I've been so busy enjoying the Over Het Ij Theater festival I haven't had time to write about it.

Until Now.

Just a quick free ferry ride from Central Station to NDSM in the north and you will find yourself surrounded by strange and wonderful energy. From the moment you walk onto the festival grounds you'll notice the shipping containers with little signs "Next Show in 10 min", people will then buy a 2 euro ticket and fill the container. They then close the doors and inside you come face to face with great amateur and professional actors. Some containers don't have much of anything, some are wall to wall grass and greenery, others are a mystery as I ran out of 2 euro coins and couldn't peek inside.

Rounding the corner past the restaurant/bar serving up yummy brownies and mint tea just the way I like them, I see an audience where each person has headphones on. They're all staring at a guy with dreadlocks who is arguing with someone on his mobile phone. My brain slowly puts together the scenario, they are listening only to his conversation, which I can't hear as I don't have headphones and Im standing too far away.

I finally get to the theater piece I'm there to watch, which involves sitting on one side of a canal while on the other 2 performers use no words to do their play. Occasionally a boat that has nothing to do with the play floats between we the audience and the play itself, the audience giggles. We are each handed binoculars to get a closer look at the performers across the canal. At the end one actress holds up a small wooden sign that reads "end".

While the Over Het Ij festival features mostly content in Dutch, I still highly recommend the atmosphere and the performances. You see some incredible creations, as well as plays that don't require you to understand the language.

The festival continues from now til July 12th. If you have even a small chance to get there, GO!

If you’re in the Netherlands between July 10-12, 2009, be sure to stop by the North Sea Jazz festival. This festival boasts a large number of musical genres, including traditional jazz, fusion, gospel, funk, soul, R&B, hip hop, and many more.

Tickets can be purchased online, and include options for all-in, three-day tickets and one-day ticket options. Day tickets are € 75 and three-day tickets will run you € 179. All-in tickets are € 335 (which give you admission to Ahoy Rotterdam on all festivals days and to all supplementary concerts in the Amazon). All prices are exclusive of service costs.

THE recommendation for this weekend consists of 3 concerts, one major location: Westerpark.

Anyone who goes by Westerpark this week will notice the huge summer stage that his been setup to accommodate a very big concert series entitled Live at Westerpark. So let's cut to the chase:

Friday: Simply Red, 8pm, €49.
Saturday: Lenny Kravitz, 8pm, €59.
Sunday: Anouk, 8pm, officially sold out.

You probably noticed 2 things about the weekend schedule. Some legendary names at some very expensive prices. For the true fans out there, I'm sure its worth it.

Although I've mentioned it on the blog before, this past sunday I made my way to Arnhem for a meeting and a tour of the Museum of Modern Art; also known as MMKA. While I had long heard that this place existed and was interesting to see, I was still surprised with how beautiful it is. Inside and outisde.

Inside MMKA is not overwhelming yet it isn't so small that you're done in an hour. Between the exhibit, entitled Rebelle Art and Feminism 1969-2009 and the permanent collection, there were plenty of pieces that had me laughing, confused, impressed, disgusted, and often - in awe.

Beyond the fantastic art, MMKA also hits you with a beautiful garden. A garden located on top of one of those Arnhem hills overlooking the river, a beautiful green landscape the likes of which you don't normally get to see in the Netherlands. You can sit out there looking down at the river and taking in the scenery while enjoying the mind numbingly good brownies from the museum café. I may take the 1 hour 30 minute ride back very soon just to do it again.

Last weekend I was at Hargen Sail festival 2009. Hargen Sail is a huge annual sports festival on a beach up near the city of Alkmaar. Unlike most locations I recommend as someone who relies on public transport and bicycle, getting to Hargen Beach without the help of an automobile is pretty complicated. But if you do happen to rent a car, make your way towards the picturesque town of Schoorl and from there you will easily find Hargen.

