Musicians and those who just like improvised music should mark their calendars for the Flying Carpet Jam Sessions being held at ACU (Voorstraat 71) in Utrecht this year. These free sessions are held the first, third (and sometimes fifth) Tuesday of every month. The Flying Carpet is a new collection of musicians and generally creative people, putting together improvised music sessions along with art of any type.

The upcoming schedule, as it's planned so far, is available for perusal here. If you're interested in being a performer, and not just a listener, contact info@flying-carpet.nl. Make an evening of it, with a (vegetarian) meal at the ACU's café (from 18:00-21:00). The doors for the jam session events open at 21:15, with performances beginning at 21:30, and ending by 00:30.

The other night I found myself at Mediamatic Bank, the very cool exhibition space were the famous multimedia artists are always doing something out of the ordinary.

Their current feature consists of classic arcade games from the 70's, 80's, and 90's.. and whether you're old enough or not to remember arcade games, you will have a great time playing to your heart's content. Centipede from 1980, Mortal Combat from 1991, or NBA Jam from 1993, those were the three I was pleased to play once again. As a kid growing up in New Jersey, those were some loved games at the local arcades. Who new all these years later, in Amsterdam, I'd be overjoyed at the chance to play them again.

But don't just judge my favorites, go to Mediamatic and check out not only the classic games but some really obscure designed games that in the end, are as much art as they are fun.

Here's a video sample:

(during they week they're open from 1pm until 7pm, on weekends opened til 6pm.)

All the holiday parties are over, the snow has melted, all that is left are dark days, long nights, and fun indoors.

Friday:

The Concertgebouw Orchestra plays Bruch and Sjostakovitsj, featuring violinist Joshua Bell; 8:15pm, tickets range from €21 to €72.

Saturday:

Tennis is headlining in Paradiso's Bonvenzaal; 7:30pm, €10 plus membership.

The comic-opera Trionfo along with the Nieuw Ensemble; Muziekgebouw aan't Ij, 8:15pm, €23.

Sunday:

As a movie recommendation, the oldest cinema in the Netherlands - De Uitkijk, is showing a film from 1950 starring Bette Davis - All About Eve; 12pm, €8.50.

Well, Trippist readers, I'm back! Happy New Year to all of you. I've been absent for a while as I adjust to mommy hood. Fitting, then, that my first post back is about the first ever conference for expat women curious about the Dutch birth culture.

It's called Babyface, and on the 29th of January anyone interested in these topics can head to this Amsterdam-based conference. Their website pitch says it best:

Pregnant or planning to give birth in The Netherlands? Clueless about the local birth culture? Wish you knew the full clockworks of childbirth here without understanding or speaking a lick of Dutch? Babyface kick-starts your preparations, planning and research--well before your baby's first kick. Why burn hours, days and months researching birth systems in The Netherlands. Or squander on too many workshops and classes when the cash comes in handy for a state-of-art stroller. Spare yourself the torture--at least till delivery date--and meet our top certified local baby experts who will tell you all the crucial info you need to know at our conference or workshop. Face it: you'd rather put the sleuth work behind you and focus on what really matters: your new bundle of joy.

Interested in attending? You can register online, and follow the latest news on Facebook.

Yesterday evening the people of Amsterdam came out in droves to take part in the annual xmas tree burning. Grab a tree and throw it on the pile! Here's my video if the ritual:

Still a student, or just committed to cutting down on consumption? You've probably heard of freecycle, which has a thriving Amsterdam-based community (of mostly expats). It's a great service that allows people to get rid of unwanted things without throwing them in the trash - but also lets people looking for an old sofa, vacuum cleaner, bicycle etc. pick something up for free.

Well, this week I found the Dutch version: gratisoptehalen.nl. Translated as "free to pick up," this site basically follows the same concept of freecycle, except it's in Dutch! On the home page they have a wide variety of item categories under offered (aangeboden) and wanted (gezocht). You'll need to register to use the site, but that's a small price to pay for the gems I've seen advertised. Plus, it's good practice for your Dutch (or your use of Google Translate).

In December, a large fire destroyed the recording studio of Erik Spanjers and Thomas Koopmans. To try to help them out, many of their musician friends have organized a special concert to take place tonight, 11 January, at Theater Kikker (Ganzenmarkt 14, Utrecht).

The benefit will feature short performances by: T99, Woost, Marien Dorleijn (Moss), Mondo Leone, JW Roy, Most Unpleasant Men, Joast, Eefje de Visser, Chop Wood, Daniel Cross (Rosa Ensemble), Durk Attaturk, Gerard van Maasakkers and Bart de Win, Pien Feith, Tududuh, Shiner Twins, Signe Tollefsen, Rootbag, and Roosbeef.

The event is free, but obviously, any donations are gratefully accepted. Doors open at 19:30 and the show starts at 20:00.

Nuffic, the Netherlands Organization for International Cooperation in Higher Education, has a nice new feature on their website to help you find an institute of higher learning in the country. By simply going to the page and moving around to each graduation cap on the map you will see profiles of schools.

Among the over 1,500 international study programs available in the Netherlands, 1,543 are taught in English. These include masters and bachelors programs, as well as certificate and other short term study programs.

Besides their handy interactive map, if you browse Nuffic's site you'll find they now feature lots of useful information on scholarships, schools, requirements, and tips for living as a student in the Netherlands.

You have one more month to experience Light Art at Kijduin! Until the 15th of February, the sixth edition of Light Art Kijkduin takes place in the dunes around Kijkduin. According to Gemeente Den Haag:

The Kijkduin Boulevard, the Deltaplein and the dunes and the beach resort's shopping centre will be integrated into the lunar landscape by a specially designed light decoration. More than 100 illuminated globes of different sizes and colours, measuring between 50 and 100 cm diameter, are spread among the dunes, constantly changing their colours in the evening hours. Even during the daytime, when the lights are not lit, the globes create an unreal though very soothing effect.

There's a special walking route available that takes you past an ice-skating rink, if you're so inclined. What a great way to spend a chilly winter Saturday.

In just a few weeks, on the 3rd of February, the Nationale Strippenkaart (strip card) will be abolished in the Province of South Holland (Zuid-Holland). The days of paying for your tram or bus ride with that handy strippenkaart will be a thing of the past.

From February, if you want to travel by bus, tram or metro in The Hague, Leiden, Gouda, and beyond, you'll need to purchase and use an OV-chipkaart. Just like the strippenkaart, OV-chipkaart can be purchased at cigarette shops but also at all train stations. Though it's not quite as fun as stamping the strippenkaart, the OV-chipkaart is pretty handy. Just keep your credit topped up and it's as simply as checking in and out of your chosen form of transportation.

Hurry and use up those strippenkaarts! Just a couple weeks left.

Starting Wednesday, Utrecht will be experimenting with Greencabs, vehicles run solely on electricity. These taxis will be found around the city center, in all the usual taxi stops and at the normal rates. The Greencab experiment will run through the end of 2012, and according to the press release, "The purpose of the experiment is to gain more insight into what it takes for hybrid and electric cars to succeed." They hope that the CO2-free vehicles will raise awareness in both passengers and the general public about electric vehicles, while helping to improve the air quality of the city center.

Here's a great way to make your 2011 a little bit healthier: Sign up for Kievit's organic vegetable home delivery! They offer three packages of different sizes: Basis, Super and Combi. For example, here's this week's selection for each (and a chance to practice your Dutch):

Basis: Chinese kool, venkel, boerenkool (gesneden), rood uitje, winterpeen, rode paprika Super: Witlof, venkel, sperzieboon, winterpeen, citroen, rode paprika, winterpostelein Combi: Venkel, witlof, rode paprika, winterpostelein, vier soorten handfruit

On Fridays they announce the available variety for the coming week. Make a decision by Tuesday, and they'll deliver between 5-7pm on Wednesdays. If veggies aren't enough for you, they also deliver eggs, cheese, wine, and even potatoes. They also do their best at patronizing local and regional producers, so you can also feel good about where your food is coming from.

Just to give you an indication, their prices on organic goods are actually better than Albert Heijn's. Here's to a health 2011!

The sun has started breaking through the grey of winter. For those who seek to move their feet and enjoy some music.. here's what I recommend:

Friday:
Ebo Taylor & Bonze Konkoma are legendary Ghanaian musicians playing the TropenTheater; 8:30pm, €23.

Saturday:
A Silent Express play their own brand of 80's inspired pop at Paradiso; 8pm, €10 plus membership.

Sunday:
The Steve Lehmen Octet returns to the Bimhuis after their successful debut last year; 8:30pm, €20.

Three very different acts for those seeking three very different days of the weekend.

Greg Shapiro's comedy show is in full swing. Greg Shapiro, known for his antics on Comedy Central and at Amsterdam's very own Boom Chicago, takes a hilarious look at the crazy habits of the Dutch.

With his current show, called "How to be Orange" Greg examines various aspects of Dutch culture. Check it out and learn more about why the Dutch are some of the happiest people on the planet.

Tickets are €16,85. This coming Tuesday, 25 January, he'll perform at Amstelveen's Griffioen Theater (020 5985033), and on Thursday 7 April he'll be at Rotterdam's Zuidplein Theater (010 2030203).

In Leiden, anyway, many of the second-hand clothes bins are run by KICI. KICI, whose full name in Dutch is Stichting Kleding Inzameling Charitatieve Instellingen (in English, roughly Foundation for Charitable Clothing Collection) has been in the business of collecting clothing for more than 35 years. KICI collects from municipalities using those familiar green containers and also through door-to-door collection.

Each year, KICI collects more than 9.5 million pounds of textiles, making it one of the largest charity collectors in the Netherlands. They also make an effort to reuse and recycle used clothing, and any profits made through these initiatives go to charity. The Dutch Red Cross is the main beneficiary of KICI.

So next time you pass a green bin with KICI's logo on it, you'll know a little bit more about where your second-hand clothing goes.

If you happened to see the indie film Eagle vs Shark, starring Jemaine Clement from Flight of the Conchords, then you've heard some of the music by The Phoenix Foundation. A great band from New Zealand, they manage to combine various musical sounds and styles -- alt country, psychedelic, pop -- into their own unique sound. Beginning today, their fourth studio album, Buffalo, is available in Europe, and they've also winged their way over here to begin a European tour, one of their first bigger tours of Europe. In fact, they're kicking off the tour in Amsterdam at Paradiso this Thursday, 27, January. Since they don't make it up here to the northern hemisphere all that often, I definitely recommend checking them out while you have the chance! I had to fly to New York to see them 4.5 years ago, so I'm definitely taking advantage of a short train ride to see them this time! Either way, the show they put on is worth it.

They're playing the small hall at Paradiso in Amsterdam, and tickets are only €8.50. Doors open at 21:30 and the show starts at 22:00. Tickets are available through the Paradiso website.

Friday, 28 January, in Utrecht, artist Gaby Zwaan will be hosting GabyGaby in Progress, an exposition of work, with 100 pieces on display. The show will present his work over the past few years, allowing viewers to see the variety of materials (paint, cola, markers, sugar, tape) and methods (Photoshop, stapling, sewing, painting) he uses to create his modern works of art. The event will also be a fun, social outing, with drinks, snacks and a DJ on hand.

The exposition is 28 January, from 15:00 to 21:00 at Seats2Meet by the Utrecht Central Station, Moreelsepark 65 (Hoog Catharijne, Kantoren Hoog Overborch, 2nd floor). Entrance is free, although they'd appreciate it if you let them know you're coming.

The 40th edition of the International Film Festival Rotterdam has begun, which means it is time to get over to that fine city for some great films that you wouldn't normally have a chance to see.

Other then the IDFA which takes place each year in Amsterdam, the IFFR is the biggest and best film fest in the country. Unlike IDFA there are not only documentaries but also regular films by large and small producers.

