m not generally one to be nostalgic. But sometimes I wonder what it’d be like to have lived in the twenties, or even the fifties, when men were (or at least acted like) gentlemen and women were ladies. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for equality. But it seems that the art of seduction and courtship is completely lost on this generation. Seduction is hardly more than a marketing term nowadays, almost synonymous to advertising. Essentially, the best way to boost your lovelife/ date-ratio is knowing how to make a good selfie. Have we really come to the point where conquering the heart of the girl of your dreams has been reduced to swiping right on Tinder? Where’s the effort? The magic? How about we stop looking at our phones every now and then and notice the people around us? Try it, why not right now. Look around you. Your eyes might accidentally meet someone else’s. Click. You might smile, blush, look away for a second, and quickly look again to see if he or she is still looking back at you. That moment, that sensation in your gut, there is no app in the world that could ever replace that.
Urban mindfulness By Chris Goto-Jones
Even though we’re told that the accomplishment of a calm, mindful state of being is unusually difficult, mindfulness is apparently everywhere. It’s in hospitals, schools, corporations, government offices, even in the military. If you’re sad, mindfulness will make you happy. If you’re anxious, mindfulness will make you calm. If you’re angry with your boss or your teacher or with a political leader, mindfulness will make you accepting and understanding. In short, mindfulness brings peace to a frantic (stressful, violent, unpleasant) world.
Buddhist philosophy and practice, it seems more than plausible that mindfulness can indeed help with these goals. The experiences of millions of people around the world attest to it. However, for some people, the idea of a mindful peace is tantamount to the idea of a mindless acceptance of the status quo. Becoming mindful is associated with the horror of being transformed into a zombie. This is the horror of somehow losing your grasp on your sense of selfhood as it floats off into the quiet freedom of nonattachment and non-judgement. How should we reconcile this fear with the positive practice of mindfulness?
Mindfulness is “the awareness that emerges through paying attention on purpose, in the present moment, and nonjudgmentally to the “When we speak of meditation, it is important unfolding of experience moment by moment.” for you to know that this is not some weird (Jon Kabat-Zinn) cryptic activity, as our popular culture might have it. It does not involve becoming some In the City of International Peace, it seems particularly important kind of zombie …” (Jon Kabat-Zinn) to think properly about the relationship between mindfulness and peace. What is the actual content of this ‘peace’? For some people, this is a form of emotional peace brought about by the patient practice of therapeutic meditations, freeing them from psychological difficulties. For others, it is a form of spiritual peace attained through discipline and self-denial, freeing them from the confines of everyday life. Rooted as it is in centuries – even millennia – of
Artwork by Ricardo Bessa
The Mindfulness Philosophy & Practice (MP2) project at Leiden University (in Leiden and The Hague) seeks to address some of these questions about the social impact of mindfulness in urban spaces like The Hague. And The Mindfulness Zombie will bring updates and exercises to The Underground on a regular basis.