This is both a last-minute posting and a general reference. Utrecht has seen the first Stamppot To Go restaurant open on Nobelstraat. That lovely Dutch dish of mashed potatoes mixed with a variety of vegetables is now available in a fast-food format (along with soups and fruit juices). I've been looking forward to trying the restaurant ever since I first saw the sign go up.

If you're in the Utrecht city center today, head over to the Domplein right away and get a taste of the shop's wares. They've got a special set-up for today only as part of this month's Cultural Sunday. They're there until 5 p.m. today (apologies for being so late).

If you don't make it there, stop by their shop at Nobelstraat 143. Their hours are 4-9 p.m. most days, or check the website for more information.

Everyone gets real excited once the subzero temperatures take hold of the Netherlands. As I ride down the streets I see people carrying brand new or freshly sharpened skates, all in anticipation of a week of below zero which should mean plenty of ice skating!

In an effort to explain what is what in the world of ice skating in Amsterdam and beyond, let's go over some basics that might help you out while you're here.

First lets go over the organized artificial ice skating locations, these are the one's that exist regardless of how cold it gets - in other words; your best bet:

• Leidseplein - from 10am to 11pm, the rink will be there til the 10th of January.
• Museumplein - from 10am to 8pm, til February 28th.
• Bijlmer Arena - since you might be down there shopping anyway, skating is from 9am to 9pm and skates can be rented on site. Free lessons available as well, I hear.

Now for the part you might be wondering about since some old photos of Amsterdam seem to circulate involving people skating on canals. Officially when the weather has been below zero for over 1 week and the city deems the ice thick enough, Keizersgracht is designated as closed to boats and open to skaters. However in the past 8 years I haven't seen this happen once. Some have hinted that this week might do the trick, but that remains to be seen.

If you're real into speed skating or just looking to do some real skating, there is of course a real rink called the Jaap Edenbaan. It is located far out of normal tourism routes in the East of Amsterdam, consult their website for details.

Lastly there are the ponds in Vondelpark which last year attracted tons of skaters young and old. They're looking mightly frozen right now, so if you've got access to skates and you're going to the park, there you'll have several ponds and streams you can skate on. Please skate with caution, my friends at the emergency room say you wouldn't believe the wrist and ankle injuries coming in thanks to skating.

The IFFR has an English website complete with all current news, a full program, and information about how to buy tickets.

Have a look soon - many of the films sell out early. Then, bundle up and head down to Rotterdam to enjoy a fascinating selection of films at IFFR.

I got a few calls about a small flashmob which took place in Amsterdam over the weekend. Then I did some research and found out there were several over the weekend, as part of a sort-of-silent campaign to promote Holland's tap water and raise awareness about the environmental impact of plastic water bottles. Scanning YouTube for some good flashmob footage, I found the best video and the largest group got together and boogied out in the center of Haarlem. I can't resist a well carried out and massive flashmob, and they did a great job, check it out:

Students, alumni and employees of Utrecht University, HU, HKU, Hogeschool Domstad, UMC or PThU who are film buffs may want to look into becoming members of Bios Parnassos, Utrecht University's film club. For the cost of €5, you can become a member for one year and have access to viewings of films throughout the year -- usually around 30 films. The films cover a variety of genres and periods, contemporary blockbusters, classic art house and everything in between.

This week's film is Coco avant Chanel (French spoken, Dutch subtitles), a biography of the famous fashion designer. The films are presented in their original language, with Dutch subtitles. Some of the films presented last year include Milk, Slumdog Millionaire, Star Trek, and the '70s classic, Jaws.

To purchase a one-year membership, go to the Uithof location of Parnassos between 14:30 and 17:30. Payment in PIN only and you must provide proof that you are a student, alumni or employee of one of the schools. Films are every Thursday at 19:00 at Boothzaal, Universiteitsbibliotheek (Heidelberglaan 3, De Uithof).

Mattijs Bredewold is a product of the 1990s, or as he titles his new art installation, he was "Fucked Up By the Nineties". At his show at Moira in Utrecht, his spatial images take on a vivid, carnivalesque feel that makes the viewer wonder if he spent the '90s at raves, fairgrounds and gambling halls.

A painter by training at the Art Institute in Zwolle, Bredwold suddenly changed his focus to creating spatial images. He works with paper, cardboard and wood to create video game and arcade images and objects evoking the lights, colors and sounds associated with the objects.

The exhibit runs from 9-31 January. The opening is at 5 p.m. Saturday, January 9, at Moira Expositieruimte, Wolvenstraat 10, Utrecht. Regular opening hours are Friday-Sunday, 1-6 p.m.

The Sonnenborgh Museum and Observatory in Utrecht hosts lectures and star-viewing evenings on Friday and Saturday nights through April 10. Beginning at 8 p.m., the evening starts with a lecture (in Dutch) on a variety of topics, such as The Destiny of the Solar System, The Life of Stars, and Falling Stars and Stones from Space. Following the lecture, you then get a tour of the the 150-year-old observatory, and -- weather permitting -- you can visit the Meridian Room to see the telescopes and view the stars up close. Depending on the time of year, you can see the topography of the moon, the rings of Saturn, or the moons of Jupiter, among other celestial sights.

If you would like to attend one of these evenings, you must call and reserve a spot. The number is 030-2302818 and you may call Tuesday-Friday, from 1-5 p.m. The cost of the evening is €8 for adults. The Sonnenborgh Museum and Observatory is more than just star gazing, though, so it's worth a visit to see the rest of the museum. The website has more information about what is available to see and do (in English and Dutch).

Feeling a bit light in the wallet, but still want to go out and have a good time on Friday night? Head to Utrecht's Tivoli for the Piekendisco. Only €1 gets you inside to dance the night away to music ranging from rock to alternative, hip hop to electronica, conducted by DJs Dab and Frenzy.

The dance party begins at 11:00 p.m., Friday, January 8, at Tivoli, Oudegracht 245.

For those of you heading out of Amsterdam sometime in the near future, it's good to be aware of some changes taking place with the security procedures at Schiphol.

Recently the Schiphol Group announced that they would purchase 60 new body scanners for use on flights from Amsterdam to the United States.

The scanners cost 150,000 euros (216,000 dollars) apiece and will be seen in the coming months.

Make sure to allow even more time if you're flying out of Schiphol to the U.S., as security procedures can now stretch into several hours.

I haven't been to Groningen, that lovely city in the north, for 2 months or so, but wherever I travel in the Netherlands lately, I run into posters from the Groninger Museum. They must be trying to infiltrate my brain; not-so subliminal messages for me to get to know their fabulous collection, just a 1.5 hour train ride away.

So I decided to indulge these advertisements a bit, lets go take a look at what flickr has to offer when it comes to images from the Groninger Museum.

In these three images alone I can find a whole of awesome. So next time I do make one of my seasonal trips to the big G, I'll be heading to the Groninger Museum, and I recommend you do the same.

For all the details like schedule, costs, and directions, check out the website. For more second-hand visual joy, search flickr (and full credit to they who took those pictures).

Lots of famous authors stop in the Netherlands to promote their latest work. By attending one of these events, you get an inside look at the author's perspective and may even get a signature on your copy of the book!

Take the Winternachten Literary Festival in The Hague, for example. Many writers will appear at this event, including Antjie Krog, Tash Aw, Junot Diaz, and Jonathan Safran Foer.

The festival is held from Thursday Jan. 14th - Sunday Jan. 17th. Tickets can be purchased online, and a full program is also located on the website. The festival is located at Theater aan het Spui, which isn't far from The Hague's Central Station.

Generally gyms in the Netherlands are incredibly expensive. This is what I found in my student years. Either pay a decent price for the student gym, which was a good 30 minutes away, or go to a local gym and pay EUR 50 a month or more. Crazy!

Now there is a cheaper option available. It's called Fit for Free. And though it doesn't quite live up to its name, it is now possible to use sports facilities for less than EUR 10 a month. If you're willing to go between 7am and 5pm during the week and anytime on weekends, and forego participation in group fitness classes, you can get a monthly subscription for EUR 9.95. They also have other options up to EUR 19.95 with more flexible hours and participation in courses like Zumba.

Fit for Free is located all over the Netherlands, from Groningen to Dordrecht, including Amsterdam, Leiden, Rotterdam, and many more. Registration is possible on their website.

And I almost forgot to mention - they're waving the EUR 25 registration fee if you subscribe before 20 January. Good luck with those New Year's resolutions!

There's an easy way to find out! This Saturday, January 16, 2010, the ABC Treehut in the Hague is hosting a taster workshop by Jo Parfitt. The workshop aims to answer this very question. From the website:

"This taster workshop, led by Jo Parfitt, will introduce you to the idea of writing a non-fiction book someday. Jo has written 26 books, run workshops all over the world and mentored more than 50 authors to achieve their writing dreams 'from brainwave to bookshelf'.

This workshop will focus on whether you have a story to tell, how to ensure that your book fulfils your objectives and has a necessary wow factor.

Find out what writing a book can do for you and discover, what would work for you in this practical, informative and interactive session."

The workshop will be held from 2-4pm and the cost is EUR 20. To register, email Jo: Jo (at) joparfitt.com

If you like to mix things up a bit, head to Tivoli de Helling in Utrecht on Saturday, January 16, for Klub Radar. From 9 p.m. to 4 a.m., there will be a wide mix of musical performances. From quiet singer-songwriters like Belgium's Isbells to psychadelic blues rock from Finland's Joensuu 1685 to dubby futuristic horrortech by Scotland's Loops Haunt, you'll get a variety of musical genres all in one evening. Other performers include Clara Clara, Slugabed, and DJ Quasimodo. Doors open at 9 p.m., and the cost for the night is €10.

The following week, former Suede frontman, Brett Anderson, is playing at Tivoli de Helling on Sunday, January 24. He's promoting his latest album, Slow Attack. Doors open at 7:30 p.m., and tickets are €16.

Tickets and map info can be found at the website. Don't forget, this is the Tivoli located at De Helling 7 in Utrecht, not the one on the Oudegracht.

A new annual film festival is beginning this month in Utrecht. Aptly titled Made In Utrecht, the festival promotes the talent of local filmmakers and promotes the region as a new source for film and media production.

The films will be presented at 't Hoogt film theater (Hoogt 4) January 17-19. There are three films on Sunday and Monday, at 2, 4 and 7:15 p.m., and a final film on Tuesday at 7:15 p.m. There will also be a series of workshops presented in conjunction with the festival, with topics including development, financing, the creative side, and organizing a production company. Also, from January 15-29, there will be a film poster exhibit at the HKU building (Lange Viestraat 2).

For full program information, film trailers, and schedule, visit the website (in Dutch).

There's ice, there's slush, there are patches of sun, and then there's the music:

Friday

Former Rolling Stones bass player Bill Wyman comes to Paradiso with his Rhythm Kings; 7pm, €30 + membership.

Saturday

Brussels Jazz Orchestra plays Muziekgebouw aan't IJ; 8:15pm, €18 .

BERG/SURMÉNIAN/JEANNE Jazz Trio right in the same complex, at Bimhuis; 8:30pm, €15.

Sunday

Legendary punk band The Dropkick Murphys are at Heineken Music Hall; doors open at 6:30pm, €30.

I haven't been inside the Paradiso venue for a number of years. And all of my previous visits were for concerts and other music events. It always appeared dark, smoky, and packed with people. But last Thursday, the place was clean and set up for a discussion when we arrived. Quite a difference from the concert experience!

It just goes to show you - half the fun of attending a variety of cultural events in the Netherlands is to get a look at how such impressive venues can be magically transformed.

I'm a fan of the Lloyd Hotel, the spacious and unique hotel housed in a former migrant hotel in the Eastern Dock area of Amsterdam. Why? Because it has history, character, and every room is extremely different, which includes cost! Useful for all levels of traveler, even those of us who don't have much money but seek something interesting.

So perhaps because I like them, or perhaps because they are a major creative force in this city, I was very interested in the news that the owners of the Lloyd Hotel (Otto Nan and Suzanne Oxenaar) are going to be opening another hotel in the center of the city.

It will be called the Exchange Hotel and it will be housed in a historical building ride on the main street of Amsterdam, the Damrak. Like its sister-hotel, the Exchange will feature rooms from 1 star to 5 stars, each to be designed in its own unique style. A total of 63 rooms in total, it is hard to imagine that this place will not be fun to visit and stay at.

According to their press release, the Exchange Hotel will be ready next year and will feature an all-day breakfast spot called Stock, as well as a shop that will feature items you cannot find anywhere else.... which brings up all kinds of visions in my head.

Stay tuned.