To give you a feeling of the beautiful beach atmosphere after a full day of ultimate frisbee, volleyball, and sailing, here's a short video clip:

How does gravity work? What is a black hole? How do satellites function? What space missions are currently in operation? The European Space Agency offers a chance to get more acquainted with space as well as their work in a fun and exciting way. Just 25 minutes by bus from Leiden Central Station, visitors can come to ESA’s location in Noordwijk and explore such issues of interest.

From Leiden Central station visitors can take bus number 32 to the bus stop Space Expo. It’s a short walk across the street to the exposition. It’s open Tuesday to Sunday from 10.00 am to 17.00 pm. Visitors pay € 9,50 if they’re above the age of 13. For more information, see the website.

Guess you have noticed it was awfully quiet around here... But not without reason though, we have been working hard on giving Trippist a fresh new look. Hope you like it.

Besides that we also have a new Trippist, her name is Alison and this is what her bio sounds like:

After a life spent mainly in various parts of the Deep South of the US (with a stopover in NYC where I acquired a cat, a dog and a boyfriend), I now unexpectedly find myself in Utrecht. When I'm not getting lightheaded from trying to master pronunciation of the Dutch G, I can be found wandering the city with camera and dog in hand, and making a go at becoming a freelance writer and editor.

Am sure we'll be hearing from her soon. Welcome Alison!

The family-owned gallery is located in the heart of Utrecht, across from the Neude and a short walk from the central station. The gallery's collection also includes works from other major modern artists, such as Andy Warhol and Joan Miró, as well as the Dutch artist Jeroen Hermkens, who has painted cityscapes around the world, including New York, Rome, Paris, as well as a series of paintings of Utrecht. It's fun looking at the paintings of Utrecht and picking out where in town the various spots are located.

Kunsthandel Juffermans is located at Lange Jansstraat 10, and is open Wednesday through Saturday from noon to 5 p.m. The Chagall and Picasso exhibit is free -- although the lithographs cost from €300-7000 -- and it runs through 28 July 2009.

The time has arrived - as of 20 June 2009, the Amsterdam Hermitage Museum is finally open. Described as a satellite version of the original in St. Petersburg, the museum in Amsterdam begins with the exhibition At the Russian Court, which includes more than 1,800 treasures from the State Hermitage Museum in St Petersburg.

The Hermitage Amsterdam is open daily from 10 a.m. to 5 pm, and on Wednesdays until 8 pm. The museum is located at Amstel 51. You can reach the museum by tram, on line 4 to Rembrandtplein or line 9 and 14 to Waterlooplein. Adults pay € 15. Children up to the age of 16 and I Amsterdam card-holders are free.

If you're not convinced - check out some great photos on the style files. I've included one of these photos below. What a great-looking museum.

A variety of sounds will be hitting the streets of Utrecht over the next week, ranging from the sublime to the truly unusual. The international Europa Cantat festival will be taking place in Utrecht from 17 to 26 July at various locations throughout the city. The festival, held every three years in different countries, brings together individual singers, choristers and ensemble singers as they take part in concerts, programs and workshops in a variety of musical styles and themes, ranging from Hindu ritual singing to Renaissance singing to rap.

More than 3000 people are expected to participate in the official concerts, but there will also be daily Open Sings, during which anyone can join in and make a joyful noise -- or at least try. Other open events include boats full of singers sailing and singing down the Oudegracht, and karaoke nights through 25 July at the Domplein. The full schedule of events can be found here, including a listing of the numerous free, and open-air events held daily.

Tickets for individual concerts are €10 each, while tickets for the discovery ateliers and special day-ticket options start at €50. Complete information about ticket purchases and options can be found here.