I'm yet to read and watch all the previews but as the festival kicked off today, I thought to mention some of the IFFR's more innovative features this year, especially for those who are perhaps not in Rotterdam yet.

First there is the film on demand option, to choice to watch some documentaries online for a small price. Myself I'd prefer to see them on the big screen, but if your screen at home is big enough and you don't mind spending 5 €, now you can participate in the festival without going to the festival.

Secondly there are the Film Fest bloggers who are already writing about the different films that are showing and delving into the background info to enhance the film going experience.

Of course you also have all the social media your heart could desire in addition to the festival iphone app which I am testing this evening. More on that soon, time to plan what films to see.

It's here again, folks: Rotterdam's famous International Film Festival! It's so important that we're writing about it twice on Trippist. This year - the 40th edition - it will be held from Wednesday 26 January through Sunday 6 February. The festival is held in a variety of locations in Rotterdam, so it's a great opportunity to see some amazing films and get to know the city.

Want to know more about the festival before committing? According to the festival website,

The International Film Festival Rotterdam (IFFR) offers a quality selection of independent, innovative and experimental cinema, video and media art. During twelve festival days, hundreds of filmmakers and other artists present their work to a large audience (2010: 353,000 admissions) and 3,000 film professionals in 25 screening rooms on 8 festival venues.

You can buy your tickets online. Like Bicyclemark mentioned, you can even follow a number of blogs about the festival, for those hardcore film lovers out there.

From 14-18 February, the Amsterdam Student Association of Planning (ASAP) is organizing a symposium about the 'Just City' concept from Susan Fainstein. As the keynote speaker, Professor Fainstein will explore this idea along with other notable academics. Unlike most academic conferences, the evening lectures are open to the public.

More detail from the ASAP:

The purpose of the conference is to offer an interactive program in which an international academic community of urban planners and human geographers is triggered to exchange their knowledge about the most recent developments in urban theories and issues of the postindustrial city. The conference contains multiple readings of keynote speakers such as Susan Fainstein, an introduction to Amsterdam's planning philosophy and several workshops on innovative planning projects in Amsterdam. For urban planners, this is the ultimate possibility to expand their knowledge of urban planning in the Netherlands and especially Amsterdam.

If interested, you can register online.

Reading AND group therapy? It is possible! Just join the First Tuesday Club. This club is being hosted by International Counselling Connections (ICC), the ABC Treehouse In-house counselling team. To give you a taste, the first book to be discussed is Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom.

More info? Here's the American Book Center blog:

The objective is to provide a forum for exploration of what we find deeply significant and meaningful in life. Each month a book will be recommended to stimulate reflection about personal experiences. The group will meet on the first Tuesday of each month to explore responses to the reading material. This will take place at the ABC Treehouse in Amsterdam from 7.30 - 9 pm and will be facilitated by two ICC counsellors. While this is not a therapy group, the counsellors will ensure that the group offers a safe space for exploration at a deeper level.

Looks interesting! They're only taking 10-12 participants, so if you want to sign up, do it quick by contacting Aine Campbell and aine@icconnections.org. The first session starts on Tuesday February 1st, and the charge is EUR 15 per session.

The premiere performance of "Suitcases & Sacrifices" will be held this Sunday, 6 February at Theater Pepijn in the Hague. Curious? This performance explores expat life particular to the Dutch experience. The group has also performed in Aberdeen, Jakarta and Singapore - a testament to the international nature of the expat experience.

Tickets are EUR 15 each. They can be booked online or by calling 070-3610540. It will also be performed on 15 and 22 February.

Join the Chinese New Year Festival! On Saturday, 5 February, the Dutch national celebration of the Chinese New Year will take place at 11:30 in the Atrium of The Hague City Hall. It's the Year of the Rabbit, and the celebrations will kick off with a traditional dragon and lion's dance. The celebrations will continue until 17:30 with various performances, including Chinese martial arts by Fei Wu Shu.

There is also an Eastern market in the City Hall and a mobile photo-studio where visitors can have their pictures taken together with background paintings from the artist Fenmei Hu. For more information, you can visit www.chinesecultuur.nl - there's plenty of information available in English!

Whether it's Oscar nominations or Golden Globes, the start of a new year means plenty of "best of" lists being made for the previous one. This week the NLStreets Award came out with their own reknowned list for "Best Shopping Street in the Netherlands 2010." The winner, the lesser known Kleine Kerkstraat in Leeuwarden where I happened to be for a day trip last month.

Also announced was best shop of 2010, another winner from the north, Delicatessen Ariola which is located on the Folkingestraat, up in Groningen.

Some might expect winners to be from more famous cities like Amsterdam or Rotterdam, both cites had candidates that earned some votes, but came up short against this years winners.

I was wandering around in Leiden this morning. While passing De Waag, I noticed a sign outside: book sale! Selexyz in Leiden was holding a massive book sale with great clearance prices. I headed in.

Wow, did they have a lot on offer. It looked like they were trying to clear out a huge portion of their regular stock. Tables were labeled with every type of book imaginable, from children's books to political theory. Don't fear, expats - there were two tables of English language books.

I browsed the selection and choose two priced under five euros. When I paid, they gave me a free copy of Dutch poems by Remco Campert called Kus Zoekt Mond. Sure, why not? I'm always up for more Dutch practice.

The sale is being held today (Thursday), Friday and Saturday (3-5 February) at De Waag, located right next to the V&D on the Aalmarkt. Today's hours are 9:30-21:30, and on Friday and Saturday 9:30-18:00. Stop by and load up while the books are cheap and plentiful!

If you think you missed the Rietveld Universum exhibit at the Centraal Museum in Utrecht, think again. The exhibit has been extended and runs through this Sunday, 13 February. The exhibit, part of the official Rietveld Year, is a fantastic look at the famous Utrechter's architectural and design work. As the interest in "retro" grows, many people are rediscovering the work that Gerrit Rietveld did, not just in famous houses, but in stylish (if not always comfortable) chairs and lamps and more.

The exhibit helps put his work in context of both time period and in relation to the work of other architects and designers of the time. Comparative pieces from Mies van der Rohe, Le Corbusier, and others are set up next to Rietveld's works. You can also get a bit interactive, with special audio pods (in English or Dutch) that are set up in various spots of the exhibit to give you more information about individual pieces, told in Rietveld's own words. And, of course, you can see plenty of examples of "that one chair", the famous red and blue chair. There's a wall of variations on the chair, as interpreted by others, including a fantastic Lego version.

The exhibit, along with the rest of the museum, is open Tuesday through Sunday, from 11:00 to 17:00. Tickets are €9, although admission is free if you have a museumkaart, or €4 with certain student passes and cultuurkaart. More information about the museum and the exhibit can be found (in English) at the museum's website.

I was heading out for a night on the town in Leiden (OK, one drink with a friend) and we were searching for a cool place to hang out. We wandered by a giant cow parked on the Breestraat. We stopped and admired the spectacle, and then glanced inside. Koetjes & Kalfjes was the name of the restaurant, and it looked quite gezellig!

Being a vegetarian, the name didn't particularly appeal to me. Neither did the cow-skinned chairs, but the bar did. Though Koetjes & Kalfjes is a restaurant, they have a nice little wine bar with four seats for anyone wishing to have a drink and admire the diners. We sat for a couple hours and did just that.

Apparently Koetjes & Kalfjes also offers high tea in addition to their seemingly popular dinner selections. If you want to check it out, they're located on the Breestraat (#18).

In the ultramodern new neighborhood of Amsterdam known as Ijberg one can find all sorts of architectural experiments. In a stark contrast to the old fashioned canal houses that go back hundreds of years, Ijberg is home to some of the most modern and experimental styles of housing.

Among those architectural wonders there are a few environmentally advanced design experiments going on. Houses that are powered by alternative energy, namely wind and sun. But not only power, above all the materials that go into building such a house are purposely chosen for having a minimal impact on the environment, this means carbon neutral, energy saving, etc.

Below you can watch a video tour of the latest version of one such house, this one contains some surprising materials such as the tree that fell on the prinsengracht last year, and support beams formerly part of Amsterdam Central Station before its ongoing renovations. The video is in Dutch but you get a good idea from the images just how innovative and attractive such a house can be.

Are you a romantic, like to celebrate Valentine's Day, or just a fan of great music? Then head to De Doelen in Rotterdam for a Valentine's Day concert performed by the student orchestra. On 14 February at 20:15, YPG (the Young Public of the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra) together with the Dutch Student Orchestra will perform a romantic concert. They will play from a number of genres, including the romantic sounds of Elgar's cello concerto and the spectacular "Ein Heldenleben" by Richard Strauss. The 105 performers will provide a very nice celebration for Valentine's Day.

Students pay € 8.25 with an R'dampas, and other tickets are available from € 11 to € 18. They can be ordered online at De Doelen website.

If you're new to Den Haag, or thinking about moving there, the city has you covered. Demonstrating its friendly and helpful attitude towards expats, the city of the Hague invites all expats to their International Community Event on Monday, 14 February.

The morning is organized in order to help expats gain a better understanding of the city. A number of important English language resources will be presented along with a guided walk through the historic city center. It's also a great opportunity to meet other expats in a similar situation.

Visit this site for full program details.

Running now through March 13 at the S.M.A.R.T. space in Amsterdam is a fantastic exhibit dedicated to political history and activism in Russia. The "What is to be done?" collective behind the exhibit has been called one of the most significant contemporary collectives of their generation, and if you see this exhibit, you'll understand why.

One of the great parts of the exhibit features statistics about Russia comparing the present with 10 years ago. The statistics are accompanied by paintings of animals that illustrate the change based on size. The bigger the statistic the bigger the animal. The numbers are both interesting and disturbing.

Other parts of the exhibit include audio-visual examples of traditional political activism and folklore. In the reading room there is also a selection of eclectic publications recommended by the collective. Members of the collective are also present to better handle questions and to say hello to!

Opening Hours, address, and further details all available on the SMART Project Space website.

The Muiderpoorttheater in Amsterdam will soon host the festival focused on global dance traditions. One highlight of this festival is "Carmen danst de Kaasfabriek" or "Carmen dances the Kaasfabriek" a custom show originally presented in the old factory buildings in Alkmaar. The show explores the theatrical qualities of flamenco. The starting point for this show is the stories of Spanish immigrants, and is performed by advanced flamenco dancers. Irene Brown has trained with various flamenco dancers in Seville, Spain.

The performance will be held on Friday, February 18 at 20.30 hours at the Muiderpoorttheater. Admission is € 11. Reservations can be made by calling 020-668 1313 or booked online at info@muiderpoorttheater.nl.

If you're a fan of comedy and have spent any time in the Netherlands, then you've probably heard of Boom Chicago. These comedy-improv artists perform regularly in Amsterdam, but they've now added a series of shows in Utrecht. On the third Friday of every month, they'll be performing their quick-paced, hilarious shows combining improv, music, video, and a bit of audience participation. The show each month is new, so you've got something to look forward to monthly.

The shows are at Vredenburg Leeuwenbergh (Servaasbolwerk 1a, Utrecht), with doors opening at 19:00 and the show starting at 20:00. Tickets are €19.75, which includes a drink at intermission. The next performance is Friday, 18 February. Tickets are available through the Vredenburg website.

No matter your musical preferences, it seems that Utrecht usually has something that will catch someone's interest. This weekend is no different, with a variety of musical styles on offer, in a range of prices, as well.

First off is a free concert at the Centrale Bibliotheek Utrecht (Oudegracht 167). Tango Nights, a duo made up of Carol Ruiz (piano) and Miriam Dirr (saxophone and flute), will be performing musical tangos by Astor Piazzolla and Isaac Albeniz, along with Habanera by Maurice Ravel. The concert is Friday, 18 February, at 15:30.

Later in the evening, head to EKKO for the Clash of the Titans, where the semifinal and wildcard round of a band competition is taking place. Bands playing include: A Polaroid View (the winner from Amersfoort), Man Made Ivory (grunge), Najchevski (triprock) and Dum Dum Fever (hard rock). Tickets are just €5 and can be bought at Ekko (Bemuurde Weerd wz 3) or online. The show starts at 20:30.