It's freezing out there - so what better way to warm up than to hit one of Amsterdam's famous spas? Just be prepared - spas are pretty much exclusively nude only and the majority is co-ed. If you're from North America, it will be an adventure!

A couple to try:

Sauna Deco: Located on the Herengracht 115, Amsterdam, this spa is luxurious and has a beautiful interior. It boasts a sauna, Turkish steambath, and lounge, and also offers massage. It will cost you EUR 20.50 to get in.

If you prefer to combine hobbies, Fenomeen is both cheap (just EUR 9 entrance) and allows "smoking of pure weed" on Tuesdays. Fenomeen located near the Vondelpark at De Binnenpret square, 1ste Schinkelstraat 14, Amsterdam.

Amsterdam's newest (and largest) spa is called Spa Zuiver and is located in the Amsterdamse Bos (Koenenkade 8,Amsterdam Zuid). It costs EUR 35 for a day pass - but looks as if it may be well worth it!

Beginning Friday, January 22, there will be a photo exhibit from some of the students of the Hogeschool in Utrecht. The theme they're exploring is one of crisis: life after a personal crisis, 10 years after the fireworks factory explosion, teenage pregnancy, crisis of the eel industry, and other examples, providing a fascinating look at how a crisis can effect people across a wide range of social and economic backgrounds.

The exhibit takes place at the Hoog Catharijne shopping center in Utrecht, near the V&D. On Friday, there will be a free opening party for the event, beginning at 4 p.m., with drinks on hand. The exhibit then officially opens on Saturday, from 10-5 p.m. It is closed on Sunday, and then open Monday, January 25 and runs through Thursday, January 28, with open hours from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., with extended hours on Thursday, when the exhibit closes at 9 p.m.

There's a fascinating cultural festival taking place this Sunday, January 24, in the Overvecht area of Utrecht, just north of the main city center. The Winter Light Tandem Cultural Festival presents a day of music, poetry, dancing, art and fun, representing cultures from around the world. Inside, there will be African dancing, Persian poetry, music from South America and the Balkans, and Indian temple dancing. There will also be events going on outside, including henna tattoos, hair braiding, and some free hot chocolate or soup, along with toasted marshmallows to keep you warm.

The festival is presented by many of the actual residents of Overvecht, sharing their culture with their neighbors. The festival runs from 1-6 p.m. Sunday at the Cultuurhuis Stefanus (Amazonedreef 40). Entrance is free. Their website has a full listing of the performers and schedule (in Dutch).

dB's, in conjunction with NPAC, the first Dutch pop academy, is presenting Lijn 4, a music festival featuring eight new acts entering the music industry. The music styles include singer-songwriter, techno and hip hop. This is the fourth year the festival has been organized, programmed and performed by the students, who are working to become entrepreneurs in the music industry. The bands being showcased include Stone Called Fox, Afrock, Jive Junkies and Stephen Wings, among others.

The festival is free and begins at 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 7 p.m. The event takes place at Thursday, January 21, at dBs, CAB-Rondom 100, Utrecht.

Artis zoo in the winter is a funny place. Especially as the cold weather sets in and unexpected visitors stop by. Word from the bird people this week is that a rare Great Bittern appeared and is hanging around for the first time in the history of Artis. The bird's natural habitat are wetlands and its considered a rare bird in the Netherlands.

Besides the Bittern, Artis has lots of interesting birds who hang around even in winter. Here's a little video from feeding time:

Sure, it's nice to look at, but beware: the Dutch seem to approach snowfall with an attitude of denial. That means they don't clean up after it - because it's not really there, you see?

My advice? Admire away, but be careful as you walk down sidewalks and paths. No salt or sand has been put down, and you may find yourself horizontal on the ground. It's a far cry from the professional snow removal I'm used to as a Minnesotan. But then again, we never got used to decades without it.

Ever a staple of Dutch society, this exhibition answers the question: what is normal and who decides that? Head over to the Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam for an exhibition on this subject. It runs until 7 March 2010.

According to the website, "The exhibition includes paintings, sculptures and installation art by numerous acclaimed artists including Marlene Dumas, Viktor & Rolf, Aernout Mik, Thomas Hirschhorn, Nathalie Djurberg, Marc Quinn and Louise Bourgeois. New works have been commissioned especially for the exhibition and artworks have been borrowed from foreign as well as private collections."

Admission is EUR 11 or EUR 7.50 for children. CJP, Stadspashouders, and Museum card holders pay EUR 7.50. Tickets can be purchased from the box office of the Beurs van Berlage, entrance Beursplein 1, or online.



If you can't make it to the exhibition, the website also has an interesting exercise: "Click here to see how normal you are."

File this under things you might not expect to see in a convent museum. The Catharijneconvent Museum in Utrecht is presenting Lingam, an exhibit of 122 contemporary interpretations of the ancient, oriental fertility symbol. Jewelry makers, visual artists and designers -- representing 24 countries -- were invited to put their own interpretation of this fertility symbol. The resulting goal is to provide a new look at the religious element associated with the phallus, without the usual Western perspective of lust and sexuality. The exhibit is guest-curated by Ruudt Peters and features work by artists such as Sofia Björkman, Ted Noten, Marcel Wanders and Johanna Schweizer.

The exhibit runs from January 17 to February 26. The Museum Catharijneconvent is located at Lange Nieuwstraat 38, Utrecht, and is open Tuesday through Sunday, 10-5 p.m. weekdays, and 11-5 p.m. weekends. General admission is €9. More information can be found on the exhibit at the museum's website.

The official Chinese New Year is on February 14, but you can get a head start on your celebrations by visiting the Griftsteede at the Griftpark in Utrecht. On Friday, January 29, the Gemeente Utrecht is helping organize a snapshot of Chinese culture and traditions, designed for both adults and children.

There will be tae kwon do workshops (at 17:30 and 18:30), lessons on how to eat with chopsticks, rickshaw rides, and a Chinese puppet show, along with tea, soup and spring rolls to enjoy under the light of lanterns.

The event is free and takes place Friday, January 29, from 17:00-20:00 at the Griftsteede (over by the animals and playground) in the Griftpark, located at Van Swindenstraat 129, Utrecht.

The Utrecht portion of the contest is taking place this Saturday, January 30, at 19:30 at the Stadsschouwburg-Utrecht (Lucasbolwerk 24). Entrance is €7. Previous winners have gone on to do well in the American portion of the contest, taking top prizes.

I don't usually complain about NL-related experiences on Trippist. Well, occasionally - but I do think this is the first time I've written a negative review about a restaurant.

Actually, it's more of a negative non-review, since we never even got to try the food. Here's the story: After rave reviews from an expat friend who lives in the Hague, we decided to take a special trip to Baklust, a cozy, cutely decorated little place that offers ecological vegetarian fare. That combination being rare in Leiden, I was excited to find a moderately close place to get my health kick on.

We arrived, and the place was as nice as it looked on the web. There were a few tables occupied, so we made ourselves at home and perused the delicious sounding menu.

Ten minutes passed, and the waiter with the long blondish dreads seemed unaware of our presence, though we had made eye contact several times. I finally went up and asked if we should order at the counter. He said no; he'd be right over.

Other customers came and went. A woman entered, ordered food for takeaway, received her order and left again. Customers approached the counter to pay, and packed up to head into the rain. Soon, the place was almost deserted. And we still hadn't been asked for our order.

We gave the guy almost half an hour, and gave up. We left hungry and very disappointed. Sorry, Baklust. That's the last chance you'll get from this expat.

January is just about done and so the city will once again awaken from its seasonal slumber.

Friday - tonight

Pipslab at Paradiso. Drop everything and go see an act that is music, art, science.. all in one and not to be missed. Door open at 7pm, 15€ + membership.

Saturday

The Student Choir of Amsterdam doesn't get much press, but they sing their hearts out and they've got talent. So check them out at the Dominicus Church, 7:30pm, 12€ (5 for students).

Sunday

Bimhuis has gone wine crazy. Normally known throughout the world for their jazz, Bimhuis café has expanded their wine selection big time and are having a tasting with snacks, starting at 5pm. 6€ entry.

It's Cultural Sunday time again here in Utrecht, and this month's theme is jazz. There will be swing, bebop, big band, soul jazz and even some blues. You can catch the Tropi-jazz stylings of De Nazaten at various spots around town as they perform at the Neude (12:00), Stadhuis (13:15) and Domplein (14:15). Frommermann, a music and vocal ensemble with a sense of humor will be performing songs from the 1930s, including works by Duke Ellington, The Ramblers and The Mills Brothers, at Ottone (Kromme Nieuwegracht 62). At the Winkel van Sinkel, you can see the Hardest Swinging Orchestra in the Netherlands perform arrangements by Benny Goodman, while dancers do their best lindyhop.

There will be performances all over town, most free, this Sunday, February 7, so check the official Cultural Sunday website for a full list of events, times and locations.

Who doesn't love brunch. It's a chance to relax and enjoy a tasty meal while the sun (hopefully) shines. This Sunday, February 7, and every first Sunday of the month, is the Kok In Een Zok Brunch Café, where a variety of organic, vegetarian (with vegan options) foods are on offer. There are fruit, salads, sandwiches, waffles and more.

The cost of the meal is €12.50 per person, including drinks, and the opening hours are from 12-15:00. This monthly event is held at Stowis on Boothstraat 8, in Utrecht.

On January 21, 2010, Leiden's expat center officially opened to the public. If you're contemplating a move to Leiden or have just settled here, the dedicated expat officer on staff can answer questions and give advice on topics such as immigration formalities, living issues (like taxes, insurance, working, finding a house and schools), and well as tips for an active social life and information about Leiden as a region.

The expat center is located in the Visitor Centre Leiden, just across from the central station. They are open Monday to Friday from 8.00 to 18.00 hrs.

In cooperation with the University of Amsterdam, Leiden, and Wageningen, a new Center for Biodiversity (NCB Naturalis) was launched last week. As part of the Netherlands Year of Biodiversity, the center will focus on preserving and furthering research into the Netherlands' collection of natural history; in other words, the nation's part within the earth's biodiversity.

Along with the Netherlands, 168 countries are now participating in this initiative since 1992. Their collection consists of around 37 million objects, making it the 5th largest in the world. These objects include geological, zoological, and plant collections. Still expected to join these collections are insects from the University of Wageningen, and fish from the University of Amsterdam.

The goal of the center, which is now part of the National Museum of Natural History is for both national and international researchers to be able to make use of its content. A large part of its information will therefore be available online to both researchers as well as the general public. However, that part isn't available yet, nor is an english translation on their website.

This year's theme - roughly translated - is Little Titans: Growing Up In Literature. Unfortunately there aren't offerings available in English. At least not that I've been able to find. But if you can read Dutch, feel free to jump in. If not - well, be comforted to know that Dutch culture is still very much open to celebrating all things literary!

The Book Week poster was created by Piet Parra, a Dutch graphic designer and illustrator.

Take for example EkoPlaza, which boasts locations in the Hague, Bussum, and Veenendaal. I've only visited the Hague location (in fact I've never heard of the other two cities) and I can definitely recommend stopping by.

Located on the Grote Markstraat (115) quite near to the Central Station, the Hague's EkoPlaza is large and cheerfully lit. It contains everything you'd expect from a supermarket, and everything's organic. They have a produce section, fresh breads and pastries, cheese, canned and boxed goods and even a section with some clothing items and household cleaners.

I have to warn you - the bill will run considerably higher than at a normal supermarket. But sometimes organic is just the way to go.

Image taken from the EkoPlaza website.

Pardon me while I fast-forward 10 years. I've been watching a video from a recent meeting entitled 2020 Vision Forum on creative ideas for how Amsterdam could look and feel in 2020. Which, not to disturb you too much, is not that far away if you ask me.

As always with such designs and vision there are some pretty lofty goals for futuristic parks, buildings, and what materials will be gone from the urban landscape. Among the things I did enjoy was the idea that there would be a zeppelin service going from Museumplein (center of Amsterdam) to Waterland (traditional marshlands that the Netherlands is famous for). In addition, taxi's would all be electric by then.

I guess if you consider 10 years to be a long time, and 2020 seems so far away, its easier to imagine huge advancements in technology and design that would introduce all these radical changes to the city. Me, I think 2020 is closer than you think.

(here's a video from the event)

Are you a music and trivia buff? If so, you might want to head to Tivoli Oudegracht in Utrecht tomorrow night for the PopQuiz from Three Imaginary Boys. They'll take you through the history of pop music, with quizzes on music intros, musical connections, recognizing clips and more, with fun and banter to keep you entertained. There are prizes to be had, as well. Teams can be up to three people.