In conjunction with the Europa Cantat is the unusual, but fascinating, Rioolfest, aka SewerFest. From 18 to 21 July, special speakers will be placed in the sewers of Utrecht, and from them will emanate the sounds of the London Underground, a modern zoo, fairy tales and even the Tour de France. This unique sound project can be heard from the street level as the sounds make their way up through the pavement and storm drains in the city. The heart of this project will be located at the Zadelbar at Zadelstraat 22 in the city center. The full schedule can be found here (in Dutch).

After last week's impressive flashmob tributes to Michael Jackson in Stockholm, this past weekend it was Amsterdam's turn to dance like zombies.

At Leidseplein, Museumplein, and a bridge near the Keizersgracht, huge groups of random people turned out at a pre-determined time to do a 2 minute Thriller dance. It was all white gloves, mirror sunglasses, and red jackets as professional and amateur dancers got into the spirit.

This being Amsterdam, there was no shortage of camera's to capture the moment, and thanks to internet buzz, several television stations were on hand to capture the flashmob, which is normally carried out without the knowledge of mainstream media.

Here's one of the better videos from this past weekend for your viewing enjoyment:

Amsterdam's second most loved celebration is only 10 days away. This year's gay pride celebration consists of a looooong list of parties and events, starting Thursday, July 30th.

Friday night features my favorite event - the Drag Queen Olympics; a dozen or so queens dressed in their finest high heels and evening wear, competing in events like the stiletto sprint and the hand bag toss. The cut-throat competition begins at 6pm.

Saturday is of course the main event, the gay canal parade, the only one in the world. Floating down the canals there will be a neverending line of boats featuring different themes, music, and well, you never know. As of 2pm, sitting along the canals will be people of all ages, locals and visiters alike, joining in the celebration.

Of course I've just described 1/100th of what Gay Pride 2009 has to offer this year. Be sure to check the website for all the details of what is happening, when and where.

There's always more fun to be had in Leiden, and the website Leiden City Events makes it even easier to find things to do. The site offers a variety of activity suggestions, particularly for groups of people.

For example, you can read about the Sailing Terrace, a boat available for rent for up to 300 people which costs € 300 for a minimum of 1 ½ hours.

Or, if you're interested in theme-related tours, check out the information on "Wandelingen." For example, you can learn about the literary heritage of Leiden while enjoying a walking tour through the center of historic Leiden. These tours are available for 1.5 hours (price: € 110) or up to 4 hours (price: € 192.50) for a maximum of 24 people. Tours are available in English.

The Leiden City Events website is in Dutch, so pop on over to Google Translate if you need help with any of the details.

Electronic and Techno music will be reverberating around the walls of Tivoli de Helling this Thursday and Friday. First up is a show by the infamous Venetian Snares, fronted by Aaron Funk, creator of core break, known for its speedy pace and crazy rhythms.
Venetian Snares
Thursday 23 July 2009
Tivoli de Helling, Helling 7
Cost: €11
Start time: 23:00

Next up is the Friday night touch of techno-dub, with Full Spectrum vs Dub Infusions. Full Spectrum is a Utrecht collective taking a new look at techno, with the special added influence for this show of Dub Infusions. The show will be featuring Keatch (Belgium), Headhunter (UK), and a dubstep stand-off of Utrecht's Black Salt Candy versus DJ+.
Full Spectrum vs Dub Infusions
Friday, 24 July 2009
Tivoli de Helling, Helling 7
Cost: €10
Start time: 23:00

Tickets to both shows can be purchased online through the Tivoli website, or can be purchased at the venue or at Plato, located at Voorstraat 35.

The Parade is a travelling festival of theater, music, film and more, visiting various cities throughout the Netherlands. From July 10-26, it is in Utrecht. The last stop on the festival's route this year will be Amsterdam (July 31 - August 16).

The festival features a mix of new and well-known artists, with theater acts and films by young makers, through to concerts and other performances by some of the big names in their industries. Many of the performances are also accessible to those who are deaf or hard of hearing, as they feature special interpretations or are simply visual, containing no spoken language. This is also handy for visitors who might not speak Dutch.