Finally, if soul and funk are more your thing, head to SJU Jazzpodium for the Fudge Funky Friday with performances by The Impellers & Zick Zack Soundsystem. The Impellers are an 8-piece jazz/funk/soul band from the UK. Besides doing their own songs, they give their own funked-up vibe to songs by artists ranging from Jimi Hendrix to the Ting Tings. The Zick Zack Soundsystem is a trio from the UK that explores bass-heavy funk. The Fudge Funky Friday show begins at 22:00, and tickets cost €23. SJU Jazzpodium is located at Varkensmarkt 2.

A friend recently insisted that I join him for a drink at the Whiskeycafé L&B near Leidseplein. What I didn't realize at the time is that what really happened was that: a hardcore whiskey aficionado was about to take me on a dizzying journey of whiskey tasting in an establishment with a mind blowing selection of the finest Whiskey's from around the world.

The idea didn't surprise me, I realize Whiskey is important to many. But when I stepped into the jam-packed Whiskeycafé, I realized this was no ordinary watering hole. This place is very much into the science and worship of one very special spirit. What I imagined would be just a quick drink who some average tasting whiskey, turned into a long and educational night of sampling Whiskey with flavors I never knew existed.

One additional charm of this very loved bar is that say you can't afford the fancy whiskeys from Japan or who knows what island off the coast of Scotland; there are still plenty of affordable whiskeys for those of us with a limited drink budget.

There you have it, go forth and sample!

(photo by Robert Gaal on Flickr)

The first independently organized TED event to be held in Utrecht will take place April 4, with a theme of Building a Sustainable Future. Organized by the Sustainable Development masters program at Utrecht University, the event will encourage those in attendance and those watching online and at simulcast viewing parties to share ideas.

The event will feature 10 speakers from different backgrounds. Each one will speak about their ideas and experiences for a sustainable future, with each presentation lasting a maximum of 18 minutes each. The presentations will be mixed with relevant videos from the TED.com library.

Attendance is limited to 100 guest, who will come from a variety of backgrounds, including both students and non-students. Those wishing to attend must fill out an information form before March 7, but attendance is not guaranteed. If you are interested, the form for attendance is found at the program's website. If you are interested in hosting a simulcast of the event, further details and contact information is also found on the site.

Saturday, 23 February, head to Oudegracht 209 for a Freshcotton pop-up store in Utrecht. The event will see special clearance deals on clothing and an opportunity to buy the official Dum Dum shirt, while listening to Pretty Young Trouble and Mr. Fox. If you buy the t-shirt, you'll get a free ticket for the March edition of Dum Dum.

Later in the evening, beginning at 23:00, head to Tivoli (Oudegracht 245) for the Dum Dum event, featuring Utrecht's own DJ Kypski and Boemklatsch. Also on hand will be VJs amkraak, Sue Doeksen, Maxmana, Superoboturbo and Kijkbuiskinderen. Tickets are €10.

Museon in Den Haag is hosting an exhibition of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year. Until 6 March, you can stop by to view breathtaking images of landscapes, animal behavior, and gorgeous depictions of the natural world. The exhibition boasts more than 100 prize-winning photographs from 18 competition categories.

Museon is located at Stadhouderslaan 37 in Den Haag. It is open Tuesday through Sunday from 11am-5pm. You can call (070 338 1338) or email (info@museon.nl) with any questions about this or other exhibitions.

For the third year running on Trippist, I'm proud to announce the current edition of Rotterdam Museum Night. This year it's held on the evening of 5 March 2011. It's the 10th edition, and 46 galleries and museums will participate. To celebrate the 10th anniversary (and the fact that it coincides with the city code for Rotterdam (010) there will be 10 "magnificent initiatives" by Rotterdam artists and performers. Hmmm, sounds interesting.

This year the organizers even offer custom arrangements with a number of hotels in Rotterdam, for those die-hard attendees that want to stay over after the big event has finished. They range from posh to humble - you can see the four options here.

For information on passkeys, transport, and more, please visit the Museum Night website.

You can attend the play at Erasmus University Rotterdam on 8 March from 4pm- 5:30pm, with a reception following. It will be held in the Sorbonnezaal, which is located in the M-building at the university. The address is Burgermeester Oudlaan 50, 3062 PA Rotterdam.

Entrance is free, but be sure to order tickets (online). For more information please visit www.eur.nl/seven

Actually it isn't that new, but in the year or so that is has been opened I only recently wandered in to the newest Burrito depot in Amsterdam. Located on the busy Overtoom, just beside Vondelpark in the booming Oud West neighborhood, Tomatillo makes beloved Mexican standards for eating in or taking out.

Veterans of the Amsterdam food scene will tell you how there are limited options for real Mexican food in this town. They're right. But Tomatillo isn't trying to bring you a real Mexican restaurant, all it tries and succeeds in doing is slapping together fresh and zesty tex-mex cuisine. Burritos, Fajitas, Tostadas, and Tacos consisting of an array of ingredients are all part of the daily menu. They even manage to sneak in some delicious non-text-mex desserts for those wanting to top their meal with something sweet.

The beloved Amsterdam theater De Cameleon has started a new monthly initiative, and by initiative I mean party. Every thursday night this unpretentious friendly theater will be hosting drinks, socializing, and music courtesy of DJ Zedset en DJ Rem-P.

The inaugural night is thursday March 10th. Entry is 3€ and the party goes from 8pm to 1am. No waiting in lines, no paying crazy cover charges, just one solid dance party for all. Address and full info on their website.

It's Carnival season, and if you can't make it down south for some of the larger festivities, you can always go to Tivoli Oudegracht in Utrecht this Saturday, 5 March, for Alternative Carnival. There's more to the evening than just the usual Carnival songs; there will also be balkanbeats, gypsy music and polka; the perfect accompaniment for meter-long beers. A Prince of Carnival will also be elected; where else can you elect royalty? And if you raid your closets, thrift stores or Marktplaats for some funky farmerwear, you can even gain free admittance.

If you don't feel like dressing up, tickets are only €4 and are available through the Tivoli website. The festival starts at 23:00.

Looking for a run to welcome spring? On 13 March, from 10:30am, you can join the City-Pier-City (CPC) run. An international half-marathon held in The Hague, this event attracts about 18,000 participants each year. The CPC run begins on the Koningskade and runners head to Scheveningen and back.

If the half-marathon isn't your thing, there are also other options including 5K and 10K runs, and children and youth runs. For more information and registration, check out the official website.

It's hard to believe, but St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner! St. Patrick's Day is celebrated all over the world, and the Netherlands is no exception. There is a festival in the Hague sponsored by the Irish Club of the Netherlands that offers Irish musical, film and sporting events. This is the biggest official celebration in the Netherlands, so head on over if this is something you're interested in attending. From the website:

• Festivities kick off on Friday, March 11th with an evening of traditional & folk music in The Hague's local Irish pubs. Free entrance!

• On Saturday, the Grote Markt will be transformed into the "Groene Markt," with stalls selling Irish-ware. The day will kick-off with a parade of marching bands, followed by free day-long entertainment on the main outdoor stage, with a series of traditional Irish dancing and music acts, supported by guest Irish DJ's.

• Saturday will also see the Den Haag Annual Gaelic Football tournament at the Westlandse Rugby club with teams from Ireland, the Netherlands and Belgium (also no charge).

• The highlight of the weekend will be the Saturday night Festival Party at the popular music venue, Supermarkt, in the Grote Markt, showcasing the best of Irish contemporary & folk music.

For more information, you can email info (at) stpatricksfestival.nl.

No it isn't Brazil and it is certainly not New Orleans, but down in the South of the Netherlands there is a long tradition of big carnival celebrations. This year was no exception, with people taking to the streets, getting dressed up, and dancing their hearts out. Below is a bit of video evidence from the city of Maastricht, the music is suspect, but the decorations are impressive.

A baby fair is coming to town! Doula Den Haag and Great Expectations.nl have teamed up to organize the First Baby Fair Den Haag. The goal of the fair is to provide a "one-stop information shop" for all those interested in pregnancy and baby-related culture in the Netherlands. At this fair parents and expectant parents can find out all they need to know about pregnancy, birth, and raising wee ones in the Netherlands.

Just to give some examples of who will be present: childbirth educators, yoga instructors, midwives, doulas, birth clinics, kraamzorg, lactation consultants, daycare centres, parent and baby groups and providers of complimentary therapies.

Throughout the day, participants are invited to enjoy English scones and Dutch coffee in the catering corner. Participants can also browse a selection of nearly new baby and children's clothes (proceeds of the sale will be donated to the Juliana Kinderziekenhuis).

Baby Fair Den Haag will be held at the Church Hall of St John and St Philip, located at Ary van der Spuyweg 1, 2585 JA The Hague. It takes place on Saturday 9 April 2011 from 9:30-13:00. For more information about this event please contact Tina on 06 506 344 34, or Vera on 06 571 235 47, or send an e-mail to: babyfairdenhaag@gmail.com

An increase in sunlight makes everybody feel alright. Hmm, that sounds like the beginning of a reggae song, let's see what's on that I can recommend this weekend.

Friday:

It may be too late by the time you read this but at Bimhuis tonight its psychadelic rock, electronica and jazz performed by The Nexus; 8:30pm, 18€.

Saturday:

Viva La Fete is a Belgian band that provides a new take on a sound that might remind of good 80's pop; Melkweg, 9pm, 16€ + membership.

Sunday:

Stephanie Houtzeel sings work by Debussy as a followup to her successful 2010 debut at the Muziek Gebouw Aan't IJ; 8:15pm, 28€.

Monday:

The Decemberists show at Paradiso is sold out, but those who know and love the music wouldn't let that stop them; 7:30pm, 17.50€ + membership.

Wednesday evening, at the Dutch Game Garden in Utrecht (Neude 5), the sixth edition of Nerds Unite! will be taking place. The focus will be on data visualization, with ideas on what to do with software and websites such as Arduino, Processing, and Gapminder. There will be a discussion lead by concept artist and interaction designer Jasper Schelling.

The pizza and beer will be on hand beginning at 19:00, with the evening's main events beginning at 19:30. If you're curious about the previous five versions of Nerds Unite, check out the website for photos and videos and more information about what they're doing. Both English and Dutch will be spoken during the evening, and the event is free.

The weather is getting beautiful! Everyone seems so happy and hopeful it will stick around. Seems like the perfect time to visit Vlinders aan de Vliet, the tropical butterfly garden.

From 19 February to 1 November, there's a chance to see birds, fish and turtles, rare plants and flowers, but best of all - hundreds of butterflies! This tropical garden is situated at a converted 850m2 greenhouse in Leidschendam, near The Hague.

They are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 - 17:00 and Sunday from 12:00 - 17:00. The address is Veursestraatweg 195b, 2264 EG Leidschendam. For more information you can visit their website.

Designed in 1871, Amsterdam's station island sees over 250,000 passengers every day. For many it is the first memory they have of seeing Amsterdam upon arrival, walking out the door of the station and taking in the sounds, sites, and smells all around.

For the past 8+ years the island has been undergoing a massive renovation to make room for, among other things, the new North-South metro line. Those who came to the city some years ago would also be surprised by the new shops and more efficient layout to the station itself.

Considering that the construction is hard to ignore and that many visitors (or residents!) might have questions about where all these changes are eventually leading, the city has opened the station island information center. There you can read and see all about how the plan will translate to reality once it is finished. Meanwhile I'm simply impressed by the sketches they published on their website. Boring to some perhaps, but if you've seen chaos turn to peaceful beauty... it can be quite a sight.