The quiz is Thursday, February 11, at Tivoli Oudegracht (Oudegracht 245 ) in Utrecht. Doors open at 20:00 and the quiz begins at 20:45. Entrance is €5.

If you're a fan of ska music, head to Tivoli this Saturday for DutchSka 2010, where you'll get everything from old-school '60s ska to up-tempo ska with a punk rock edge. The lineup features Rude Rich and the High Notes, The Upsessions, Bazzookas, and The Shenanigans. Tickets are €14. The show is Saturday, February 14, at Tivoli de Helling (De Helling 7) in Utrecht. Doors open at 19:00 and the show starts at 19:30.

The following week, Babylon Circus hits the stage at Tivoli Oudegracht. This 10-piece band from France is the kind of band you must see live, with their high-energy show combining ska, reggae, and a bit of folk. You're bound to hear some of their influences, which range from Manu Chao to The Clash. Tickets are €15. The show is Thursday, February 18 at Tivoli Oudegracht (Oudegracht 245), Utrecht. The doors open at 19:30 and the show starts at 20:30.

Ticket information for both shows can be found on the Tivoli website.

The Winter Olympics have begun over in Vancouver, and as a nation that loves its speedskating and other assorted winter sports, a lot of eyes are on the games right now.

While browsing around the web for more details about the Dutch athletes competing in Vancouver, I came across a little web project called "The Holland Heineken House". No they're not paying me to mention them, but taking a closer look I noticed this place is an actual house in Vancouver where the Dutch olympic team is staying or at least checking in regularly. In addition, they're rocking a twitter feed, a flickr photo stream, a youtube channel, facebook page; all the essentials so that we back here in the Netherlands can watch, read, and listen to what happens with team Holland.

Currently the games have barely started and the site is having some trouble with their international (english) page. But if you click on the regular house page you'll see the cute design and an array of features from everything going over there.

Looking for something to do tonight? You can head to The Hague for the ABC (American Book Center) Treehut's Open Mike Night, held from 8-10pm. About once a month (on the 2nd Friday of each month), the ABC Treehut encourages performers of all types to come out and show off their talent. All are welcome, from poets to comedians to short story writers.

They even provide a clear list of Open Mike Night Rules:

1) Performers: please be present at 8 pm at the ABC Treehut to confirm your slot
2) No entry fee (or free drinks) for performers
3) Your first performance of the evening should be 10 minutes long, or less
4) If there is still time, you might be able to perform again
5) Performances can be in any language
6) You may offer your work (book, cd, etc) for sale to the audience

As stated, entrance is free for performers, but if you prefer just to watch, there's a EUR 3 entrance fee. The ABC Treehut is located at Lange Poten 23 in The Hague.

Get there early - almost every time I've peered inside in the afternoons it's packed. It's also possible to hold a private event - in fact, when I walked by later in the day last Saturday, I noticed the whole café was reserved for a private party starting at 5:30pm.

Caffe Esprit is located at Spui 10. They are open on Sunday - Wednesday and Friday from 10am to 6pm, Thursdays from 10am to 8pm, and Saturdays from 10am to 7pm.

A recent article in NRC Handelsblad's English section: "So many bikes, so little space." It discusses incredible statistics on the number of bikes in the Netherlands, particularly the problem at major train stations:

Last year alone, Utrecht removed 9,000 bikes, almost twice as many as the year before. In Nijmegen, the numbers went up from 5,474 to 6,331 in 2009. In the same year, The Hague took 7,141 of its citizens' bicycles off the street, nearly 2,000 more than in 2008. Rotterdam was the only major city where the number removed remained stable at 12,000. Amsterdam, however, is in a league of its own. Last year, 45,000 bicycles were removed there, 6,000 more than in 2008.

The article mentions the problems of "orphaned" bicycles, and taught me about a number of interesting methods used to deal with these forgotten two-wheeled friends:

Bicycle removal teams have developed a special method to determine whether a bike has been abandoned: they put little stickers on a pre-determined position on the bicycle's wheels. If they return and the stickers are no longer in the same place, this means the wheel has turned and the bike has been used. If it hasn't, the civil servants put a large orange sticker on the bike announcing it will be removed by the city if the owner does not do so himself within a month.

It's great reading, and a good education into what happens to all that metal piled up in every Dutch city.

Construction has begun on the new Vredenburg Music Palace in Utrecht. The music center with dedicated halls for pop, jazz, classical, crossover and chamber music isn't expected to host its first concert until 2013, but to celebrate the start of construction, there will be a concert this afternoon, 18 February, at 17:30. Trumpeters Eric Vloeimans (jazz), Kyteman (pop) and Hans van Loenen (classical) will be performing, while Ingmar Heytze will be performing a poem written for the occasion. Mulled wine and hot chocolate will be on hand to keep the crowd warm for the outdoor performance in Vredenburg Square.

According to Wiki, the muisjes are actually sugared anise seeds, and anise "was good for the mother's milk, that it would ease the contractions in the womb, and that it would drive away evil spirits."

An interesting tradition. If you are ever offered one of these treats, now you know why.

Though they're often hard to find, in many places in the Netherlands expats have made a big effort to make cities more internationally friendly for others in the same boat. I recently discovered one of these efforts, in a website called Home in Leiden.

Now most of the Trippist readership may not be interested in family activities (which Home in Leiden specializes in) but the site has so much more. Are you an international student looking for work? Offer your babysitting services. Want to read up on Dutch festivals and traditions? No problem. Interested in getting the inside scoop on the Dutch recycling system? It's here.

There's plenty of other information helpful to any Leiden resident. There are lists of B&Bs and hotels, information on public transport, and interesting options for learning Dutch.

Any expat in Leiden should be aware of this site. Enjoy!

This Saturday, February 27, the Rumor Festival takes place in Utrecht. The festival is a night of adventurous music, with performances by three groups in three different locations, for one set price. Tickets are €15/10 (U-pas, student, CJP).

Led Bib, a punk jazz outfit, will be performing at EKKO at 20:30. At RASA Theater, György Ligeti's Mechanical Works will be performed at 21:45. Ligeti was an avant-garde composer famous for his music that appeared in some of Stanley Kubrick's most famous films. Finally, at 23:00, at Theater Kikker, Ansatz der Maschine will be performing a mix of subtle electronica mixed in with horns, violins, saxophones and more to create an adventurous form of pop music.

When I first heard about the street that Swissôtel is located on, Damrak, I figured it would be a bad option because that is the main thoroughfare leading directly to Central Station. As someone who prefers the out-of-the-way type hotels, being located practically on Dam Square with all the people, trams, and hoopla, did not sound comfortable.

Then I went there to see family members who were spending a weekend in Amsterdam, and over the course of three days I walked around, chatted with the friendly staff, and got the feel for this busy hotel.

Like all Swissôtels, there are a number of things you can count on: efficiency, 24 hour service, functional though small rooms, and cleanliness. In the case of Amsterdam's Swissôtel you get all of this, plus a very advantageous location if you want to see the different parts of the city while doing it mostly on foot or public transport. If you've ever fretted about getting from the train station to the place you're staying when you arrive in a new city, staying here eliminates that concern.

That said, everything is quite small. Facilities are not quite and functional and shiny as they probably were 10 years ago. And since it is so small and centrally located, there's not much in terms of extras and it is never not busy.

So if you seek reliable, convenient, comfortable, and predictable, Swissôtel should be on your short list.

This Sunday, February 28, the Mooie-Plaatjes group exhibition in Utrecht showcases the work of young, up-and-coming artists. The work of Rutger Lastdrager, L-Tuziasm, and Chiel will be on display, showcasing their mix of modern art, street art and photography. DJs Shameless and Jeremy Soze will be providing a musical backdrop for the artwork.

Rutger Lastdrager is a photographer using both raw images as well as digitally manipulated images to make people look at normal scenes in new ways. L-Tuziasm, along with being one of the founders of the exhibition, is a painter working with color and rough forms to explore both city life and nature. Chiel is a graffiti artist at heart who now does more of his work on canvas, while still frequently using spray paint.

The exhibit runs from 13:00-19:00 at Van Sijpensteinkade 11, Utrecht.

Fratelli has been completely refurbished, and is now a modern, inviting restaurant. Its dark wooden chairs have been replaced with sleek leather armchairs. The décor is fabulous and they've added a bar that just asks to be frequented. They even have a quieter seating area tucked behind the brand new wardrobe.

The food has also been upgraded - it's still Italian but of much higher quality. They are now open from 11.30 for lunch and serve a lunch menu until 4pm. The dinner menu is wonderful - salads and pastas, and very delicious pizzas.

I haven't figured out why Fratelli hasn't raised its prices, but hurry in and visit before they do. Fratelli is located at Lange Mare 112 and is open from Tuesday to Sunday from 11.30.

It's a boy! News out of the Artis Zoo is that a baby Madril monkey was born last weekend. His name is Yaro (son in Swahili) and he is doing well along with his mother (Ndoki). According to officials everything went fine and the two are enjoying themselves in the new Monkey Shelter area of the zoo.

You'll probably want to read this first line twice to make sure you understand it correctly:

The Giro D'Italia is coming to The Netherlands.

I'll wait while you read it again.

That is correct, the Italian equivalent of the Tour De France, has 3 legs of the race not in Italy, but in fact in three Dutch cities: Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Middelburg. Why you may ask? Because the Dutch love bike riding, and they love big bike tours like the Giro. Italians know this so they did us a solid this year and threw us three dates from their race.

The nice part, especially if you're at all curious about this world famous race, is that we can enjoy Italy's big event with the lovely Dutch countryside as a backdrop. A funny mesh of Europe North and South.

Quoting the details direct from their website:

1 08/05 Amsterdam - Amsterdam 8.4 km
2 09/05 Amsterdam - Utrecht 209 km
3 10/05 Amsterdam - Middelburg 209 km

This should get you on your way when it comes to making plans of what town to be in at the beginning of next week. I'll make sure to be out there at least one of the days with my video camera, and share that action with you right here on trippist.

Plato, a music store in the center of Utrecht, periodically features free concerts in the store. Tomorrow, 4 March, they will be hosting a free show by El Pino & The Volunteers, an alt-rock/Americana band from Rotterdam. The free show is at 16:30. If you like what you hear, the band will be playing a full show later on in the evening at Ekko, where the doors open at 20:00 and show starts at 20:30. Tickets are €8 for the Ekko show. Plato is located at Voorstraat 35, and Ekko is located at Bemuurde Weerd WZ 3, Utrecht.

It's almost upon us - Rotterdam Museum Night 2010 will be here this Saturday! On March 6th, 45 museums and galleries will open their doors for the 9th edition of this very special event. From 20:00 to 2:00, visitors can see incredible art and thought-provoking exhibitions.

How to get access to the museum night? All participating museums and galleries will be accessible with a passkey. This passkey is additionally valid for travel on the Museum Night bus and the Museum Night boat. The organizers advise purchase of the passkey in advance, as only a limited number will be available on the night itself.

For some sample routes that will ensure you see the highlights, see this page. Passkeys are EUR 12 if bought in advance, EUR 10 if you have a CJP card. Children's passes are also available (up to 12 years old) for EUR 6.

In just a few more weeks, the Movies that Matter Festival 2010 will begin. From March 25 to 31, Den Haag will be the site of this inspirational film festival. Fascinating filmmakers will descend on the city and discuss their work on topics roughly centered around human rights. Visitors can expect seventy films and dozens of introductions, discussions, interviews and talk shows. There are also a number of world premieres at the festival, including the film Shout by Dutch directors Ester Gould and Sabine Lubbe Bakker.

The films are held mainly in the Hague, at the Filmhuis Den Haag and the Theater aan het Spui. There are also a limited number of screenings in Amsterdam and Nijmegen. Tickets are €7.50 per film (€6 for CJP card holders, students, and seniors). Two screenings are €12, and a Passe-partout can be purchased for €25. Sales begin on 11 March.

With the growing concern and interest in environmental concerns and the impact of large-scale agricultural food production, you may be interested in viewing the documentary Food Inc. There will be a free screening of it Sunday, 7 March, at 20:30, at the ACU in Utrecht, located at Voorstraat 71.

As the ACU does every Sunday (and Tuesday through Thursday), their café will be serving vegetarian food for a minimal cost. The café is open from 18:00-20:30.

Expatica.com is well known for their expat speeddate events in different parts of the Netherlands. The turnout is quite good and according to several reliable sources, lots of those dates go well and occasionally end up becoming long term partnerships.

Building on their respected reputation in the realm of speed dating, this month expatica will host a Gay SpeedDate night in Amsterdam. On Saturday, March 20th, gay men are invited to Café Esprit in Amsterdam, and for 35€ you get two drinks and a chance to briefly meet other singles. According to their page there is only room for about 50 men and the average age of participants is between 30 and 45.