This cultural feast also includes an edible feast with foods representing a variety of countries, such as Turkey, Mexico, Suriname, Spain and Japan. There is also the Poffertje Palace, delicious for adults and children alike. The festival also includes special programs for children, such as performances and workshops.

A full listing of the events held every day can be found on the main website for the festival.

Moreelsepark 1, 3511 ER Utrecht
Sunday through Thursday from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m.
Friday and Saturday 3 p.m. to 2 a.m.
Entrance is free before 4 p.m.; after 4 p.m., €7 (children under 12 and adults 65+ get in free)

Probably many Trippist readers are expats. Some of you live in the Netherlands, maybe others are contemplating a move to a new country and trying to learn more about life abroad before you take the plunge.

Being an expat is the topic on a huge number of blogs. No matter what country they reside in, expats all often face similar issues: how will I learn the language? How will the move impact my career or studies? How long should I stay?

I recently found a blog called Expatify.com that deals with all these issues and more. Although they don't exclusively deal with the Netherlands or Europe, they provide lots of relevant information for those of us living abroad.

They did recently list the Netherlands as the number one bicycle-friendly country - can't argue with that one. Seems like a good site to add to your blog reader.

I confess I had never heard of the 4 Day Marches before today. Actually today is the last of the 4 days for this years march. According to their website it is their 93rd edition.

I went researching what the marches are all about, and here is what I learned:

• This is the largest march event in the world.
• It is meant to promote sports and exercise
• Participants march 30, 40 or 50 km per day
• A large amount of military personnel participate

Even though the event will be over in a few hours, you can still browse photos and videos on their official media site (beware music starts automatically).

It's summer - so what better time to visit the beautiful island of Texel? Texel is the biggest and most populated of the Frisian Islands which belong to the Netherlands, and resides in the Wadden Sea. The island includes seven villages, countless cycling trails, tons of beach and amazing nature, like sandbars.

It is possible to visit Texel all year round, but the summer months provide an opportunity to fully enjoy the biking trails. Swimming, walking and horseback riding are also popular.

From Amsterdam, it's easy to get to Texel. Just take the train to Den Helder station. At that station there is a bus to the port, and a ferry takes you to Texel in about 20 minutes.

Did you know there is a theme park in the Netherlands that aims to take you back in time? I mean way back in time.

The park is called Archeon, where you can experience daily life in either: Prehistory (6000 years B.C. - 12 B.C.), The Roman Period (12 B.C. - 406 A.D.) and The Middle Ages (approx. 1350 A.D.). Recently they announced that (as of August 1st) visitors could also stay over night, sleeping as people did in any of those 3 ancient time periods.

You might be thinking - do people really want to take it that far? The park says that "hundreds" of families have already signed up to be among the first to do the old fashioned overnight thing.

Archeon is located just outside Leiden and a short ride from either Schiphol airport or the Hague. Besides by car you can also get there by train. The day rate for adults visiting the park is €16.90. Details on other rates, discounts and beyond can be found on their website. Rates and details about sleeping at Archeon have not yet been posted but should be up by August 1st.

When I lived in Amsterdam, I was just a five-minute walk from the fabulous Noordermarkt, located in the Jordaan on the corner of the Westerstraat and the Prinsengracht. Though I love Leiden's markets the Noordermarkt is still the best market I've experienced in the Netherlands.

What makes this market special? For one, it's full of organic goods - fruits and vegetables, but also honey, breads, cheeses, and tea. More than 30 stalls are set up every Saturday from early in the morning until about 4pm.

I highly recommend making time to visit the Noordermarkt, especially in the summer. But winter can be equally charming, especially with all those nearby cafes where you can enjoy a coffee or cocoa.

Every wondered what it would be like to sleep in a crane, a lighthouse or an old airplane? Hotelsuites has converted such structures into luxury hotel rooms.