Feeling a bit green today? If you're in Utrecht and feel like celebrating St. Patrick's Day, you've obviously got a bit of the luck of the Irish with you today. Utrecht has not just one, but two Irish pubs in the city center, and both are sure to be celebrating the Irish saint's day.

Mick O'Connells (Jansdam 3) is a large space with plenty of room for drinking and dining. They also serve breakfast, so if you feel the need for a big fry-up tomorrow morning after the evening's celebration, that may be just the place to go. You can see their full menu listing, including their important drinks offerings, on their website. They've got a lot going on the rest of the year, as well, including Monday Quiz Nights and lots of FA football.

O'Leary's Irish Pub and Restaurant (Adelaarstraat 23) is across the street from the windmill on Adelaarstraat, making it easy to find. This family-run business has some special events planned for this evening, including music at 20:00 by The Dutch Lemmings. They also have a great selection of food and drink. Check out their website for more information, and stop by at other times, as well for excellent food and lots of sporting entertainment.

Trippist readers, I'm about to introduce you to a fabulous blog about cycling. If you're not familiar with this website, now is the time to get acquainted! Amsterdamize is an amazing chronicle of the art of bicycling, with a particular focus on Amsterdam. His photos are breathtaking - both for the insight into Dutch culture and the way they capture a moment of the cyclist's life.

I want to bring your attention to one post in particular that I spotted last month. Entitled Veni, Vidi, Bici, it provides a comprehensive overview of the history of cycling in Amsterdam, not to mention every stat you could possibly think of (who bikes, how often, how far, how do people feel about cycling, how fast do people cycle, etc.). In this post Amsterdamize includes lots of shots from other photographers along with some of his own. While you're there. be sure to check out other posts that concentrate on his own photos, like here, here, and here.

And go cycle! It's definitely the best way to get around.

Thursday, March 24: The festival opens with award-winning Colombian film Todos tus muertos followed by the premier of También la lluvia (produced by Gael García Bernal).

Saturday, March 26: You can view a screening of Iraq: War, Love, God and Madness.

Sunday, March 27: Comedian Sjaak Bral introduces the film Plato's Academy. The documentary Neukölln Unlimited is followed by an interview with the director Imondi Agostino.

To see the full program of the festival, just visit www.moviesthatmatterfestival.nl.

The Tweetakt festival is taking place again this week in Utrecht. Officially a festival celebrating youth theater, the festival is so much more than that. It's for all ages and has a variety of event to appeal to a broad range of ages and interests. The Festival Centrum is located at Neude square, but there are events taking place all over the city.

Tonight, 22 March, starting at 22:15, there will be a free concert at Neude, with performances by Joast, Roy Santiago, and That Band from Holland. Other things to see and do at the festival's main location include an interactive light installation in which you get to punch a punching bag to your heart's content, making the bag glow brighter and brighter with each punch. If you're feeling more surreal, check out the big screens at the square and experience Hand From Above, in which passersby may suddenly see themselves (on screen) being tickled, picked up, squashed, or flicked by a giant hand from above.

For the full listing of events and performances, check out the festival's website, which has information in both English and Dutch.

This Saturday, 26 March, De Inkpot, ProRail's head office, will be open to the public. This building, known for its architecture, as well as the infamous UFO perched atop it (leftover from an exhibition a number of years ago), is open Saturday as part of the Monument Day Relay. Each weekend, until the official Monument Days in September 10-11, a different monument around the country will be specially opened.

The Inkpot, as it is affectionately nicknamed, was built between 1918 and 1921 and designed by railway engineer G.W. van Heukelom. The building features a contemporary design with elements of Cubism and German Expressionism. The building stands 60 meters high and is the largest brick building in the Netherlands. The entire building contains approximately 22 million bricks. There is a history of the building in one of the main halls, and when you go, don't forget to look up. The tower of the building features a stunning glass roof that is a sight to behold.

The building is open this Saturday, from 10:00 to 17:00, and is located at Moreelsepark 3, Utrecht.

To celebrate Utrecht University's 375th anniversary, a special laser light display is shining from the Uithof to the Domtoren each evening through 26 March. The seven colorful lasers, covering a distance of three kilometers, can be seen each evening beginning at 8 p.m. The light show -- created by Laser Fabrik -- has been named Sol Lumen, as it becomes a temporary part of the daily Trajectum Lumen light show going on throughout the city. The display is meant to show the strong bond between knowledge and culture, connecting the university with the city's most famous landmark.

Special walking tours of the whole Trajectum Lumen project are available through the Utrecht VVV (Domplein 9) or you can pick up a guide in the offices and follow your own path.

Like the city or town you grew up in, Amsterdam has a long tradition of the neighborhood shop. That shop could be the cheese shop, the fruit stand, the barbershop, or any such business that has been there for years and functions not only as a place of business but also as a social hub. The fruit stand owner see's everyone on a regular basis, listens to and passes on stories, keeps in tune with everything and anything going on in his/her area.

Just like the city or town you grew up in, many of those shops have closed down and been replaced by franchises or something of less social value. They may even be nice places, but let's face it, they're not the same as the old fish market that stood on that site for more than 40 years.

Well a new project at the Amsterdam Historical Museum seeks to shine the spotlight on those neighborhood shops past and present. In doing so, they will feature collected stories, photos, and other artifacts from those shops, while also talking about establishments that are still there today. What's more, this project isn't limited to what is offered inside the museum, at select points around the city, exhibits will be set up in existing neighborhood shops or at locations where they once stood.

The project's website (Dutch only) features many stories and gives further details about the locations as well as what is being featured. This project begins now, and lasts until the 21st of August. So bring your nostalgia and perhaps even your taste for fresh fruit or fine cheeses, and start over at the Amsterdam Historical Museum for a well deserved tribute to the Neighborhood Shop.

I spent some time in Amsterdam last week. The sun was shining and it was unseasonably warm for March. I wanted to try one of the delicious vegetarian restaurants I've heard so much about. We strolled down the Prinsengracht until we came to Bolhoed (address: Prinsengracht 60-62).

I brought my non-vegetarian parents along, and they were slightly skeptical of what this place could offer them. But none of us was disappointed. We sampled the soup of the day (vegetable and lentil), salads and the mozzarella, pesto and tomato sandwich. Delicious!

Even after stuffing ourselves with all this amazing food we couldn't stop. So we visited the desert section, and split a piece of chocolate cake (vegan) and banana cream pie (not vegan) along with some delicious organic tea.

It's a shame I live so far from Bolhoed, because if I still called Amsterdam home I'd be here every week. Check it out - they may just convince you that meat isn't necessary.

I was living in NYC the first time I heard about the Rocky Horror-style showings of The Sound of Music, in which the audience gets to sing along with the famous film. The tradition is still going strong and is hitting theaters here in the Netherlands. Tomorrow, 30 March, at the Pathé Rembrandt in Utrecht, the theater will be overtaken by fans of the film dressed in their best nun and captain costumes or dirndl skirts and lederhosen. In fact, costumes are encouraged, as there will be a costume parade before the show with the winner taking home a prize. Each attendee will also receive a Sing-Along Sound of Music fun pack with accoutrements to add to the experience. And, of course, there will be singing along with classics like Do-Re-Mi and Climb Every Mountain.

The event starts at 19:30 and tickets can be purchased through www.pathé.nl or by calling 0900 - 1458.

Here's a hidden treasure I hadn't heard about until now: The Ij Hallen Flea market. Just a short ferry ride from Amsterdam Centraal, this one-monthly flea market offers about 500 stalls of everything you can imagine. Here's a colorful description from CITIZN:

For a very small entry fee (3.50 EU for adults), access is granted to the largest trash and treasure market in North Holland. Stallholders come from across the low lands, and vary greatly in age and personality, from bored students, serious vintage resellers, aspiring entrepreneurs, cunning merchants, and lovely mother hen types that are clearing out sentimental possessions that are gathering attic dust.

2011 will see the market held on the following dates (open from 9am-4:30pm):

2 and 3 April
7 and 8 May
5 June (Outdoor)
3 July (Outdoor)
7 August (Outdoor)
4 September OR 10 and 11 September (dates TBC)
1 and 2 October
5 and 6 November

Check the website for more details.

It's on now! This weekend (2 and 3 April) museums throughout the Netherlands are opening their doors to visitors - and many will offer free entrance. It's the 30th anniversary of the Museum Weekend, and more than 500 museums are participating and will be free or will offer a drastically reduced entrance fee.

In addition many of these museums will offer special activities to encourage the public to get their culture groove on. To find participating museums in a city near you (or a city you want to visit) check out the website. It offers the chance you enter your chosen city for relevant museums and events.

One more event for this weekend! It's a busy weekend in the Netherlands, and Sunday will be a busy day for Trippist readers if they choose to indulge.

The next event worth announcing is the Art Route in the Stenkwartier in the Hague. This weekend, between 11am and 5pm nearly sixty artists will open their studios and homes to the public. These artists all call the Statenkwarier home and will take advantage of this event to showcase their work. Head on over to admire the work of professional and amateur artists and see paintings, drawings, sculpting, photography, and mixed media, to name a few.
For more information, visit this website.

Fingers crossed that yesterday wasn't the extent of our summer weather! Today might not be quite as pretty, but it also means you may be more interested in things to do indoors. Here's a quick roundup of a few things going on in Utrecht today (3 April).

This afternoon at Café de Stad (Lange Jufferstraat 58), there's Ska at the Stad, with some heavy tunes from the Two Tone Special(s), with DJs Mr. Moodisc & 2tone Tim. The event is free and runs from 15:00 to 20:00.

If poetry is your thing, head De Kargadoor (Oudegracht 36) for the Kargadoorslam. This is the official final of the Netherlands Championship Poetry Slam. The jury includes Pom Wolff, Peter le Nobel and Mike Platenkamp, and Gijs ter Haar will be presenting. The doors open at 13:00 and the poetry slam begins at 14:00. Entrance is free.

Of course, this is also Museum Weekend throughout the country, so if you're feeling so inclined, head to the Aboriginal Museum, Centraal Museum or the Catharijne Convent, among others, to see what they have on display. Entrance fees today are free or reduced price. You can find a full listing of participating museums and costs at the official website.

I'll bet that headline got your attention! On 8 April the European Space Agency is hosting a party to celebrate 50 years of human space flight: On 12 April 1961, Russian Cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin was the first human to reach space. Called Yuri's Night, this event will feature the following exciting activates:

-Come and party in the extraordinary Space Expo and its exhibition area!

-Dance on the space vibes generated by DJ Dre and DJ Robert Feelgood!

-Enjoy the journey from and back to the Leiden Centraal space port by embarking on the Space Shuttle Buses!

-Savour a variety of earthly beverages, in particular your free Welcome Drink!

Tickets are EUR 10 and include transport to and from Leiden Centraal. Tickets can be bought online until Friday at 5pm.

Spring is the season when the world's best musicians come over to Amsterdam. Yeah sure, fall isn't bad, but spring rules.

Friday:

The legendary Bilal at Paradiso; 10pm, 20€ plus membership.

Saturday:

Blues and Rock with Wolfpin at Maloe Melo; 11pm, 5€.

Sunday:

Dutch Jazz Singer Mathilde Santing does big band, more specifically, a tribute to Frank Sinatra; 2pm, 8€.

On 15 April the 36th annual Leidsch Dagblad Singelloop will take place in the picturesque center of Leiden, throughout its beautiful canals. The race is 6.6 kilometers and begins at the entrance to Nuon, located at Langegracht 70. It's a short walk from the Central Station if you're coming in from out of town.

The race starts at 7:30pm and numbers are on sale (EUR 3) as of 26 March (a list of places you can get a number are here). Proceeds go to four charities in the region.

It is April and it has been one sunny day after another, much to the joy of the tulips and assorted spring flowers growing en masse in the Netherlands. The following video is from my visit to Noorderwijkerhout during a day long walk through the flower fields and tiny towns along the way. Enjoy the colors and the sounds by a little known musical treasure known as Minor Sailor.