Doors open at 7:45pm and the event runs til 10pm. At which time an after party will start, for those who still think the night is young. The site makes no mention of women, so we can assume this is not a lesbian SpeedDate night. When that event does occur we'll be sure and post that info on trippist as well.

Dutch writer, Joost Zwagerman, author of the book, Duel, will be at Utrecht Central Library (Bibliotheek Utrecht), located at Oudegracht 167, from 15.00-17.00. Award-winning author Charlotte Mutsaers, who grew up in Utrecht, will be speaking at the Stadhuis, Korte Minrebroederstraat 2, from 14.45 till 15.45. Both events are free. There are a number of other events going on around town, as well. Check the official site for the full schedule.

The events are in Dutch, of course, but if your Dutch isn't that good yet, go along for the practice. You may also want to pick up a Dutch book this week. If you spend €12.50 or more on a Dutch book during the National Literary Week, you will receive Joost Zwagerman's book Duel for free. Then, on Cultural Sunday, March 14, take the copy of Duel with you when you ride the train to show to the conductor and you can ride the train for free all day throughout the Netherlands.

Utrecht has a bit of everything, including music events covering a variety of styles and interests, from jazz to death metal. For example, the Utrecht Jazz Festival is taking place this week, March 9-13, at various locations around the city, including SJU, RASA, and the Vredenburg Music Center. The theme of the event is Jazz With a Bite. Each day will see a variety of jazz musicians exploring some of the edgier sides of jazz and braving the world of improv. The events range in price from free to €18, with the Saturday performance by the Jan Garbarek Group going for €29.50. The full festival line-up and ticket information can be found on the website.

On the other hand if death metal is more your thing, there's the Suffocation concert at Tivoli on Friday, March 12. The doors open at 17:00 and the show starts at 18:00. Included in the line-up, along with the band Suffocation, are Annotations of an Autopsy, Nervecell, Fleshgod Apocalypse, and Burning the Masses. Tickets are €17, and the show is at the Tivoli De Helling location (Helling 7, Utrecht).

I'm happy to say that Rotterdam Museum Night 2010 was a success! Held last Saturday evening, the city was alive with participants and participating locations were brightly lit and full of interesting performances and artwork. We saw live acts (both music and drama), political artwork, and contemporary photography. We learned about luxury on the Titanic and admired giant mushroom sculptures. In essence, there was something for everyone.

We didn't make use of the free transportation (both tram and boat) but for a beginner, it's good to know that many exhibitions are clustered in the center and within walking distance. It was quite some exercise (and freezing cold!) but unnecessary to hop on a tram to get around.

Rotterdam Museum Night is an annual event, so make sure to attend in 2011. It's well worth it.

Friends of mine from France wrote to inform me they were coming to Amsterdam, to see the Magnetic Fields. At first I pictured a large open field with metal poles, but then I remembered the beloved musical group from the US.

Indeed on Wednesday the 31st of March, the Magnetic Fields will be playing in Amsterdam, and not at your typical concert venue. Instead of the usual big name concert halls, they will perform at the very beautiful De Duif (the Dove). Built on the site of a church that goes back to the 1700's, the current church was built in 1857 along the very beautiful prinsengracht.
Tickets for the concert are still sold via the paradiso website (like most big acts in this town). Doors open at 7:30pm, and tickets will run you €19 plus the paradiso membership.

Spring is starting to break through here in Amsterdam. So as a welcome to the new season, I went for a ferry ride to the north, passing along the way one of my favorite areas of this fine city. Watch the video, I'll explain in my own voice:

Anyone who enjoys running -- whether competitively or simply for fun -- is invited to take part in the Hellas Athletics 7-Loop this Sunday, March 21. Choose from distances of 2.5 - 5 kilometer, 10 or 15 kilometer. Registration is done that day in the canteen at the track. Changing rooms and showers are available. Registration is €1.50 for youth up to 15 years of age, and €3 for adults. The path takes you along the Kromme Rijn, through Amelisweerd to the Fort bij Rijnauwen, before back to the track. The event begins at Maarschalkerweerd Atletiekbaan, located at the Mytylweg Sportpark in Utrecht (behind the FC Utrecht stadium). All events begin at 11 a.m. Information (in Dutch) can be found on the Hellas Utrecht website.

Starting this Sunday, March 21, the Catharijne Convent museum in Utrecht will be offering a series of three master classes/workshops to teach about the way paintings are painted. These three-hour sessions will explore the layers involved in creating a painting, from the underpainting to the highlights of the main figures, through both discussion and hand-on labs. The classes are taught by Luke Stofferis, from the Department of Ancient Painting Techniques. Each class will focus on a different painting medium, such as egg tempera and oils.

The cost of each workshop is €30, which includes coffee, museum entrance, and all materials. The classes run from 13:00-16:00, and are held at the Catharijne Convent in Utrecht. More details can be found at the Utrecht Uitburo website, which includes information on discounts.

This is big news especially for us who have had to - for years - painfully throw our plastic garbage in with the rest of the rubbish. Keep an eye out for this new option. If you want to practice your Dutch and learn more about plastic, check out the Plastic Heroes site. It gives comprehensive information about plastic in general and the situation in the Netherlands.

Spring is here, so it's time to head back outside! Better weather is such an inspiration for exploring the Netherlands. One place to start planning summer trips? The cheese markets! Every summer, the traditional cheese market trade is recreated in certain places. Of course, it's more than just tradition - there's plenty of cheese to admire and consume!

Example one: Alkmaar. Cheese carriers operate on the Waagplein square every Friday between 10-12 (during the summer). There's also a Cheese Museum in Alkmaar.

Example two: Edam. The cheese market takes place weekly during the summer months. If you didn't get enough you can head to the nearby cheese warehouses for more dairy goodness.

Of course, if you prefer to sample your local variety there's no doubt that a fabulous selection awaits you at the weekly market.

For expats living in the Netherlands, there are many ways to learn Dutch. Most, however, cost money and/or can be difficult to arrange for those with busy schedules. Plus, many people (like me!) never did well with language learning in a large classroom setting.

So what to do? Well, if your Dutch has reached the conversational level, there are other options. You can try to find a Dutch "intercambio" - someone who spends an hour with you, sipping a beer and speaking half the time in Dutch and half the time in your native language. This is usually most useful if your native language is not English, of course.

Another option put together by the Gilde SamenSpraak Leiden aims to put Dutch learners in contact with local, mostly older Dutch people. They make the arrangements and then you meet up once a week to chat. The sessions aim to improve your Dutch (of course!) but also gain an understanding of Dutch culture.

The Gilde SamenSpraak Leiden is located at Herenstraat 61. They can be reached via the web or via telephone number 071-5123715.

Enjoy knitting and crocheting and wouldn't mind a bit of company while you work? Then join up with one of the 90+ Stitch 'n Bitch groups in the Netherlands. A new group here in Utrecht began this year and they meet every Thursday, from 19:30 to 21:30 at the Huiskamer van Zuilen (Buurthuis Zuilen). Additional groups meet all around Utrecht, including a group that meets at the Winkel van Sinkel, also on Thursday nights, starting at 19:30, and another group that meets at Keek on Twijnstraat, on Saturday mornings at 10:00. There are no formal lessons; this is just an opportunity for fellow yarn lovers to get together and work on their projects while sharing their interests with like-minded people. Participation is free and open to anyone. Just bring along your own supplies and projects and enjoy a bit of company while you work.

For a full listing of groups, times and locations in the Netherlands, visit the Stitch 'n Bitch website.

If you want to take a trip to Peru or learn more about the Incas, but can't afford the airfare, visit the culture and tourism promotional tour that's making a stop in Utrecht on Sunday, March 28. Experience food from Peru, presentations about the importance of the Incas, dance presentations and workshops and more. The event takes place at the Café Tropical, Verlengde Hoogravenseweg 203, Utrecht, and runs from 13:00 to 17:45. You can get detailed information about times and presentations, along with future dates of the tour in other Dutch cities, at the Inkapacha website.

Looking for something to do this Friday? Your Own Gallery, a "young, contemporary art gallery" is holding their first show on Friday, March 26th (tomorrow!). For the next four months, a total of nine artists will exhibit here. First up is Gijs Kast, whose exhibition is called "Show" and consists of illustrations that were drawn during shows.

The show can be seen between 7-10pm on Friday evening. Your Own Gallery is open weekdays (Monday through Friday) from 10am-6pm, and is located at Oude Waal 35 in Amsterdam - not far from the Central Station.

Ever wanted to watch a major bike tour pass through a quaint little town like Leiden? On Monday, May 10th, that opportunity presents itself. The 2010 Giro d'Italia, which starts in the Netherlands and runs from Amsterdam to Middelburg, will pass through the city of Leiden between 10am and 2pm. Stop by the Breestraat to get a good look at the professional cycling teams. But don't bring a car - many surrounding roads will be closed down for this special event.

The stage in the Netherlands begins in Amsterdam at the van Gogh museum and continues through Utrecht, Leiden, and onto Middelburg. After a Dutch start the participants head to Italy. For die-hard fans, here's a summary of the route through the Italian countryside:

This Giro covers much of the Italian peninsula, and runs counter-clockwise from its start in Amsterdam to the finish in Verona. The Giro rolls from Piedmont on the northern border with France to the Amalfi Coast, then travels across to Adriatic Coast. From Bitonto, the Giro travels north along the Adriatic and passes through l'Aquila in a commemoration of the earthquake which caused widespread destruction in the city. Then, it's on to Venezia and the Monte Zoncolan near Italy's northern border. The final week lingers in Trentino and Lombardia in the north near Switzerland before the final time trial in Verona. The Giro celebrates the career of Fausto Coppi with a stage in Novi Ligure.

The site I was told about is specific to South Holland, but upon further examination it seems that Angloinfo is a global network with sites in many countries including Belgium, Brazil and Hong Kong.

You can become a member to post and reply to classifieds and discussion topics. This might be something to look into, as they boast 7,151 registered members.

The American Book Center in Amsterdam is hosting The Urban Culture Event. Where design meets crafts, this festival will be held on June 27 at ABC in the Spui in Amsterdam. The entire Spui square will be taken over by passionate craft-lovers, designers and artisans all enthusiastically making, displaying and putting their art up for sale.

If lessons and workshops are more your cup of tea, there will be many running concurrently in the ABC Treehouse at Voetboogstraat 11, located very close to Spui.

The ABC blog lists all participating artists/authors, including:

Umbrellart: an Xstreets Collective initiative. Bringing art back to the streets and bringing artists from all over the world together.

Idle Hands: I'd rather be knitting! The new community for people that love fibre crafts: be it knitting, crochet or sewing!

Pia Jan Bijkerk: author, Paris: Made by Hand

Mark June 27 on your calendar and get ready for a day full of cheerful creativity.

After a long weekend in Barcelona, I'm back in Amsterdam.

Before I left, I caught the Owen Pallett show at "The Dove", a wonderful old church in the heart of Amsterdam. Instead of trying to describe how excellent it was using lofty words, I will instead provide a video:

The legendary Colin Benders, AKA Kyteman, will be there with Tim van Delft, the drummer from de Staat, pianist Wout Smeets, dance producer Pitto, and DJs Ivoryman and Juan Barros. The night will be a mix of hip hop, funk, electronica, and rock. Also on hand will be a fashion show, and artwork by Leyp and the D-Team. As an added bonus, the first people there that evening will get to "shop" the special store set up with a variety of t-shirts, hats, socks and more. First come, first serve, with the opportunity to take home one free item.

The Dom Jam takes place Friday, April 2, from 23:00 to 5:00, at the Winkel van Sinkel, Oudegracht 158. Tickets are €12.50 in advance or €15 at the door. Tickets can purchased through Paylogic, or from Oh My Tees, tel. 0302343023.

The St. Willibrordus church, a colorfully decorated neo-gothic church in Utrecht, is hosting Goede Passie, a series of concerts in celebration of Easter. Thursday, April 1, at 20:45 is a Festive Passion concert. Friday, at 17:00 is Stabat Mater by Pergolesi, performed by Esther Kronenburg, soprano. Saturday, at 14:00, Russian folklore group Zarjanka will be performing Easter and Russian folk songs. Later that day, at 20:30, Requiem by Cherubini will be performed by a chamber choir from Zeist. Finally, on Sunday, April 4, at 14:00, there will be a performance of Symphone Passion, by Marcel Dupré. All performances are free, although donations will be accepted. St. Willibrord is located at Minrebroederstraat 21, Utrecht.

