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.