After the Singelloop earlier in the evening, I'll bet you'll have worked up quite a thirst! It's a good thing the Leiden Expats are hosting a party that same evening. On 15 April, stop by the International Party Extravaganza to meet a whole bunch of fellow expats! From the Facebook page:

This international party extravaganza is the long awaited first of many Leiden expat social events.

The event is open to all nationalities and is a great opportunity for those new to Leiden to get out and about and make some new friends.

There will be light snacks provided and for those of you who come alone do not fear, there will be 5 very welcoming hosts who will ensure you have a great night. These hosts are very approachable and can be identified by their Leiden expat badges.

SOOOO if you are looking for a great time with great people from the Netherlands and all over the globe The Duke of Oz is the place to be on Friday the 15th of April.

The Duke of Oz is located at Oude Singel 2, just a short walk from the central station. Head over and have some fun!

Springdance 2011 has come to Utrecht. Exploring the idea of physical mobility over a number of possible outlooks, speeds and on a range of different scales, the festival features performers and lecturers from around the world. The event runs through April 24, and takes place at Stadsschouwburg, Theater Kikker, Huis a/d Werf, Akademietheater, Central Museum and on the Neude square.

Tickets can be bought for individual performances (ranging from €20-30) or for multiple performances at a cheaper rate. Also, if you want to go, but can't find a friend to go with you, you can sign up at the festival's online community and find a fellow dance lover looking to attend a show. Information on tickets and a listing of the full program and the community section can be found at the official website.

Beginning April 15 and running through May 15, Stalles, in conjunction with Rood|Noot and Filmtheater 't Hoogt in Utrecht, will present a look at the "between land" that lies between Utrecht and Leidsche Rijn. This exploration of historic farmland will be done through moving pictures, food, presentations and workshops.

Some of the events are free, but require reservations. For a full listing of the month-long events and programs, as well as more information about the program, visit the website (in Dutch).

stalles from Sir Moving Images on Vimeo.

Want to have a good time and also do something to help the people of Japan recover from the earthquakes and tsunami? Head to EKKO tonight (15 April) in Utrecht for a benefit show. There will be live performances by Pretty Young Trouble, Guerilla Speakerz, 030303 and more, as well as art and photography, and VJ STUDIOAYQIDO.

The party starts at 23:00 and tickets are just €10, with the money going to Giro 6868. Ekko is located at Bemuurde Weerd WZ 3. Directions, and more information, can be found at the website.

Are you a US citizen living abroad? Interested in talking about how campaigning and advertising targets you? Then you can contribute to a research project conducted by students at NHTV (University of Applied Sciences) in Breda. Details from Clogs and Tulips:

Their research deals with campaigning and advertising in the US and how they target Americans, specifically. As part of their research, they are interviewing American expats in the Netherlands. This research is part of an international program involving students from several different countries. Their task is to create an advertising campaign for a museum in Antwerp set to open in 2012.

You can expect questions such as: What message in an advertisement convinces you to buy a certain product or service? What kind of advertisements stay in your mind? What are their characteristics?

If you're interested in participating, contact Dide Evers at the NHTV research and consultancy group (email: rsl.research.nhtv (at) gmail.com

There's a massive project underway to put all Dutch-language films online. Ximon.nl was developed by the Dutch Association of Feature Film Producers (NVS), the Netherlands EYE Film Institute and the Dutch Institute for Sound and Vision.

Within one year, the goal is to have 1500 hours of material online, and in three years, the collection should be complete. Visitors will be able to download movies and old episodes of shows for 1 euro.

One thing that never fails in Amsterdam, someone always has some bizarre idea for a new city activity. Fortunately for us, we get to pick and choose which one's we try out and recommend. Among the new developments for spring-summer 2011 is Bad Buiten, the floating outdoor pool on the Amstel river.

The pool is a never before attempted initiative by the city's water company Waternet. They over a heated pool (cause hey it gets cold out there) which actually floats on the Amstel River. Both adults and children are welcome, with kids paying 2.50€ and adults paying 4€. Once you're in you can swim all day and indeed, you can also sit around and have a drink poolside, as I can tell you at this time of year, many are doing.

Now of course you may have heard or seen with your own eyes, people swim in the Amstel near the city limits where the water seems cleaner. Indeed, it is a beloved way to cool off for many. But waternet is offering a somewhat cleaner experience and much more centrally located just a stone's throw away from Amstel Station. Good luck out there!

The Conscious Hotel brand name has quietly rolled out 2 lovely hotels over the past few years, right in the heart of Amsterdam. Without all the pomp and circumstance that some hotel brands might adopt to get their name out, Conscious has been true to their name, earning rave reviews from clients while not leaving too much of a carbon footprint.

What makes them conscious? Word among former guests is that some items, such as furniture in the room are made from recycled materials. Food is also offered with a great deal of care for health and freshness. And no toxic chemicals are used for cleaning of their rooms. From the outside looking in, these low key hotels are run with a lot of love and attention for the little details.

A glance at their website reveals that rates are not crazy for Amsterdam standards, but that during the high season which is already upon us, it isn't dirt cheap either. Still the owners seem very fun and as previously mentioned, it is nice to see hotels quietly doing things in a unique and sustainable way.

OK, well just for this weekend, but it's true! Check it out:

The meteorologists forecast a maximum of 23 to 26 degrees with plenty Sun for Easter Sunday. Easter Monday it will be 20 to 24 degrees, but still the beautiful weather. Easter 2011 will probably go in the history books as the warmest Easter since 1901. Only in 1949 it was also two days warmer than 20 degrees.

A post about the weather, I know, but it is truly remarkable. Head to the beach - but remember to use public transportation to avoid beach traffic gridlock.

This weather has been unbelievable in NL for the past few days. What better way to continue enjoying it by attending a free open air cinema at Erasmus University Rotterdam on the Woudestein campus. On Tuesday 26 April at 9pm, you can see the movie The Men Who Stare at Goats (starring George Clooney and Ewan McGregor).

Head on over and enjoy a beautiful evening and a little cinema entertainment. The film will be shown on the lawn between the L-building and the T-building. In case of bad weather, the film will be screened inside one of the buildings. For more information, see this link.

More information and a calendar of events are on the official website.

A few weeks ago, while shopping at the Super de Boer on Biltstraat, I saw a poster for Wittevrouwen Bier by De Leckere Brewery. Being very familiar with the various Wittevrouwen streets and canals, I was curious about this beer made locally, particularly since they incorporate Utrecht's history into the names and brewing of their beers. At the monthly Streekmart, I got to try the Wittevrouwen beer on top. It's a really nice white beer, perfect for the warmer weather we've been having. I've since tried some of the other varieties they offer -- there are 10 in all -- and have been truly impressed.

The bottled beers are available for sale at Super de Boer on Biltstraat, as well as the VVV at the Domplein, De Groene Winkel on Zadelstraat, and even the Utrechts Archief on Hamburgerstraat, along with select Gall & Gall locations. You can also find the beers on tap at a large number of bars, cafés and restaurants in town. Graaf Floris, Stairway to Heaven, Toque Toque, Kafé Belgïe, Café Olivier, and Brasserie Domplein are just a few of the many horeca establishments. For a full listing of the locations across the country that offer the beer, check their website.

It's almost here - Saturday is 30 April and one of the biggest celebrations in the Dutch calendar!

If you'll be in Leiden and want to experience Queen's Day, here's a few tips: The celebrations start early, around 8-9am. Throughout the day there will be activities for all ages. There is a children's carnival, flea markets and musical entertainment.

All activities are free to visit and there is plenty to eat and drink.

Of course, the biggest party of all is in Amsterdam, but I'm looking forward to a mellower celebration in Leiden this year. Don't forget to wear orange!

Happy Queen's Day, Trippist readers! Hope you're enjoying the celebration wherever you are in the Netherlands.

The headlines in most Dutch newspapers read something like "Queen's Day 2011: Busy, Beautiful, Calm". And so indeed it was, a classic sunny spring day covered in orange as the city's streets spilled over with happy people. The following is my highlight video for this year taken from both land and canal.

Have any unwanted books lying around that you're not sure what to do with? The American Book Center - both in Amsterdam and The Hague - will be hosting a trade-in day for unwanted books on Friday, May 6th. From the ABC blog:

* We will accept all fiction as long as it is in English.
* We are particularly interested in science fiction, fantasy and horror, romance, graphic novels and manga.
* We don't accept non-fiction or children's books.
* We prefer paperbacks, but might accept your hardcovers if they are deemed resellable.
* We'll buy your books from you at prices based on their re-sale potential.
* We pay in ABC Vouchers, which are valid forever in our stores.
* The value of the gift voucher you'll receive depends on the condition of the book and the title offered, and is at the discretion of the buyer.
* Please note that we do not pay in cash.

Sounds like a great way to do a little spring-cleaning! Wondering when you can drop them off? On Friday the 6th, bring your books to the second floor of the Amsterdam store from 11:00-18:00, or to the Treehut in The Hague from 10:00-17:00.

Today, May 5, is the day when the Netherlands celebrates Liberation Day to mark the end of the Nazi occupation during World War II. There are 14 official festivals going on around the country. If you're in Utrecht. head to Transwijk Park from 12:00 to 23:00 for all of the festivities. There will be stages set up around the park with music from both local and international performers. To make the point of the different forms of freedom, attendees can express their freedom to debate.

The full schedule of events, as well as maps and tips on how to get to the park can be found at the official website.

Well, Trippist readers, I waited too long. I was going to post this picture of beautiful tulips and urge you all to head to the tulip fields of Noordwijkerhout. But rumor has it this gorgeous weather has scorched all the tulip fields! Keukenhof is a wasteland! OK, I exaggerate, but without the cool, rainy spring that we're used to, the flowers don't do quite as well.

That's OK, because there is plenty to enjoy in the Netherlands when the sun is shining. So gaze at this photo, and mark April 2012 as the month you need to take a bike ride through the fields to see these beautiful flowers in their natural (well, planted) setting. It will be worth the effort, I promise you!

It's that time of year again. The weekly skate parade is starting back up again tonight as skaters of all ages hit the streets of Utrecht for a two-hour party on wheels. Every Friday evening, starting by the Stadsschouwburg on Lucasbolwerk, 200 to 500 skaters set off at 8 p.m. for an organized and protected route. A lead truck with music and/or a DJ keep the energy up. At the end of the skate, there are numerous cafés and restaurants along Lucasbolwerk and Lange Jufferstraat for skaters to relax and continue the comradery. The terraces of Café de Potdeksel and Café de Stad are two of the most popular spots to grab some refreshment afterward. If you can't make it to the Skate Parade tonight, you've got the whole summer to get your wheels ready.

Not only is their ice cream to die for (I had a chocolate cone just the other day) but the store itself smells absolutely heavenly. I think it has something to do with the chocolate fountain just inside the door. I haven't seen one of those since Brussels! You can get ice-cream coffee, cakes and other sweets at this location. They also offer workshops, if you've ever wanted to learn how to make bonbons.

New to Leiden? Just look for this delicious cone that marks the spot.

The backwards titled Festival Film & Science Amsterdam will take place at the beloved NEMO science museum from the 19th to the 21st of May. The festival, organized in cooperation with the French Language Institute of Amsterdam (Maison Descartes) and the French Embassy, will feature films by scientific and creative minds from France, the Netherlands, and other nations. In NEMO's main "Lumiere" Theater there will also be interviews, readings, and other public events throughout the festival.

Tickets to the festival are currently available online and range in price from 3 to 5€. You can find them on NEMO's website. If the weather continues to be as good as it has been all spring, it is a good chance to also climb to the observation deck and enjoy a drink and the beautiful view of the city.