The 2010 exhibition kicks off April 22 in Amsterdam, where it will remain until June 20, before heading next to Portugal. It will be back in the Netherlands throughout the year, with stops in Utrecht, Leeuwarden, Naarden, Rotterdam, Eindhoven, Maastricht, and Groningen. The full schedule can be found on the Wold Press Photo's official website, which also includes a gallery of all of the winning photos.

Every night at dusk, various spots around the city -- encompassing canals, buildings, objects, streets and bridges -- will be lit by special installations designed by light artists. The lights will burn from dusk to midnight every night, highlighting the past and present of this ancient city. To follow the full tour, it will take you around 1.5 hours at a comfortable stroll. Of course, you can always just hit up individual spots around town at your whim. With the increasingly nice weather, it should make for a nice way to get out and enjoy the evenings, maybe with a stop at a restaurant or café along the way.

The walk and lights are free, of course, and cover the city from Vredenburg to Mariaplaats. You can get the full map of the light displays through the VVV Utrecht, located at Domplein 9; the Apollo Hotel at Vredenburg 14; and the information center of the municipality of Utrecht, Vinkenburgstraat 26.

They have a small, but carefully selected wine list, as well as various ports and sherrys and other liquors if you want to stop in just for drinks. Now that the weather is improving, they've got outdoor seating, as well. It's a social little place that offers quality dining for a reasonable price, while avoiding a stuffy atmosphere. They even have a pub quiz every last Wednesday of the month.

If you're in Utrecht and looking for a quality meal, definitely try out Zocher. They even have a special theater menu if you're heading to the nearby Stadsschouwburg for a performance. The restaurant is located at Lucasbolwerk 21, Utrecht, and they're open every day except Tuesday. Check their website for opening times and the menu.

It is hard to believe Sail '10 is coming this summer to Amsterdam. It only happens every 5 years or so and it involves beautiful ships dropping anchor in the inner harbor and a massive celebration. Tall ships come from around the world to participate and anyone can climb aboard, look around, and speak with crews.

An event so large and so special requires alot of behind the scenes work, and right now Sail is looking for volunteers. If you find yourself in Amsterdam this august, if you can speak more than 1 language, and if you're eager to help out and be a part of it, Sail is waiting for you.

They've put the call for volunteers on their site. On that same page you'll also find detailed descriptions of what is involved and what qualifications they require. You can bet there are a lot of PERKS!

Don't forget that this weekend is Museum Weekend, in which more than 500 museums across the Netherlands open their doors for free or for significantly reduced prices. Not every museum participates, but plenty of them do. Here in Utrecht, some of the participating museums include the Sonnenborgh, Catharijneconvent, Geldmuseum, Centraal Museum, and the Botanic Gardens. The Centraal Museum has a special exhibit currently going on, showcasing the work of fashion designer Alexander van Slobbe. The Geld (money) Museum will be offering special workshops on Saturday for just a few euros, allowing you to make jewelry from money.

To see the full list of participating museums, check out the official website. It includes opening times, entrance costs (many are free) and special events taking place this weekend at the museums.

Spring is in full swing, so it's time to check out the flowers! This can also be done indoors, of course. For example, until May 9th the Teylers Museum in Haarlem is holding an exhibition on botanical arts. This includes Highgrove Florilegium. For those of you who aren't familiar, these are aquarelles and engravings of floors that can be found in the gardens of the Highgrove House, which is the official residence of Prince Charles.

The exhibition is held at the Teylers Museum in Haarlem, located at Spaarne 16.

Boekennacht 2010 is right around the corner! On Friday, April 23rd from 8-10pm, head to the American Book Center (for English language events) and the Spui for all events.

It's the second edition of Boekennacht, and this year's theme is 'De roes.' Be prepared for outdoor book displays, literary events, library events, and also presentations in pubs in and around Amsterdam's Spui.

If you're a book lover this is an event that shouldn't be missed! See the ABC blog for more information, and get ready to stop by the store and the treehouse for events.

Ok well its not a direct connection; Greetings from Siberia! Yes we trippists aren't always in the Netherlands, like any good .NL residents, we travel. In keeping with that tradition, Im traveling through Siberia, and I wanted to share a few nuggets of wisdom regarding the process of getting from the Netherlands to Russia.

Traditionally in the travel world, people love to make jokes about Aeroflot Russian airlines. This might be because in the past there have been accidents, or because with such a large country they have to cover alot of territory and they've surely got some old planes in service.

That said, if you travel from Amsterdam or, for example, Paris on an Aeroflot plane to Moscow, you'll find yourself on a very new plane and met with extremely good service. Perhaps it is because of the bad reputation they gained since the end of the USSR, or perhaps they had a management epiphany - whatever the reason, we traveling from Europe to Russia are benefiting.

In summary, if you are someone planning a trip to Amsterdam, and then thinking to continue on to Russia.. first.. I admire your taste in travel. Second, don't ignore aeroflot, their prices might work for you and the service if definitely on the rise. Once you get into Russia and take a domestic flight.. well... Ill save that for another post!

It's that time of the year again: Keukenhof is open! I have a friend who experienced Keukenhof for the first time about a month ago. She took the train, the bus, paid the EUR 14 entrance fee, and ... no flowers. What a disappointment!

But now, a visit should be safe, and is highly recommended! If you're particularly adventurous you can rent a bike (or bring your own) in Lisse and bike through the tulip fields.

This weekend is a particularly good time to visit. It's the Russia Weekend / Summer Bulb Market on April 16, 17 and 18. If you visit this weekend you can see a number of bulb growers showing and selling their tulip bulbs. Their website also lists a number of interesting package deals. It's a Dutch spring experience you'll never forget!

Saturday, April 17, is the international Record Store Day, a celebration of independently owned record stores. The Netherlands will certainly be celebrating, with stores in Utrecht, Leiden, Zwolle, Enschede, Rotterdam, Groningen and more participating. Stores will have special discounts, limited vinyl releases, live performances and more.

At Plato in Utrecht, Voorstraat 35, DJs Quasimodus and Waterleidings Mij. Oost-Brabant will be performing at 12:00 and 14:00 respectively, followed by live performances from Roosbeef (15:30),The Mad Trust (16:00) and Boemklatsch Surprise (16:30). A coffee bar will also be on hand to keep you caffeinated as you explore the stacks.

For the full list of participating stores in the Netherlands, check the official Record Store Day website in English or Dutch.

Well, Trippist readers, I hope none of you were planning a trip to the Netherlands this weekend. Flights have been cancelled since Thursday - I even missed out on a weekend in Spain to visit the family. I'm not complaining too much, though, as the weather here in NL is absolutely beautiful!

I've heard stories from numerous people whose holidays have been disrupted or are stuck in various locations around the world. But then I started to realize how big this problem really is, thanks to NCR Handelsblad's summary of issues.

For example, think about cargo: The article points out "The closure of airspace over several countries reveals the vulnerability of an economy that is based just-in-time delivery, allowing for fresh products and minimal inventories. In shipping, 'fresh' can apply to many things, ranging from grapes from Morocco to trendy fashion items and electrical devices from Asia."

Given that Schiphol airport processes 1.2 million tons of cargo annually (think everything from fish to tulips), this could lead to massive chaos - and is indeed already having this effect. Read here to learn more about this developing situation.

Get your game on tomorrow, Sunday, April 18, at Utrecht's monthly Cultural Sunday event. This month's theme is Vrij Spel (Free Game) and it gets visitors to look at the arts and sciences in a game-playing kind of way. Artists, scholars and students of some of Utrecht's universities have created a variety of games and interactive programs for all ages to explore science, research, philosophy and justice, all in an entertaining and brain-teasing way.

As always, there are events all over Utrecht at a variety of sites, including the Domplein, various university buildings and the Sonnenborgh. Check out the official website for a downloadable schedule with all of the events and times (in Dutch). As always, Cultural Sunday events are free.

Greetings from Novosibirsk, Russia, where my trans-Siberian journey continues. Watching the news in between stops and cities Im traveling through, obviously I know all about the trouble with the volcanic ash and the airline industry all over Europe. Strangely enough this happens at a time when Im traveling almost everyday across Russia... except that my travels are by bus and train.

All this reminds me of the great transport network of trains and buses we have in Europe, so that even when airplanes are not an option, there are ways! Unfortunately few people travel 36 to 40 hours by train as Im about to. Busy lives and limited time does not seem to allow for it. Me, I've got a date with the Trans-Siberian... next stop.. Irkutsk and lake Beikal, the deepest lake in the world!

See you all on the other side.... of Siberia.

On the official page the regulations are laid out: "The only rule for 30 Days of Biking is that you bike every day for 30 days--around the block, 20 miles to work, whatever suits you--then tweet about your adventures with the tag #30daysofbiking. Event starts on April 1 and ends on April 30!"

You can follow global progress on Twitter. Also check out a great video by Mindcaster, made in honor of the event.

And of course don't forget to visit the official blog.

That is the question you need to answer in order to win free bike rental during your stay in a hostel in Amsterdam. Hostelbookers teamed up with the Bicycle Hotel and are running a competition where 2 people can win free bike hire. Details on the contest can be found here. Good luck!

Did we mention it is 30 Days of Biking month?

No trip planned to St. Petersburg? Have no fear - St. Petersburg has come to you! From
March 6 - September 17, 75 paintings from the collection of the Hermitage in St. Petersburg will be on display at the Hermitage Amsterdam. From the website:

For this exhibition about 75 paintings have been selected from the Hermitage St.- Petersburg, which has one of the world's finest collections of French painting of the early twentieth century. Apart from the world-famous French masters, such equally celebrated Russian contemporaries as Malevich and Kandinsky will be represented. These artists are seen as the pioneers of Modernism. Almost all the works exhibited are on permanent display in St.- Petersburg.

Hermitage Amsterdam is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm, Wednesdays to 8 pm. They are located at Amstel 51 and can be reached online or via telephone +31 (0)20 530 74 88.

This one's a bit last minute, but if you're in Utrecht this weekend, you might be interested in the Africa Independent Festival taking place at the RASA Center for World Cultures (Pauwstraat 13a, Utrecht). The event will feature performances by Sam Mangwana & Odemba OK All Stars, Victor Démé, Dobet Gnahoré, Manou Gallo, and Mdungu with Justin Adams & Juldeh Camara.

The festival is spread over two nights (April 24-25) and tickets cost €16-19 per night. The RASA website has more details on who is performing each night and when, along with information for making ticket reservations.

Have you ever wondered about story behind the eggs you just purchased at the Dutch supermarket? How do you make your selection? By price? Is there some other indicator that you use? I've recently learned that all eggs made in Europe have their own "badge." This badge, the numbers printed on each egg, tell you which country the egg was produced in, and a little bit about the farming system (how the chicken is housed). It even specifies the actual farm where the chicken comes from.

A website has been set up to explain these numbers in more detail. It's in Dutch, but here's a rough English translation:

THE FIRST NUMBER (between 0 and 4, with 0 being the best score for how the hens are treated):
0: Organic eggs come from hens kept in sheds with up to six animals per m2. The space is at least 4 m2 per laying hen. Other requirements include that the chicken should be fed largely organic food and it is not allowed to treat the beaks (e.g., cut them off, as is sadly standard practice elsewhere).

4: Within a large barn, there are three to five hens per cage. Each animal has access to at least 550 cm2 of floor space. The floor of the cages is wire mesh - when the eggs are laid they fall onto a band which collects them in bulk. (The website notes that many companies are switching to cages where the hens have access to nests, perches and a free range area).

THE COUNTRY CODE:
This is self-explanatory, where NL stands for the Netherlands, etc.

THE LAST NUMBER:
Every poultry farm in Europe has its own code. Dutch companies have a code that consists of 5 digits.

Here's another example of why I love being in the Netherlands in springtime - beauty can spring from the most unlikely places! I found this gem while heading to a meeting in Delft.

Here's a chance to learn how to cook with organic ingredients and practice your Dutch: Puur, the recently opened organic supermarket in Leiden, is offering cooking workshops on a regular basis for the rest of 2010.

At EUR 45 a pop, these workshops are run by Jeroen van Wijk and cover a variety of foods, including:

29 May and 5 June: tapas evening
11 September: the Italian kitchen
25 September: the Marrocan kitchen
9 October: the Thai kitchen
23 October: cooking with forgotten vegetables
6 November: savory and sweet pies

Interested? Just sign up at www.whatscookin.nl (look for "kookavonden Leiden") and you're all set!

Me Gusta! provides a combination of café, deli, and catering services. They also have a charming shop where they sell Mediterranean goods.

The store is open from Monday to Saturday. Stop in for a delicious lunch (see some samples below!), a coffee or cappuccino and a treat, or pick up some Italian wine or olive oil. They also have a delicious looking Spanish tortilla for sale - homemade, of course! I tried the caprese sandwich - absolutely delicious and priced fairly.