My personal favorite is the airplane suite (see here for pictures of the interior). For a mere € 350 per night (including breakfast!), you can sleep in a 40-meter long converted aircraft - an Ilyushin 18 built in 1960. The interior is designed for two guests and contains a whirlpool, separate shower, infrared sauna, mini-bar, 3 flat screen TV's, a blu-ray DVD player, kitchenette with combi-microwave, coffee and tea making facilities, free wireless internet, air conditioning, etc. Wow.

The airplane suite is located at De Zanden 61b, in Teuge, The Netherlands, which is located close to Deventer, Apeldoorn and Zutphen. Book if you're interested but be aware: Reservations canceled within less than 30 days of your planned stay will be charged. And no smoking in the airplane, please.

Feeling the urge to shake what ya mama gave ya? Saturday night in Utrecht is the place to be if you feel like dancing. Every first Saturday of the month, you can choose between salsa or the hits of the '80s and '90s.

At Plaza Kargadoor, the salsa evening starts off with either a film or live dancing performance at 8 p.m., followed by a salsa workshop and a night of dancing until 3 a.m.

Kargadoor, Oudegracht 36, Utrecht
(030) 231 0377 / info@kargadoor.nl

If you're feeling a bit retro, head to the Winkel van Sinkel Saturday night at 11 p.m. for a night of dancing to the hits of the 1980s and '90s. DJs spin the top songs of the decades, while VJs entertain you with scenes from legendary films of the time. This event is held every first Saturday of the month here in Utrecht, and takes place in a number of other cities throughout the country, such as Den Haag, Rotterdam and Amsterdam, on various dates. Check the website to see if your city is included, along with dates and addresses and presale ticket purchases.

We All Love '80s & '90s
Winkel van Sinkel, Oudegracht 158, Utrecht
Tickets: presale €10 (excluding fees) or €12.50 at the door

This month, it's the yearly Musical Boat Parade. From 2-5 p.m. on Sunday, 2 August, five boats will be sailing along the Oudegracht, the central canal running through the city. These boats serve as stages for the performers, and each one will be sailing the canal for 1.5 hours as the musicians perform. The musicians this year are: Christiaan Kuyvenhoven, a classical pianist; Charlie Dee, performing a tribute to Joni Mitchell; Mdungu, considered the best African-music artist in the Netherlands; Arts the Beat Doctor, an Utrecht hip hop artist; and Bettie Serveert, the famous Dutch rock act, who will be performing songs from their upcoming album.

This Sunday is, of course, Shopping Sunday, so if you're out shopping along the Oudegracht, you can stop for a moment to enjoy the passing concerts. There are seven dedicated locations where you can enjoy the concerts, be it from the streets above, the terraces along, or in boats on the canal. Check the website for the downloadable map (plaategrond). The event is completely free.

2009 marks four centuries of trade between the Netherlands and Japan. This relationship will be celebrated this year with a number of events in both countries. If you're in the Netherlands, Leiden hosts many of these events. For example, the SieboldHuis in Leiden currently has an exhibition entitled "100 Years Tokyo," which runs until 23 August. According to the SieboldHuis website:

"The temporary exhibitions will offer a variety of themes: modern Japanese and Dutch design, Japanese film, music, anime and manga, private and public Japanese collections from all over the world."

The SieboldHuis is located at Rapenburg 19 in Leiden. Adults pay €7.50 and museum card holders and students from Leiden University are free. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 10.00 - 17.00.

For an overview of events in the Netherlands, see the Japanleiden website.

From August 2 until September 12, 2009, the Olof Art Gallery presents an exhibition called "Paramaribo Dreams." This exhibition features artists with ties to Suriname, including Rinaldo Klas.

The exhibition officially opens on Sunday, August 2 at 3pm with a celebration and a performance by Willemien van Dijke and Martin Hoevenaars, two artists represented in the exhibition.

For more information and opening times, see the website of the Olof Art Gallery.