Whether you reread books in your collection or not, you're bound to have some that you just want to get rid of so they stop taking up valuable space. On Sunday, 22 May, gather up any books you no longer want and take them to the Book Swap Market at Petrarch Avenue 38, Utrecht. All books, in any language, are welcome. For every book you take to the swap, you can pick a new-to-you book to take home. The event is free and runs from 14:00 - 18:00. If you've got questions or want to see some of the books that will be on hand, check out the event's Facebook page.

Fans of contemporary electronic music -- think ambient, drones -- should check out Breaking the Waves May 12-14, at Theater Kikker in Utrecht. Over the three days, a series of in-house and on-location events will focus on the work of Dutch composer Peter Adriaansz and that of his contemporaries. To help attendees get the most out of the experience, chairs will be replaced by bean bags, camp beds and yoga mats at most shows. Tickets for the various concerts range from €15-20, with an option to buy tickets for all shows for €45. E-tickets (and a full listing of shows, times and locations) are available through the website, or you can buy from the ticket office at Theater Kikker, Ganzenmarkt 14, Utrecht.

After getting arrested last night in Amsterdam while trying to perform a somewhat impromptu gig, Amanda Palmer is trying again tonight, May 12, in Utrecht. This time, she's found a more official and legal location: Tivoli Oudegracht. This last-minute venue is offering up the Spiegelbar for the former Dresden Dolls artist. The show begins at 18:00. RSVP through Facebook, and don't forget your ukulele!

It may not be everyone's cup of tea, but this month Amsterdam's beloved soccer club Ajax won the national championship and as one would expect, there was a massive party to celebrate it. To get a proper video snapshot of what the atmosphere looked and felt like, here's one of the better highlight reels on the internet at the moment, with the biggest gathering taking place on Museum Square amidst a sea of red and white.

It doesn't come around until September, but if you're interested in participating in the Dam tot Damloop you'd better register soon! It will be well worth it to join 40,000 other runners on Sunday, September 18, and run from the Prins Hendrikkade in the center of Amsterdam to the heart of Zaandam. Did I mention you'll have about 200,000 spectators cheering for you, and dozens of live music performances to speed you on your way?

It is still possible to register online, but only for a number of special events. These include the 4 EM (6.4 km), the Run2Day Ladies Damloop (4 EM) or the Mini Dam tot Dam runs (0.6 and 2.2 km). Participation in the 10 EM run is only possible through the organization's Charity Project.

If you don't want to run, don't forget to turn out. It's quite a spectacle!

The John Adams Institute, established to promote cultural exchange between the Netherlands and America, has some really great speakers lined up in the coming months. For example, on the 25th of May, Paul Theroux will be speaking about his work. According to their website:

From Hemingway to Dickens, from Nabokov to Twain, from Isak Dinesen to Graham Greene, many of the world's great writers were also great travel writers. Paul Theroux, arguably the most renowned living travel writer, has capped a fifty year writing career with The Tao of Travel, a collection of travel stories--by himself and others.

After his talk Paul Theroux will be signing books. I've just been informed tickets are sold out on the John Adams website, but where there's a will, there's a way!

Keep an eye out on their website for upcoming events, and remember to snatch up those tickets quickly. Discounts are available for students and members.

Amsterdam usually gets the bigger names when it comes to concerts, but Utrecht is getting some bigger visitors in the coming months. Since these shows tend to sell out quickly, here's a bit of a heads up.

The Twilight Singers are playing at Tivoli Oudegracht on the 28th of June. Tickets are €18.

On July 9, Iron & Wine will be playing at Tivoli Oudegracht. Tickets are €21, and the show starts at 20:15.

On October 26, Bon Iver will be playing their only show in the Netherlands. Tivoli is working together with Vredenburg to host the show at Vredenburg Leidsche Rijn, in the big hall. Presale tickets go on sale Friday, May 20, at 10:00. Tickets are €30.

For ticket purchasing information, check out the Tivoli website.

Tonight, 19 May, it's BYOB here in Utrecht. In this case, though, it stands for Bring Your Own Beamer. It's an art exhibition in which artists bring their own projector and images and project them onto the white walls of the CBKU (Plompetorengracht 4). This is no static, months-long display. This is a one-night-only dynamic experience. Similar exhibitions have taken place around the world from Los Angeles to Berlin, and tonight is Utrecht's night. Admission is €3, but you use those three coins to vote for the artists you most enjoy.

The event starts at 20:00, and you can RSVP through the event's Facebook page or by emailing marica@setup.nl.

Over the past week, if you've spent any time in the city center of Utrecht, you've probably seen a lot of construction going on, from big creations in Neude to smaller structures at Zocher Park over by the Stadsschouwburg. It's all to do with the city's annual cultural Festival a/d Werf.

Take it personal! That's the theme of this year's edition of the festival, a 10-day cultural extravaganza taking place throughout Utrecht. From May 19-28, there will be installations, music concerts, and dance and theater performances. Much of the work is experimental and sometimes interactive, challenging viewers to question their personal perspectives. Much of the programming this year will deal with social and political issues ranging from migration and war to conflicts between generations. Performances are by both Dutch and international artists.

The festival's website has a full listing of events, schedules and ticket prices. It's worth spending a bit of time on the site to plan out your own must-see events for the next 10 days.

Friday, May 20, is the first edition of what will be an annual festival that calls attention to global trash heaps and the value that can be gained from items that would otherwise be dumped there. Beginning at 9 a.m., the Domplein will be filled with artists, speakers, workshops and markets, raising awareness about the importance of recycling and not just dumping. Several artists will be working throughout the day on a large sculpture (perhaps reaching as high as ten meters) made of trash. There will also be markets set up, both with designers selling clothing and other items made from 100% recycled materials, as well as an actual clothes swap organized by Little Green Dress. From 2-7 p.m., bring your clothes, shoes, and bags (men, women and children items are all welcome) and hang them out on the clothesline to be swapped for another item.

A full listing of the events can be found at the official website.

I posted yesterday about the We Beat the Mountain Day of Recycling going on today at the Domplein in Utrecht. It got underway a couple of hours ago and I stopped by to see what was going on. Here are a few photos if you want to get an idea of what's there. There's plenty going on the rest of the afternoon and evening, with music and fashion shows, not to mention the artwork they're creating in an attempt to break a Guiness World Record. If you've got computer parts that are gathering dust and need to be recycled, take them with you, because they've got a special booth set up for specifically that purpose.

On Saturday, 11 June 2011 from 10am to 5pm, the annual Leiden Bee Market will take place. For 70 years the market has attracted thousands of visitors.

You can buy all sorts of unusual and handmade products at the market, such as wooden toys, handmade dolls, original handmade gifts, and natural products such as artisan cheeses, felt, textiles, and handmade silk scarves.

Beekeepers teach visitors about the amazing life of bees and show how they deal with their bees. Visitors can buy all kinds of bee products like honey, honey cakes, wine and a honey bee plant - even bee hives!

The market is located on the Zoeterwoudse singel by the Trigon sports park in Leiden.

The Leiden Botanical Gardens are the oldest in the Netherlands - they date back to 1590. A wander through the gardens is a beautiful and restful experience. Check out the indoor greenhouses for tropical plants and trees, and outdoors a huge variety is also on display. There are lots of nice places to sit and relax and enjoy the view.

The gardens are open from 10am to 6pm until the 31st of October. Admission is € 6, but free with a museum card.

Fans of the Dutch experimental pop musician, Spinvis, have a chance to see and hear some new work from him this Wednesday. Tivoli de Helling (Helling 7, Utrecht) is playing host to a showing of video recordings of a lot of his new songs. The show is last-minute (Wednesday, 25 May) and it's free, but you do have to make a reservation by emailing or calling: hanskok@xs4all.nl / 06-248 223 1943.

A little background: Leidseplein is one of the most famous areas of Amsterdam, for those of you who aren't familiar with the city. It is a meeting point of thousands, where you can hop off one of many trams to watch flame throwers, football jugglers, or admire fellow tourists basking in the sun.

So I was a little surprised to see such a name on a tiny, unassuming shop in Leiden. Situated on the Pieterskerkgracht 28, Leidseplein also identifies itself as a General Store, though after a big of googling I see that it is a coffeeshop (yes, one of those coffeeshops).

It just goes to show you that you never know what you may find on a stroll through Leiden's beautiful little cobblestone streets.

On the 10th of June, the 3rd edition of the LIsFE festival is coming to Leiden.

At the Kaasmarkt, for one day nine hours of short films from all around the globe will be screened. And talk about variety - more than 1000 films were submitted! There are two "best of" competitions - the international competition (a selection of the 60 best International and Dutch films from 2010-2011) and the student competition (dedicated to new talents, full of energy and creativity, from the cinema school films).

Don't miss it - the LIsFE festival is sure to be an event worth attending.

Have a story to tell, and want to do it in an artistic way? Sign up for the Story Slam at the ABC Treehouse. On Friday 10 June, at 8pm, participants are invited to a competition to tell the best five-minute story on the theme of "Personal Stories." Winners can expect some great prizes, including private story coaching sessions with Lisa Lipkin, storytelling books and CDs, and other gifts. From the blog:

Participants are invited to come early to work on their delivery in a pre-slam story workshop, where anyone wishing to compete will be able to practice their story and receive feedback from Ms. Lipkin. Workshop participants will also receive tips on delivery methods, story structure, and "Tips and Tricks" of a professional storyteller. The workshop begins at 18.00 and runs until 19.30.

Participating in the Slam will cost EUR 5. If you want to attend the storytelling workshop and the Slam it will set you back EUR 25. Non-participants can also join the slam for EUR 5. The ABC Treehouse is located at Voetboogstraat 11 in Amsterdam. You can read more about the host here.

Tickets sales started on 30 May. You can purchase a passe-partout in advance for €12,50. This can be done at the Visitor Centre Leiden, (located at Stationsweg 41), online or at the following locations (also the museums that are participating in Museum Night:

Museum Boerhaave,
Hortus botanicus Leiden,
Stedelijk Museum De Lakenhal,
Naturalis,
Rijksmuseum van Oudheden,
SieboldHuis en
Museum Volkenkunde.

If you just can get enough, you can also follow the Museum Night Leiden on Facebook and Twitter - find them here: @MuseumnachtLDN

As well as being a national holiday, 2 June is also the anniversary of the day when Utrecht received city rights from Henry V in the year 1122. As part of the celebration, a free tour of the city's "birthplace", the Schatkamer Domplein, will take place at 12:45. A new test excavation has begun at the site to look for archaeological remains that might still exist in the Domplein.Tickets are free for the tour, but only available on a first-come first-serve basis. Tickets can be picked up at Domplein 24 a half hour before the tour.

In what is definitely one of the highlights of the theatric calendar of 2011, this month FELA the 3-time Tony Award winning musical about the music and life of Fela Kuti, comes to Amsterdam. One of the most celebrated names in world music, the late Fela Kuti is an inspiration to musicians around the world. The musical has drawn rave reviews on Broadway, London, and will now be featured at Carré (also known as Royal Theater Carré).

Performances start June 9th and continue til the 24th. Ticket prices range from €25 to €65 which anyone familiar with admission prices back in NYC will recognize as a good deal. The trick will be to actually find tickets as even as I type these words, they are selling out. Showtimes include some matinees as well as evening performances, depending on the day. Check the website for the latest info.

If you're looking for something different to do on a rainy Tuesday evening, head to Theater Kikker in Utrecht tonight for a sampling of experimental music performances. Every month, they host Het Proeflokaal, offering up a series of five, 15-minute performances from a variety of artists, students and musicians, often using the evening to try out new performances they've been working on. Tonight's performances will include electro-acoustic, modern classic, funk rock fusion, as well as visual experiments.

The event starts at 20:30 and tickets are only €5 and include a beer after the performances when viewers and performers meet and mingle. Theater Kikker is located at Ganzenmarkt 14, Utrecht. More information can be found on the website.