Me Gusta! is located at van Hogendorpstraat 16a in Wassenaar. If you're ever in the neighborhood, it's definitely worth a visit.

Botenverhuur de Rijnstroom, Weg naar Rhijnauwen 2, has everything from one-person canoes for €4 for one hour, up to motorboats that you can rent for the whole day for €60, with everything in between. They're located between the Utrecht stadium and University de Uithof and have routes that take you through the old city center or out into wilder, greener locations.

If you want a party boat with food and drink, you may want to consider the tapas boats that sail through Utrecht. Besides the tapas boat, they also offer BBQ, high tea, stamppot and lunch boats. They're good for large groups, seating at least 10 people, which means the price is much lower if everyone is chipping in. If you want just a boat and skipper, that goes for around €140, with the food and drink boats going up in cost from there.

I'm landing back in Amsterdam just in time for the biggest annual nation wide fiesta in the Netherlands, Queens Day. I did this on purpose as although I love to travel, being in town for Queen's Day is always a pleasure. This year, despite the looming threat of a garbage collection strike, the city is still getting ready for another classic.

As part of the preperations, I found an I Amsterdam Queen's Day Iphone App. Of course my first recommendation of Iphone apps for NL tourism is our very own! But for this specific event, try out the Queen's Day app, its actually part of their regular app with a special feature for this specific holiday.

Features include updates about what is happening where and how the fun is progressing in various parts of the city. Kind of like a traffic report for partying.

Here's a problem I wasn't aware of in the Netherlands: public service employees often face aggression and violence when they are out doing their work, and witnesses do nothing to help.

This situation has two clear problems (the aggressors and the bystanders), but a new Public Service Announcement (PSA) campaign aims to confront the bystanders. According to Dabitch at Adland.tv:

This PSA holds a mirror up to the people on the street, showing them onscreen (as people do love to look at themselves), but with a little help of a scene previously filmed against bluescreen background, they find that they are now in a scene where paramedics face violence, and they play the part of the onlookers who don't intervene when the paramedics need help.

Check out the PSA here. What a great idea! I'm interested to see if it helps to change bystander behavior and make the streets safer for public service employees to do their jobs.

The Latin American Film Festival, in its sixth year, is taking place May 6-14 in Utrecht. The festival showcases the work of filmmakers from Latin America and those making films about the region. Included is an overview of some of the best films and documentaries of the past year, as well as an exploration of social and cultural developments. Along with the films and presentations, music, dance and debates help round out the festival.

The festival is located at the Louis Hartlooper Complex,Tolsteegbrug 1. Single tickets are €8.50, but there are discounts and special rates available, including €6 tickets for afternoon showings.Full information is available on the festival's website, in both English and in Dutch, including a downloadable festival program.

It always takes a few days to recover from Queen's Day and this year was no different. Some said things around Amsterdam were a little quieter this year either due to the rain or last year's attempt on the royal family. However around my neighborhood and in the center of Amsterdam all was as lively and as orange as ever. I spliced together a one minute glimpse of Queen's Day 2010 for you, check it out:

Big music festival season will soon be upon us here in the Netherlands, that time of year when huge multi-day outdoor events take place throughout the country. While some names are world-reknowned, often its the smaller festivals that are most memorable.

In just over one week's time the Walk the Line Festival will take place in the Hague. While the title sounds like it must be a giant Johnny Cash festival, its actually just a nice music festival not necessarily obsessed with the Man in Black. Bands include Bonobo, Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip, Blaudzun, and AVI Buffalo, all of which you can preview via the organization's very cool (and noisy!) website.

Tickets are available online, 25€ for one day or 45€ for both days. The dates are 14 and 15 of May and the specific locations are also explained in detail on the website.

From the U.S., but now call a Dutch city home? It's possible that you have cravings once in a while for food products more commonly found on U.S. soil.

Thanks to this blog (A Touch of Dutch) and a recently published entry called "The Updated Great American Food Blog Entry," there is now a comprehensive list of where to find or order American food in the Netherlands. And when I say comprehensive, I mean comprehensive. From Amstelveen to Utrecht to Leiden, she has provided information about the stores and contact info. She even has a section on Belgium.

But as she points out: be aware that these products are insanely expensive compared to their counterparts back at home. She also provides some links to shipping services, in case you decide to handle the import yourself.

In the meantime, here are a few photos I took around town last night. The whole city has gone pink, it seems, from window displays, to the Winkel van Sinkel, to even the Domtoren!

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, there's a fantastic light show taking place in Utrecht every night, as part of the Trajectum Lumen project. Last night I managed to get a few shots of some of the lights on display, but this is just a small fraction. I particularly recommend the display at the Drift Canal, which is continuously changing, with images from abstract colors to Pac Man chases. It's hypnotic and hard to step away from it.

Seen here from top to bottom are the Drift Canal, the neon halo at St. Willibrord Church, and Janskerk:

SAIL is a nautical extravaganza. I was there five years ago for SAIL 2005, and I'm not exaggerating when I say that it was one of the most spectacular events I've ever been at in all my time in the Netherlands. As the website states, the event will boast the following:

* an impressive fleet of Tall Ships from all around the world
* a unique collection of Dutch sailing heritage
* a variety of modern ships
* various impressive naval ships and replicas
* an extensive, accompanying programme on the wharfs
* activities, performances and expositions for young and old
* a unique atmosphere with thousands of boats on the water
* a daily closing ceremony with a breath-taking fireworks show

The ships are really unbelievable, and all sizes and shapes fill the waters near Amsterdam Central Station. They're not just to look at, either - many of the ships can be boarded, and detailed tours are possible.

Check out the website and reserve these dates: August 19-23, 2010.

Tomorrow is Hemelvaart, assention day, a beloved holiday where the Dutch kick back, relax, and weather permitting - go out and enjoy themselves. Many will do the barbecue thing at a friends house or at the park, others will choose to go to a nice restaurant or café. If you happen to be someone looking for a nice big outdoor festival during the day, I have just the thing for you: Hemeltjelief.

Hemeltkelief is a self proclaimed, party for sweet people. So if you fit the criteria, the fun is taking place in Amsterdam North at the NDSM wharf. There will be a long list of music, art, and food for your indulgence. Among the international musical acts are: Mdungu, Les Chevals, Correspondence, Brazzaville, The Stokers, Cool Genius and Dent Tex.
The website includes a long list of children's activities making this festival as fun for kids as it is for adults.

The full festival combi pass costs €20 and a regular ticket costs €13. The combi ticket gets you into the after party that starts at 11pm and will go all night. The festival takes place all day long followed by the afterparty for those who prefer the darkness.

Planning to move to or just visit the Hague? I've come across another great resource for expats: The Hague Online. This site provides news headlines in English but also goes in-depth on a number of important issues, like finance, health, housing, lifestyle and work.

It also provides a comprehensive business directory, from bookstores to interior design to ski centers.

The essentials tab provides information about free workshops, exhibitions, and concerts.

The Hague Online is a great website for any non-Dutch speaker looking to familiarize themselves with the city.

From 29 April until 28 June, the 19th annual International Sand Sculpture Festival is held at Scheveningen Beach in The Hague. This is an event worth seeing: feast your eyes on impossibly high sand sculptures created by international artists, all conforming to the theme of "sport." Why sport? The story goes that the theme is being used to promote the idea of The Hague as a city for professional sports.

Where do sculptors get their materials? An article at denhaag.nl explains:

A sand sculpture is a construction made out of sand and water and is nearly any shape. The secret behind the long-lasting sand sculptures featured in the International Sand Sculpture Festival lies in the sort of sand which is used. The white sand from Scheveningen beach is unsuitable. Beach sand is rounded due to tidal wash and wind, but sculpturing sand is less eroded and has a rougher structure in order to stack it up to a high level. This sand comes from the river Maas and has been transported along with the river from the Alpes (mineral sand). These grains are similar to a dice form and fit into and onto each other.

Pick a sunny day to explore the boulevard and beach pavilions of Scheveningen and admire the sculptures.

April 30th wasn't just the infamous Queen's Day. It was also the opening of the amazing Japanese Garden in Clingendael Park. Until June 13th, you can visit these gardens - open to the public - and enjoy a beautiful stroll anytime between 9am and 8pm. According to the Gemeente Den Haag,

The Japanese Garden was created in the beginning of the 20th century by the former owner of the country estate of Clingendael, Marguérite M. Baroness van Brienen (1871-1939), also called Lady Daisy. Lady Daisy sailed off a number of times by ship to Japan and brought back to the Netherlands a number of lanterns, a water cask, sculptures, the pavilion, the little bridges and several plants.

Did I mention admission is free? The gardens are located at Landgoed Clingendaelm, which can be found between The Hague and Wassenaar. The entrance is on the Wassenaarseweg in The Hague.

It consists of several races around the city's beautiful streets, including a 1.5 kilometer kids run, a 5 kilometer run and a 10 kilometer run (the main event). All races start and finish at the Zandvlietcollege on Bezuidenhoutseweg. For more information, you can email: info@royalten.nl or check out www.royalten.nl (information only available in Dutch).

Sometimes it's easy to get lost in your own little world when your computer is your workspace and you're working all alone. There are times when you want a bit more interaction and perhaps a bit of inspiration. SetupUtrecht has a solution for this problem and they call it Manic Monday. Every Monday through June 28, they are offering a free spot for people working with new media to come and work and maybe get a bit of inspiration or at least a bit more interaction. They provide a spot at the Neude (Neude 4), along with chairs and WiFi, and as they say, "you bring: good humor, passion, laptop (or pencil), and your friends or colleagues." Coffee and tea are available for €1, but you have to provide your own food if you want it. Not a bad deal! The spot is open from 9:30 to 18:00 each Monday, and both Dutch and English are generally spoken.

The internationally reknown German Circus Roncalli, is coming to Amsterdam. Actually they arrived yesterday.

World famous for being the only circus in Europe that travels exclusively by train, Roncalli is also known for having some of the best preserved circus wagons in the world. Often described as a circus-museum, they have made it their priority to preserve old fashioned costumes, decorations, and other circus artifacts.

From May 22 to June 13 Circus Roncalli will be performing on the De Boelelaan/Beethovenstraat (map). Tickets range from €16 to €55 depending on how close you want to sit to the action. Shows take place almost daily and often twice a day, check the website and online ticket sales for more details. (in German or Dutch, English under construction)

The Neude square acts as a central location, but the events take place throughout the city, in small clubs as well as in temporary structures built just for the occasion. There are nightly free music performances at the Neude, along with film, theater, workshops, debates and parties at various locations. Some of the featured artists this year include James Beckett, Roos van Geffen and Dries Verhoeven, along with Alain Platel, Lone Twin Theatre and Amir Reza Koohestani.

The festival runs from 20-29 of May and the full program and times can be found on the festival's official website.

The show is open each day from 10-17:00 in the Griftsteede (the area by the children's playground and the animals). Along with the items for sale, there will also be food, drink and even workshops. Last year's show had some really gorgeous items on offer, so don't miss out. If you're interested in registering for the next show, there's information on the group's Hyves page.

There's so much going on in Utrecht right now, it seems that they just ran out of room for the monthly Cultural Sunday, so they moved it to Monday, 24 May. This month's Cultural SundayMonday event focuses on dance. Professionals and amateurs will be moving and grooving through a variety of styles, from hip hop to world dance.

The heart of the events is at the Domplein, where the Dance of Utrecht will kick off the party at 13:00. Throughout the city, there will be performances, workshops and clinics, with opportunities for spectators to get involved, too. The whole event reaches its grand finale at 17:00 with U Dance at the Domplein, where everyone gets to take part in a choreographed dance. Want to learn the moves and join in on the fun? There's an instructional video available on YouTube. A full schedule of the day's events is available through the official website.

I'm into gardens, gardening, gardenias, garden Salads... any variation on the word really.

So when looking around in North Holland for where there are some little known but interesting gardens one might visit for a day trip from Amsterdam, at the top of my list came Haarlemse Hofjes.

Top of my list came Haarlemse Hofjes: Located throughout the center of town, these little courtyards and hidden gardens were founded by wealthy citizens, some long ago, others more recently. The oldest of all is the Bakkenesserkamer.

Haarlemshuffle.com includes a fine list of these gardens which I highly recommend you look over and make an itinerary to see a bunch of them. They're lovely, near each other, and free to visit!

One of my favorite bloggers has written a unique book called Amsterdam: Made by Hand. From the publisher's website:

Follow stylist Pia Jane Bijkerk's ten "wanders" through Amsterdam to the places where she sources the props, accessories, and objects that she uses in the sets and photographs she creates. You'll find jewelry, clothing, home furnishings, antiques, collectibles, and more, all made by hand. Along the way, discover the real Amsterdam (Pia lives there--on a houseboat!).