Dutch Doc Days is an International Documentary Photography Weekend taking place June 11-12 in Utrecht. The event explores the art and importance of documentary photography. The theme this year is To Be Continued, exploring the ways that photojournalists are now looking to explore subjects for longer periods of time as they compete in a market where news sources often use photos and videos from anyone who happened to be in the right spot at the right time. The idea of slow journalism is being explored as a way for photojournalists to go deeper behind a story for a longer period of time, gaining a better understanding of the subject and also finding ways to keep important stories from disappearing from the quickly moving news feed.

There will be a series of lectures, discussions, films and displays over the weekend, taking place primarily at the Centraal Museum, Catharijneconvent and Utrechts Archief, as well as the Louis Hartlooper Complex and the Universiteits Museum. The full program and further information can be found at the official website. Entrance is free.

The tour is led by Cora Rooker and begins at 14:30 at the entrance of the Educatorium, (Leuvenlaan 19). The tour lasts two hours and cost €9.50 per person. Register for the tour by sending an e-mail to aorta@aorta.nu. Further information can be found here (in Dutch).

The Leiden Public Library has some exciting news. It is hosting a book sale (boekverkoop) on the 16, 17, and 18th of June. And the prices can't be beat! Adult books are EUR 1, youth books are EUR .50, and other books are EUR 1. What a deal!

The Leiden library has a nice selection of English-language books (as well as Spanish, French, and German) so there will be a variety for everyone to choose from. Check it out!

The central library is located at Nieuwstraat 4, 2312 KB Leiden.

The Utrechtse Fabriek's Hippe Markt is back this weekend, June 12-13, at the Griftpark in Utrecht. More than 55 independent designers with web stores will be presenting their handmade goods in an outdoor market setting. Along with lots of items for children, there's plenty for the adult crowd, as well, including jewelry, clothing, tableware, art and much more. Just remember to take plenty of cash with you. Entrance is free, but the items are cash-only.

The Holland Festival is on! Despite their not-so-great website, this is an event definitely worth checking out. I found some great information over at Holland.com that should help to convince you:

Since 1947 the Holland Festival has been the trend-setting performing arts festival of Holland. The festival is a mixture of performing arts, theatre, music theatre, dance, opera and music, and visual arts, literature and architecture. What makes the Holland Festival unique is the fact that it always tries to renew itself. Every year you'll be surprised by daring experiments and trend-setting performances presented at the international level.

Do check out the official site for detailed info about what's on when and where.

If you're a fan of architecture, then mark your calendar for the weekend of June 25-26. Yes, I know it's called Day of Architecture, but you'll get two whole days to celebrate this one.

So what's this all about? Well, on this special weekend, many buildings throughout the Netherlands that are not usually open to the public will allow interested people inside to peek at their building details.

With this year's theme being "self-made," you can check out places like a doctor's office, a residential center complete with theater and café, a community center with a collective vegetable garden, a private museum, etc. You get the idea.

You can access the full program here. Check the menu on the left for the different places that are active in the Netherlands, from Denthe to Zuid-Holland. You can contact the organizers with any questions at dvda (at) bna.nl, or visit www.dvda.nl or www.bna.nl. Happy exploring!

You may have read in some newspaper somewhere that Amsterdam is getting boring and that free thinking and creativity is disappearing. While it makes for popular conversation in the international press, the fact is we still have plenty of creative and inspiring activities from a wide range of communities that call Amsterdam home.

What better example then the Queeristan Festival, a celebration of activism, culture, art, debate and so much more. Led by the city's vibrant LGBT community, the festival is open to all as one of the main themes is inclusion and respect for all.

It begins Friday the 17th of June at 6:30pm with Lectures followed by the opening of an art exhibit at the celebrated nomadic creative space Schijnheilig. Saturday features workshops all day on a long list of topics from global politics to combating gender discrimination. In the evening there will be vegan food and live performances. Then it all culminates on Sunday with Vegan brunch followed by a march through the streets of Amsterdam.

For full details including directions to the venue, check the website.

On Sunday, 19 June, the Uranus Cultuurlab is opening its doors to the public for an Openlab day. Uranus Cultuurlab is a foundation that promotes interaction between design, audiovisual productions, and visual arts and artists. They rent out work and studio spaces and coordinate activities with the artists. Sunday's open-door day will feature workshops, live music, an art auction, and a chance to visit the studios of the 35 working artists. There will also be drinks and snacks on the terrace.

Entrance is free, and the event runs from noon to 8 p.m.. The Uranus Cultuurlab is located at Uraniumweg 17-21a, Utrecht. For more information about the foundation, visit the website (Dutch).

Maybe the weather this week has gotten you down and you haven't made plans for tonight. If so, here are a couple of ideas of things to do in Utrecht this evening.

First up is the monthly Boom Chicago show in Utrecht. Tonight's performance takes a humorous look at how social media is impacting our lives. Twitters, Facebook, LinkedIn are all explored in this multimedia performance of stand-up, sketches and more. The show starts at 20:00 tonight (June 17), with a pre-show party starting at 19:00. The show is at Vredenburg Leeuwenbergh (Servaasbolwerk 1A). Tickets are €19.75 (discounts available) and available through the Vredenburg website.

If you feel like dancing tonight, head to Tivoli (Oudegracht 245) for Tivoli ♥ Friday. The dancing starts at 23:00 and if the weather's good, there will even be dancing on the terrace. The music runs the gamut from the 1970s through to today. Tickets are just €4.

I came across this fellow the other day. Benny the Irish Polyglot claims to have found a method to learn a language almost perfectly in about three months. I was skeptical, as I'm sure you are, but I watched his progress with Dutch here and am suitably impressed. He even did speed-dating in Dutch! Maybe some handy tips for you Dutch learners out there?

Benny also recently wrote a very interesting post about his experiences in Amsterdam with the Dutch people. It's definitely worth a read. I found that I've had similar thoughts in my almost ten years in the Netherlands.

Any fans of the ukulele should head to Rotterdam on Friday night to attend the 15th edition of the Ukulele Jamboree. The event, which includes workshops and performances, will also feature a special performance by none other than Uni and Her Ukulele from California. Uni has made quite a name for herself around the world among uke enthusiasts and puts on an entertaining show. There will also be a raffle held for a handmade cigar-box ukulele. To round out the event, there will also be an expo, market, open mic, as well as a DJ, and soup, tortillas and hot dogs served up by ROTAB.

It's a night full of entertainment and fun for all and it will also be a celebration of the kickoff of Route du Nord, the art route of Rotterdam. The Ukulele Jamboree starts at 7 p.m. Friday, June 24, at ROTABS Stylecenter (Zaagmolenkade 46) in Rotterdam. Entrance is free.

Saturday, June 25, in Utrecht, the latest edition of the Zelfgemaakt Markt (Handmade Market) is taking place in Mariaplaats. Everything on offer will be handmade, with items including clothing, bags, art, furniture, and dolls, as well as original acoustic music performances and homemade foods such as pannenkoeken, apple sauce, and teas.

The event runs from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. and entrance is free, although you may want to have cash on hand for any purchases. The market is held at various times throughout the year. Check the website for more information about the market and future dates.

But there's more - On 24 June from 6pm to 11pm, about 90 shops located in central Leiden will participate in this special event. There will be gifts! Discounts! A fashion show! Live music! And even street theater! I was just on the Haarlemmerstraat, and the party has already begun!

Even if you think this post has too many exclamation points, check out the official website for more details, or follow the official Twitter account: @moonlightleiden. The website provides you with a full list of participating shops and the locations for all special events.

The weather has been terrible for the past few weeks, but rumor has it that it will improve in the coming days. Since it is summer, why not hit the beach? Scheveningen is a great place to start. Not only are there multiple cafes right on the beach, but you can enjoy the sand sculptures until the 27th of June.

Check out the website to see a full list of this year's selection. They also have videos detailing the building process. Then head to Scheveningen to experience the sculptures in real life. I was there a couple weeks ago and I can assure you - they are impressive!

The lesser known but highly recommendable Pitch Festival will be taking place in Westerpark on July 9 and 10. Pitch is a music festival with a very long list of musical acts on both days. The bands are international and I should point out that they aren't bigtime megastars but yes, some eurofamous acts.

Performances start at 1pm on both days and then on Saturday go on and on until the wee hours of the night. On Sunday, a school night of course, things wind down at 11pm. For all that music, tickets cost 32.50€ on Saturday and 27.50€ on Sunday. You can also do a 2 day ticket for 50€.

You can purchase your tickets now on their website, where you can also check on the list of bands as well as details about the location - Westergasfabriek also known as part Culture Park in the heart of Westerpark.

I've raved about the Botanical Gardens in Leiden . But I forgot to mention something: you can eat there, too! The Grand Café Clusius is located right inside the entrance to the gardens. They offer a delicious selection of drinks (fair trade coffee and tea!), lunch items, treats and a comfortable seating area inside. But the real treat is the outdoor seating. On a beautiful summer day it's a wonderful place to pass the time - at the beginning or end of your visit to the Botanical Gardens, or all on its own, as the café is open to the public.

Keep in it mind - but also be sure to plan a visit to the oldest botanical gardens in the Netherlands sometime this summer. I guarantee you'll have a fun and restful experience.

In the next few months I plan to write about some of the enchanting bookstores I've found in Leiden. Like all Dutch cities (at least the ones I've visited!) city centers always seem to host the most beautiful, charming little shops. Leiden is, of course, no exception.

Today I want to tell you about the Silvester Jeugdboekhandel. Located at Rapenburg 17, they specialize in children's and young people's books and carry an impressive selection of picture books and fairy tales all the way up to literature for (young) adults. They are managed by a foundation set up in 1991 with an aim to promote reading among children and storytelling. Oh! And I forgot to mention: they have books in many different languages: Dutch, of course, is the most prominent, but they also have English, Spanish, German, and Italian books. Great news for expats!

Even if you don't have kids of your own, this is a great place to visit if you're looking for a gift for a little one.

Over the weekend the 30th edition of Oerol Festival on the island of Terschelling took place, one of the summer highlights on the Dutch festival calendar. Thousands turned out to witness the theater performances and other audio-visual art presentations. The weather was great and the program was better than ever.
Here is a slideshow off of Oerol's photo page with glimpses of the fun and beauty last week.

Hoping to capitalize on some nice summer weather, De Parade visits a number of Dutch cities with its rendition of an open-air theatre festival. This year is the 21st edition, and they'll celebrate with more that 70 different theater, music, and dance performances with something for everyone. There's also plenty of delicious food and drink available between performances: think such, fresh pasta, and cocktails.

Between 16 June and 21 August, De Parade first pitched tents in the Museumpark in Rotterdam (they were there in June). Next up is the Hague (1-10 July), then Utrecht (15-31 July) and Amsterdam 5-21 August).

See their website for all details (information is also available in English).

This Sunday, 3 July, Horeca Lucasbolwerk, a collection of bars, cafés and restaurants, will be hosting the first Mosselfestival in Utrecht. The event will take place at Zocher Park along Lucas Bolwerk, and will feature fresh mussels provided by Habraken Vis en Mosselhandel and prepared by Snoque Deux uit Bruinisse. Local organic beer from De Leckere will be available, as will a selection of wines from Peek en van Beurden. Zocher Park sits along the Wittevrouwensingel, so you can enjoy some lovely scenery to go with the food and drink.

Entrance to the event is free and a serving of mussels costs just €3.50. The festival starts at noon and will be officially opened at 14:00 by Utrecht writer and comedian Vincent Bijlo. It ends at 19:00, but feel free to visit Café de Potdeksel, Cafe de Stad, Café Tilt or Brasserie Zocher afterward, as they're the ones who have gotten together to organize this event.

This Sunday, 3 July, as part of the regular Cultural Sunday events in Utrecht, the Oudegracht and Weerdsingel will be the site of a series of concerts along the canals. Combining past events of the Musical Boat Parade and the Oudegracht Opera Concert, the event this year will include a number of classical music performances at four locations along the canals, Beginning at 16:30 at Ledig Erf, you can walk or boat along the canal to enjoy music ranging from Monteverdi to Mozart from performers both young and old. De Nieuwe Philharmonie Utrecht will be performing at 19:00 at Weerdsluis, along with mezzosoprano Cora Burggraaf, as well as the Scratch Choir. For more information, visit the official website.