This isn't Pia's first foray into the publishing world. Other than her inspiring blog, she recently published another book called Paris: Made by Hand. I own this one and can say it's full of delightful surprises.

The book launch will be in Amsterdam at the American Book Center (Spui 12) on Saturday June 5th at 3pm. Stop by for a signed copy, then get ready to experience a whole new side of Amsterdam. You can also follow Pia on Facebook for more information.

Oliver Laban-Mattei (from France) took the example provided here. It is of an opposition supporter shouting in Tehran.

The exhibition is located at Oudekerksplein 23 in Amsterdam. Opening times are Monday through Saturday from 10:30 until 17:30, and Sundays from 13:00 until 17:30. Admission is €7,50 for adults and €5,50 for those with a student card. Entrance is free for I amsterdam and Museum card holders.

The Festival aan de Werf is winding up its last few days, but if you're looking for something to do later this evening, head to the Domplein at 23:00 for the DJ at the Dom dance party here in Utrecht. DJ DNA, producer of the Urban Dance Squad, will kick of the evening's free music and dance party. You'll also see DJs Pitto and Nuno dos Santos there, with special videos and light shows to entertain. At 1:00, the afterparty heads to Tivoli de Helling (Helling 7, Utrecht) for more performances by DJ Crossfingaz as well as VJs Miss Soviet and LotteZ. Entrance to the afterparty at Tivoli de Helling is €5.

If you're a sucker for comedy shows, but still struggling with your Dutch, there are plenty of outlets available in Amsterdam for your viewing pleasure. Cosmo Polite recently listed a comprehensive overview of all English-language comedy shows. For example, there's the best-known Boom Chicago (in the Leidseplein), the often-mentioned EasyLaughs (at CREA on the University of Amsterdam campus) and the Comedy Café (near the Holland Casino). But she mentions a new one I hadn't heard of before - Toomler.

Toomler is a group of stand-up comedians, sponsored by Comedytrain International. They find the best comedians from the UK, US, Canada, Australia and New Zealand for performances. If stand-up is more your style, head over to Breitnerstraat 2, next to Hilton Hotel.

The title is a little too much of a pun for my taste, but the concept of the film is one I can appreciate. The film is entitled Great Expatations, and it focuses on expat experiences in Amsterdam.

The event takes place tomorrow at 4:30pm and it is hosted by the Amsterdam Region Business Association (ORAM). The premier of the film is also being used to announce the launch of a new foundation for further connect and integrate the expat community.

Not expected to be a revolutionary film, officials say that it will be used for commercial training and promotional material for the city. Afterward there will be drinks at 6pm, see the website for full details.

PopPrijz 2010 is the annual chance for local Utrecht bands to win the title of Best Band in Utrecht. This Thursday, 3 June, four bands will compete at Tivoli de Helling (De Helling 7) to see who will be named the winner. This year's final four contestants are: Kleinindustrie, The Dance, The Fudge, and The QI. Also performing will be last year's winner, The Pikeys. The winner will be decided by a professional jury, as well as audience vote.

The doors open at 19:30, with the performances beginning at 20:00. Tickets are €5 (€4 with student discount).

This Saturday, 5 June, a gamer's delight is hitting the infamous Paper Dome in the Leidsche Rijn neighborhood of Utrecht. This day-long gaming festival is free to enter and will feature a variety of games, including some decidedly low-tech urban games with stalking, swashbuckling and a variety of balls. The evening will see a special LANparty taking place at the Paper Dome where you can go up against pro-gamer Manuel "Grubby" Schenkhuizen, some seasoned Warcraft 3 players, and Gina, known as the Best Counter-Strike Female Gamer of Benelux. There will also be Battles of the Bands for you and your friends to compete in, along with opportunities to trade in your old games for other used titles.

The event starts at 13:00, with the first round of the Urban Games starting at 13:30, and the second at 15:30, with registration a half-hour before. The Paper Dome is located at Hogeweide 3A, 3541 BC Utrecht - Parkwijk. Check the website (in Dutch) for more information.

As I rode through Vondelpark on this marvelous sunny day, I noticed the amphitheater was a buzz with activity. It struck me - must be that time again!

Indeed the website confirms it, Sunday June 6th, summer theater in the park returns to Vondelpark. The season opener kicks off at 2:30pm with music by Beans & Fatback, a mix of country and soul. By 4pm it will be cabaret with the legendary Brigitte Kaandorp.

After this weekend performances will take place Friday thru Sunday until the end of August. Naturally these shows are all free of charge and open to the public, however the organizers also give you the option of reserving seats in the front rows for a small charge.

The play will be shown at the Cultureel Centrum De Warenaar. It is located at Kerkstraat 75 in Wassenaar. Tickets can be booked by calling 070-3306205 (from Monday - Friday, 8am-7pm) or by emailing aatg@aa-service.nl.

On June 12 from 10:00-14:00, the American School of The Hague is holding a giant garage sale on their campus. Looking for small appliances, a variety of household items, electronics, bikes, books, movies, clothes, or even a car? You can find it here! Just head to Wassenaar (the American School is located at Rijksstraatweg 200) and get ready to find some great deals.

Entrance is free. Head to the Sporthall at the American School to find the garage sale.

Windmill Windup, Europe's largest outdoor grass ultimate frisbee tournament takes place right here in Amsterdam and it begins this Thursday evening. 78 teams from all over the world will gather in the West of Amsterdam for 4 days of frisbee, occasional relaxation, and socializing. And while playing the tournament is for the true blue frisbee types, watching such a massive tournament is something that anyone can and should enjoy. You're unlikely to see anything like it anywhere else.

Directions to the fields and full schedule are available here. Its easily reachable by bike or public transport. Food and other amenities will be plentiful.

Here's a video preview of this year's tournament.

Windmill Windup 2010 - Bring It On! from Job on Vimeo.

No, it's not the US version of Flag Day - it's Dutch! Called Vlaggetjesdag and held on 12 June, this holiday celebrates fish rather than flags.

What kind of fish? Herring, of course. And raw, with plenty of chopped onions. This day is dedicated to celebrating the first catches of the year. A crowd gathers to try out the herring on the coast and at the Scheveningen harbor. Fisherman also get the opportunity to show off their talents, with herring ships racing back to port in an effort to win a cash prize.

If you plan to wait in line for the first herring catch, keep in mind that Queen Beatrix is given the first barrel. To learn more visit www.vlaggetjesdag.com, and head to Scheveningen Beach, in The Hague on 12 June.

These festivals have been going on since 2005, with Little Red Riding Hood as the design theme. This is the first time the event is being held in Utrecht. It takes place from 19:00 to 23:45 at Moira, located appropriately at Wolvenstraat 10. Tickets are €10 and can be purchased in advance at Plato (Voorstraat 35) or Boudisque (Vredenburg 31).

The Hague sure is getting a lot of play on this blog lately! It's probably because I don't live very far away, but it seems to be exploding with events as summer approaches.

Coming up this weekend is Jazz in de Gracht, held from 11-12 June. A free festival, held at De Bierkade en Dunne Bierkade (also known as Avenue Culinaire, and in The Hague) it offers the audience a chance to relax and let all the performances come to them. How is that possible, you ask? Well, the performances are on boats, and the boats stop at specified places in front of the audience. The audience is then treated to 20-minute performances.

The stops are located by the restaurants Afasika and Serengeti, between the cafés Paas and Pakschuit and at M-restaurant. See the website for a full program, which runs from 6pm Friday until 10:30pm Saturday.

If you're in the Netherlands, you've no doubt noticed the orange craze that has swept the country. In case you still hadn't figured it out this is due to the World Cup 2010, the global football competition that is being held 11 June through 11 July.

If you're looking for a place to watch the game with fellow expats, I have a couple suggestions. First, ADO Den Haag stadium at business park 'Forepark' is showing all games - for more information check this website.

If you're closer to Leiden, there are a couple places that are particularly expat friendly and will be broadcasting the games. You can try Duke of Oz (Oude Singel 2) or Bad Habits (Pelikaanstraat 64), which are both quite close to the Central Station.

Enjoy the games, and may the best team win!

Up here in Northern Europe, late June means midsummer night, the shortest night of the year. This occasion is traditionally cause for many parties and other rituals. One in particular is not often talked about in international circles, the midsummer festival in Bourtange.

Bourtange is known as the star fortress. An amazingly beautiful fortress from the 1500's that once protected the only route between the city of Groningen and Germany. Restored to its original state around 1960, the fortress today is an open air museum.

Vestivale Bourtange is a new festival that hopes to become a midsummer standard for years to come. Its focus this year will be the work of William Shakespeare, who wrote in the same era that the fortress was in heavy use. 2 Shakespeare plays will be the centerpiece of the festival this year. These events will be taking place even beyond midsummer, with renaissance style fairs taking place throughout July and August.

Two upcoming dates of particular interest for Vestivale Bourtange are June 19 and 20 when:

The Amuse theatre group will show an adaptation of the comedy 'As you like it' by William Shakespeare under the title of 'Wat u wilt!'; a light-hearted family performance which includes songs, music and dance. In addition to the performances, there will also be musical performances, lectures, stands, booths and people wearing historical dress.

Bourtange is one of those destinations in the Netherlands that you don't often hear about and few have the pleasure to experience. Yet with such a gorgeous summer ahead and such a great list of activities taking place, now is your chance!

The Hague Festivals are held between 10 and 27 June. These festivals boast over 200 cultural, musical and entertainment events for a wide variety of tastes. A few of the better known events include The Hague Jazz, Festival Classique (18-20 June), The Hague Sculpture, PopHotSpot Summer Festival, Shopping Night (17 June), Dutch Veterans Day and Parkpop.

Many of the events are free, and others have promised to contribute their support to War Child. It's a great time to head to The Hague, experience the summer and lots of interesting events.

Visit the website for more information, including details on all events, pricing, and locations.

Everywhere I look in internet land I'm hearing about Festival Mundial in Tilburg. The first day of the festival has already passed, and today may not be an option either if you're not near by, but if you can make it on Sunday you might be quite glad you did.

Tickets were going for 15€, see the website for more details.

The list of acts and stages is impossible for me to sort through and summarize... have a look at it for yourself, the Dutch parts aren't vital. Doors open at 12pm:

MILLENNIUM STAGE
13.10-14.00 Quique Neira CL
14.50-15.40 Ozomatli US
16.30-17.20 Babylon Circus FR
18.10-19.10 Alison Hinds BB
20.00-21.00 Calle 13 PR
21.50-23.00 Sean Paul JM

NEW VIBES STAGE
14.05-14.45 Suarez BE
15.45-16.25 Merdan Taplak Orkestar BE
17.25-18.05 Lyapis Trubetskoy BY
19.15-19.55 BCUC ZA
21.05-21.45 Mil Santos CO

PODIUM 2015
13.35-14.25 Depedro ES
15.05-15.55 Kirmizi TR
16.35-17.25 Minyeshu ET/NL
18.05-19.05 Victor Deme BF
19.45-20.45 Rachid Taha FR

UNITED CULTURES STAGE
13.00-13.30 Purnati Dance Theater Company ID
14.30-15.00 Ikobe RW
16.00-16.30 Xindira Companhia MZ
17.30-18.00 Taiwa Jazz Band ZA
19.10-19.40 Metzo Djatah GH
20.50-21.20 Wind Afrique CN

BECAUSE I AM A GIRL VILLAGE
13.20-14.05 Ceumar Group ft. Mike del Ferro NL
14.45-15.30 No Blues NL
16.10-17.05 Caspian Hat Dance NL
17.45-18.30 Orchestra Ismailia NL
19.10-19.55 Fremdkunst XL ft Eric Vloeimans & Baba Sissoko NL
20.35-21.35 Timbazo INT

THEATER DANS EILAND
13.30-14.00 Abacus; Act Wastelanders
13.45-14.30 Frans Custers; Act Boyaci Huseyin
14.10-14.40 TukkersConnexion; Voorstelling Toy Soldiers
14.45-15.30 Close-Act; Act Saurus
15.35-16.05 Chavi Bansal; Colour Me

16.15-16.45 Abacus; Act Wastelanders
17.00-17.45 Frans Custers; Act Boyaci Huseyin
17.10-17.40 TukkersConnexion; Voorstelling Toy Soldiers
17.45-18.30 Close-Act; Act Saurus
18.35-19.05 Joshua .A. Trebi; Reaction to Gravity
19.10-19.40 Abacus; Act Wastelanders
19.10-19.55 Frans Custers; Act Boyaci Huseyin
20.00-20.30 Nishant Bhola; Bollywood Beats

Beginning Jun 24, Utrecht will be celebrating the Rietveld Year, in honor of Gerrit Rietveld, the great Dutch architect and designer. A member of De Stijl movement, he first made a name for himself with his chair designs, including the famous red-blue chair. You can see it and some of his other chair designs in the video below, which also features a few well-known Utrecht residents, including C-Mon & Kypski. Ultimately, Rietveld became famous for his great work of modern architecture, the Rietveld-Shröder House, which joined the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2000.

As part of the special celebration, the house will be open for free guided tours on June 26-27, beginning at 11 a.m. Guided tours of the council housing that he also designed in the Hoograven area are also available, since once of the apartments has been turned into a museum. Reservations for the guided tours are recommended and can be made by calling (030) 23623. More information about Rietveld, his work, and the festivities can be found at the Rietveld Year website (in English and Dutch). If you can't make it this weekend, you can still visit the house. Combination tickets and guided tours are available from the Utrecht Centraal Museum.

In the meantime, enjoy this video of the famous blue-red chair as it makes its way from the Rietveld House to the Utrecht Centraal Museum, with stops at the Stadhuis, Griftpark and other locations in between.

Going on now until August 13th at the Rijksmuseum, an exhibition of work by Johan Miró and Jan Steen. It was in 1928 that Miró came to Amsterdam and was influenced by Steen's work showing at the Rijksmuseum. The exhibit will be the first time ever that Miró's work is on display alongside the 17th century pieces that inspired him.

Are you a fan of culinary delights? Don't miss this year's Taste of Amsterdam! There's no better opportunity to get a comprehensive idea of what Amsterdam has to offer in terms of food. From the website:

Welcome to Taste of Amsterdam, a celebration of the finest cuisine the capital has to offer. Mingle with top chefs as you sample signature dishes from 17 prestigious restaurants. Improve your culinary skills and discover a stunning selection of fine wines and specialty food and drink, all in the beautiful surroundings of the Amstelpark.

Taste of Amsterdam is being held 24-27 June in the Amstelpark. There are between 1- 2 sessions daily and tickets can be purchased for either the afternoon lunch or the evening diner session. See this link for detailed information about the schedule. Admission is € 15 (presale) and tickets are € 17.50 at the entrance. Eet smakelijk!

This fall will present an interesting opportunity for any rare book lovers or authors out there. The American Book Center has purchased an Espresso Book Machine (EBM), capable of rapidly printing any text in just a matter of minutes! From the blog:

We hope to have it installed and ready to print obscure in and out of print titles within minutes by late September. This machine is also a godsend for authors, students, anyone who wants to quickly turn a document into an actual book with full color cover. Plans for incorporating this ingenious device into our stores are now being made. Even more so than ever before, ABC is the first place to check for wild and wonderful titles.

Check out a demonstration video on the ABC Blog. Sounds like a great idea for anyone writing a thesis that wants a nice finished final version, too. Stay tuned.

Schiphol airport is full of fun treats - museums, a casino, lots of shops and plenty of food and drink. But they're now offering a new, more educational option: the world's first airport library! From Expatica:

The project is being set-up by the ProBiblio Dutch public library organisation with money from the ministry of education, culture and science. According to project leader Dick van Tol, the collection will be very diverse. "It will be a multimedia venture and will include different aspects of Dutch culture. There won't just be books, but also films and music."

To appeal to a more global audience, most materials will be in English. And although travelers can't take away library materials (that would be tricky!) there are some digital materials available for download.

Look for the airport library to open at the beginning of July.

The John Adams Institute is well known for its amazing selection of literary speakers. But now they're raising the bar and offering a literature course this fall.

In this six-week course Dan Hassler-Forest of the University of Amsterdam will explore the way writers today are mixing art forms (think how television shows have taken the place of serial fiction). Lectures and corresponding discussions will focus on authors and filmmakers like Bret Easton Ellis, Charlie Kaufman, Jane Campion, David Benioff, and David Cronenberg. Some of the authors will also be featured at fall events put on by the John Adams Institute. The best part? Course students will have free entrance to these events!

The course will be held on Thursdays: 9, 16, 23, 30 September 2010 and 7 and 14 October 2010, between 7.30pm - 9.00pm. The location is at De Rode Hoed located at Keizersgracht 102, The cost is €200 per person. If you're interested, please register before 1 September 2010 at info@john-adams.nl.

For more information or questions please contact Maarten van Essen at essen@john-adams.nl or at 020-6247280.

The Amsterdam local transport company (GVB) has found its funny bone and is using this video to promote their unlimited travel cards:

The video was created with Amsterdam's comedy institution, Boom Chicago, which also produced five unique podcasts for five popular journeys in the city.

This Thursday, July 1st, marks the beginning of another edition of the Over Het Ij Festival in Amsterdam north. A fantastic theater festival that lasts for 10 days, what I love most is that most of the performances traditionally take place in converted shipping containers. Often times the containers aren't really converted, the audience simple fits into one side while the performance takes place on the other.

Besides all manner of theater performances, there is also food, live music, and all kinds of side show fun taking places throughout the festival terrain. The main action takes places at NDSM - Amsterdam North, easily accessible via Ferry from Central Station. This year there will also be some performances in other parts of Amsterdam north, check the website for full details.

Temperatures keep going up over here in the Netherlands, set to hit 30C (86F), which for this part of the world is quite dramatic. Naturally with all this hot weather, people are flocking to the beaches. With so many people heading to the coastline, you're unlikely to find a beach that isn't packed. Still there are ways to find something off the beaten path, and here is one of my favorites:

From Amsterdam Central Station take the train to Alkmaar, if memory serves it is around a 40 minute ride. In Alkmaar find the bus outside the station that will take you to a town called Bergen. In Bergen what I like to do is rent a bike for the day (about 8€) and ride through the dunes. The dunes are awesome and there are a few choice spots to stop and have a drink.

Once you're through the dunes you arrive at the beach, Bergen aan Zee. A nice beach that is by no means private, but potentially with a bit more space for you and your towel. Plus this fine beach has plenty of activities and places for you to grab food and drink. All the ingredients for a great beach day on hot Holland days.

It's here again! Just like last year, Leiden will be hosting its annual Museum Night tomorrow (Friday, July 2nd). Head to Naturalis, Hortus botanicus Leiden, Museum Boerhaave, National Museum of Antiquities, Museum Volkenkunde, SieboldHouse, and Museum Lakenhal - they'll all be opening their doors for an evening of cultural entertainment.

The opening will be held from 7-8pm at Museum Boerhavae with the band Out of Control. Then, head out to the museums of your choice. Most will close at 1am, but after parties will continue at the LVC and at A.L.S.V. Quintus.

Presale tickets are still available here for EUR 10. Tickets are also available at the participating museums or in the Visitor Centre Leiden.

The annual Culinary Festival in Leiden has come around again. This Sunday (tomorrow) get ready to try out the best Leiden's restaurants have to offer (there are 11 participating restaurants). The festival has been running since Thursday, but Sunday offers a great opportunity to visit this annual event. Opening times are 1pm-9pm.

Visitors to the Culinary Festival also have the chance to win one of three paintings. Tickets for the drawing are EUR 5, and the drawing takes place on Sunday, July 4th at 7pm.

Even if you can't attend the festival's website offers an overview of participating restaurants. This is handy if you're looking for a new place to try in the city.

The World Press Photo exhibit is here in Utrecht for a few more days. It runs through July 8 at Janskerk. If you haven't gotten around to visiting yet, head in while you still can. It's always an impressive experience, with photos ranging in subject matter, leaving you laughing, horrified, amazed and pretty much everything in between. If you're a bit short on cash after buying a few extra drinks to celebrate the Dutch team's success in the World Cup this year, don't worry, entrance to the World Press Photo show is free this year. The exhibit is open from 10:00-17:00 on Tuesday and Wednesday, and open from 10:00-21:00 on Thursday.

Amsterdam-based bloggers keep coming up with great material for visitors and expats alike.

A couple months ago, blogger Lily Margaret (from Wanderlust with Lily Margaret) published a favorite Amsterdam spots map (here's a larger version). She's highlighted the places she loves to go - from museums to restaurants to tearooms to yoga studios. She's even color-coded these places according to category. For example, blue markers stand for places to eat, yellow for shopping and markets, and green for parks.

This kind of resource is invaluable to new and seasoned visitors to Amsterdam. Sometimes it can be overwhelming to decide where to eat or which museum to visit - but maps like this one let you know what an Amsterdam enthusiast has already endorsed.

If you want to make your own map, just visit Google maps and get started.

We here at trippist like to keep you up to date with the latest in the world of tourism in the Netherlands, and as the world of mapping and applications gets better and better, the options just keep increasing.

In a previous post you read as Janelle described a useful google map guide to Amsterdam, well here comes a related item: A new national mapping system dedicated to tourism. It is called Hollandtoer.nl and it provides some extremely smooth panoramic views of must-see spots throughout the country.

Hollandtoer has some very funny and useful menu options for activities in both the day and night, in it does a good job of cutting right to the most important spots in a long list of great cities many tourists come to see. It also makes it easy to save and share through social networking the spots you choose. Here I'll test out their "post this photo on your site" option:

At the moment the site is only in Dutch as far as I can tell. Of course its no good for those looking to get off the beaten path. But if you are making plans to come to the Netherlands or if you're far away and wanting to take a pleasant virtual tour from your office somewhere else in the world, you'll enjoy this site and the images it provides.

The entire Netherlands has gone completely world cup insane. Anywhere you turn there is something orange hanging from something else. At any hour of the day you can hear a vuvuzela trumpeting for no specific reason. And leading up to the huge Spain-Netherlands final on Sunday, everyone is planning where to watch it and with whom!

My preference, on boat. No not a boat docked on the side of a canal... I mean on a moving boat. Yup, cruising the canals on a sunny day while watching the game on your boat. How does that look? Ill show you:

It's a big moment for the Dutch - they made it to the World Cup final! The parties just keep getting bigger and bigger in the Netherlands, and Sunday will disappoint no one.

If you'll be in Leiden on Sunday evening, there will be plenty of bars packed full of fans. But if you prefer an outdoor viewing, the parking lot in the Lammermarkt (about a five minute walk from the Central Station) will have two giant screens broadcasting the match.

Even if you don't know where it is - there's no doubt the noise will help you find your way. The weather should be beautiful so get ready to cheer on your favorite team - whether it's the Netherlands or Spain!

The American Book Center's blog recently published their Spectacular Summer Reading Extravaganza for non-fiction titles. Despite my love of the novel I always find myself more intrigued by non-fiction, and ABC has done a great job of tempting me into one of their stores in the coming weeks.

If you're interested in learning more about the Dutch, they recommend a number of great books. Under the category entitled "Travel, Foreign Languages & Local Interest," they list the classic The UnDutchables, a must-read for any expat in the Netherlands. But there's also Manners in the Netherlands and the Xenophobe's Guide to the Dutch. Don't forget to check out Bicycle Mania, where American photographer Shirley Agudo provides an inside look at the Netherland's unique cycling culture.

It seems that ABC has lots of options to get you through these hot summer months, and help you better understand your host culture.

The Source Festival in Utrecht is expanding this year to fill two days (10-11 July) with electronic music, theater, fashion, video and more. The festival runs Saturday 11:00-23:00, with five stages offering music and artists from the Netherlands and beyond. Some of the artists include Moderat & Pfadfinderei, Theo Parrish and DJ Koze. Sunday, the festival runs from 13:00-23:00, with three stages, as well as all of the accompanying activities that seem to make up any festival. There will also be a big screen set up for anyone wanting to watch the World Cup final.

The festival takes place at Nedereindse Plas, and special bus tickets can be purchased to get you from Utrecht Jaarbeursplein to the festival grounds. Tickets are €24.50. More info can be found at the official website (in Dutch).

Kunstliefde, an artists collective in Utrecht, is hosting Steunkleur Groen, an exploration of what it means to be green these days when surrounded by an urban environment. A variety of artists working in different mediums and materials explore the concepts of guerrilla gardening, balcony gardens, vertical gardening and much more. The exhibit also makes use of Facebook, Twitter and FourSquare to explore these green spots around town even further.

The exhibit runs through August 8, and includes work by Cultural Oil, Hans van Lunteren, Angeliek de Jonge, Myrthe Basket Makers, Wieteke Opmeer, HIK Design, Kommer Troost, Dennis, Workshop CORVE. Kunstliefde is located at Nobelstraat 12a, Utrecht.

This is your chance to go to Amsterdam! Check out the contest tab on the