This Sunday, July 3rd, residents and visitors in the Netherlands will have a chance to experience The Hague African Festival. According to the official website,

The Hague African Festival offers a colorful and inviting window on the Africa of today, with a focus on the richness of the African cultural heritage and contemporary developments within African cultures. Particular energy has been devoted to putting together a representative programme of African music that reflects both tradition and contemporary dance music.

In designing the festival, the organisers have chosen to immerse the visitor in 'the African way of life'. The Hague African Festival will provide a natural and welcoming meeting place for all residents of The Hague: an international top event for an international city, helping it to put itself even more firmly on the cultural world map. The festival will host a lively and varied African Market. In dozens of stands, a wide diversity of products will be for sale, and of course the African cuisine will appeal to everybody's taste and appetite!

The Hague African Festival takes place in the Zuiderpark, The Hague. Presale tickets are EUR 15 and are also available at the door for EUR 20. Children under 12 are free. Tickets can be purchased online or at the locations listed here. If you have other questions for the organizers you can contact them at info (at) thehagueafricanfestival.com.

The pinnacle of outdoor Amsterdam summer film-related fun is less than a month away. Pluk de Nacht, the festival that takes place in several parts of Amsterdam and features full length and short films from around the world, is sure to be better than ever this year!

From the 4th to the 13th of August, when the sun goes down, the films will begin. Besides movies, there will also be food and a party atmosphere for all those in attendance. For the international audience, all films are either in english or subtitled in english. And of course, the festival is free the general public, bring your own blanket or lawn chair.

Below is this year's preview video, you can follow them via facebook where theyre also calling for volunteers and donations to help during this financial crisis year. Money or not, it will still be a do-not-miss event this summer.

If you're wondering what the big screen set up in Neude is for, it's actually part of the Venice Biennale exhibition. DROPSTUFF.eu has been selected as official Collateral Event of the famous art show, and from June 1 till July 31 DROPSTUFF.eu will present six new artistic games, with three screens set up in locations around Venice, and three screens set up in the Netherlands, including the screen here in Utrecht. Eindhoven and Den Haag are the other two locations of screens in the Netherlands.

Game designers, artists and filmmakers have collaborated to create a series of games that can be played and directed by the public, in both countries. People in Venice can play and interact with people here in the Netherlands, through the use of smartphones. Players gain access through the mobile website m.dropstuff.eu.

Along with the games, short films and videos will be shown under the title DEUS: Dutch Experiments on Urban Screens. For more information and schedules, as well as a chance to see some of the short films, visit the Dropstuff website (available in English and Dutch).

The annual Maliebaanfestival is back in Utrecht. The historic and picturesque street -- site of the first official bike path in the Netherlands -- is the location of a fun and friendly folk festival for all ages. There are 60 amusement rides, most only costing €1, as well as games, music performances and even cotton candy! There are plenty of terraces to sit and enjoy a drink and the sights of this old-fashioned carnival that runs from early afternoon through late evening, so you can enjoy the festive lights and colors, as well.

The festival takes place July 15-20, running from early afternoon until 11 or 12 at night. Check the website (Dutch) for full times and events.

The area around Central Station Amsterdam doesn't always get talked about as the place to find great cafe's and quality eating. Honestly, there's alot of average places as one might expect from an area so close to a major transportation center. The average restaurant or café doesn't have to offer much as the regular foot traffic keeps them busy enough.

Café Kobalt, located right in the vicinity of the train station, is an exception to all the mediocrity. This well sized rustic cafe/bar/restaurant offers the right blend of confortable and quality. Serving all three courses during the day, including TAPAS for those who are hungry but don't want a meal, Kobalt has a diverse cuisine cooked with skill. The prices aren't the lowest in town, but in exchange for being medium range pricing they step up the food and drink by offering better than you'll find in the area. And if you're not influenced by food, maybe the excellent wine menu and the locally brewed beers from the Ij Brewery (on tap) will win you over.

Open everyday from 8am to 1am, Fridays and Saturdays til 3am. Check out their site for full details in English.

The first week of the Over Het Ij Festival 2011 has already been a huge success which should only make it all the more important to get over there before it is all finished this Sunday. For those who don't know of it, every year Over Het Ij takes place at the NDSM wharf, a theater festival that features a long list of performances, many of which take place in the infamous shipping containers which can be found throughout the terrain. Food and drink, including some quality dinner options and cheap snacks are also available. As the sun goes down there is always music and a plethora of people hanging out happy to talk theater and more.

Over Het Ij is free to walk onto the property and look around. You only pay for the theater pieces you want to see. Some you can just line up in front of the container, bigger performances you can buy tickets for in advance at the ticket office. While many plays are in Dutch, others are in English or no formal language at all, which makes it a highly accessible festival even for non Dutch speakers.

To get there, just grab the free ferry from Central Station to NDSM and you can't miss it. late afternoon or evening performances are always taking place.

To be honest, it looks like the weather is going to interfere with any outdoor plans this weekend. So if you were hoping to visit the Maliebaanfestival that I mentioned last week, you might want to go today or hope for better weather in the early part of next week. De Parade, the travelling theater festival opens today in Utrecht at Moreelspark. Fortunately, it runs through July 31, so the weather is bound to clear up before the end of the festival.

If you don't want to take your chances with the weather, head to EKKO (Bemuurde Weerd WZ 3) tonight, July 15, for a hardcore/postpunk show by Rosetta. Tickets are €9 and the doors open at 20:00, with the show starting at 20:45.

Finally, on Sunday, July 17, there's the perfect event for madness-inducing weather: a showing of two of Jack Nicholson's great films at 't Hoogt. At 14:00 is a viewing of One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Then at 16:30 is the classic The Shining. Tickets are €8 (various discounts available). The website has more information on all dates and times for other showings of the films.

Everyone who spends any time in Amsterdam probably ends up having pizza. This is likely to be the result of being hungry and liking the convenience of so many pizza places to choose from. It could also be because the city is home to so many fine Italian eateries from the highest quality to the poorest.

This year, as they have for the past few years, there is one pizzeria that continues to be one of the busiest and beloved right in the heart of the Jordaan. Da Portare Via isn't fancy, it isn't big, it isn't even expensive, but mark my words... it is delicious. On any given summer night there are people sitting in the window, outside, on the street along the canal or even in their boats enjoying a fresh pizza.

Da Portare Via has three locations, but my personal favorite is on the Leliegracht 34. You'll know your getting near the restaurant, your nose will tell you.

Down in Rotterdam, during this time of year, Summer Carnival gets the city in a dancing mood. Now in its 27th edition, the street party was originally started by the city's vibrant Antilian community. The festival now attracts on average close to 1 million people. According to participants the party is so good you feel like you're on the islands celebrating carnival.

One of the key events of Summer Carnival is the Battle of Drums brass band competition which takes place on the 29th of July. This is followed by the street parade concert the following day, a parade that extends over 2 kilometers (around a mile) long.

Summer Carnival is of course free to attend and participate in, if you'd like all the details about where specific events are taking place and when, check their website for the the latest info.

If you're looking for something to do tonight, consider heading over to Tivoli (Oudegracht 245, Utrecht). Beginning today and running through July 31, Attitude Holland is opening a pop-up store at Poppodium Tivoli. Fans of goth/rockabilly/punk/burlesque fashion will want to check out the store, set up in conjunction with the upcoming Summer Darkness festival. The store is open from 13:00 - 21:00, and today's special events include DJ X-X-X playing from 16-21, and Featherfantastic, a burlesque show by Lilly Mae Lovett at 16:00. There will also be fire acts and lots of models on hand showing off the wares.

Later in the evening, beginning at 20:45, anyone with a love of music and music trivia may want to check out PopQuiz, presented by Three Imaginary Boys. This monthly quiz features clips, laughs and competition, with prizes as well. Entrance is €5 and teams of three can play. Go, register (doors open at 20:00) and have a good time.

Finish out the night with Pop-O-Matic at 23:00. Afro, Indie, Hiphop, Electro and Pop music will all be spun, with the goal of feeling good. The motto for the night is: Different Styles, Different People, One Love! Tickets are just €4.

Right now I find myself at Bagels & Beans, drinking the best latte in the Netherlands. What a delicious welcome back treat! I'm recommended Bagels & Beans before and I'll repeat my endorsement: It's a great place for coffee, delicious bagels, and soothing classical music.

One other thing to mention: They have a monthly e-newsletter. Why should you sign up? Because it has coupons! This month, for example, I can enjoy a freshly squeezed carrot juice (or carrot juice with apple, cucumber or orange juice) for just EUR 1.50. What a deal!

More soon - first up is a jetlag inspired nap.

The American Book Center blog has some great reading tips for anyone "stuck" in the Netherlands this summer. A fine suggestion, if you ask me, with all this rain and coldness.

They recommend five books that "the Lonely Planet missed" (I can particularly recommend Amsterdam Made by Hand from this group). They continue with cooking, grilling, and wine tasting items, and then list a number of books focused on surviving outdoors. Kids books are also listed along with those deliberately addressing rainy day activities. Check the post for all their suggestions, and be sure to stop by the American Book Center (in Amsterdam and the Hague) if the rain is boring you.

If you're going to have a Goth festival, what better place to host it than Utrecht, with it's fabulous Gothic (half-destroyed) cathedral. The city is host each year to the Summer Darkness festival, which sees visitors from all over Europe and elsewhere converging to enjoy music, art, fashion and more, all with a distinctly dark underground vibe.

Music covers a wide range of bases, including: New-wave, ambient, electro, medieval, neo-folk, EBM, darkwave, synthpop, futurepop, neo-classical, industrial, noise and now also dubstep and witchhouse. There are live performances by a huge number of artists, including Nitzer Ebb, Killing Joke, Freakangel, The Neon Judgement, and VNV Nation.

Opening night will feature a Bal Du Masque, while the rest of the weekend will include a market in the Domplein, full of clothing, hair accessories, makeup, records, and other ephemera. The Domplein is also the site of numerous fashion shows, and generally a great place to see and be seen. Photographers can find a number of willing models, with the cathedral gardens serving as an ideal backdrop.

Summer Darkness runs July 29-31. Tickets, including full-day passes, and prices are available on the official website (in English), along with the full schedule of events, as well as tips on accommodation and access.

This Saturday, July 30, from 13:00-17:00, the Nijntje Pleintje in Utrecht is going to become the Swapping Square (Ruilplein). People are free to bring any unwanted items, be it clothing, books, CDs, appliances, or anything else, and try to swap them for items other people are offering. No money changes hands; just good old-fashioned swapping. It doesn't have to be like-for-like. You could bring some baked goods and maybe find someone who will trade an item for your baking skills. The organizers will provide, coffee, tea and lemonade, and there will be music on hand, as well. Get creative while you help prevent unwanted items from heading to the landfills. There's more info at the event's Facebook page.

This Dutch language blog covers a Dutch word or expression in English almost every weekday and is meant as a fun study aid for those learning to speak Dutch. The examples, expressions, related words and extra info on Dutch culture are an entertaining supplement to any Dutch language course!

It's true: Yes, you get a word almost every day, but you also get an explanation of how that word can be used in various sentences, and you get a background into its use. Anyone who has attempted to learn Dutch will tell you that this is absolutely necessary in reaching fluency! DWOTD have also started with weekly quizzes, so you can test your accumulating knowledge of the words they cover.

Maybe some of you out there used to live in the Netherlands, but now call another country home. Perhaps there are certain Dutch delicacies that you miss but didn't think you had access to anymore.

Well, there's hope! Today I discovered TypicalDutchStuff.com, a company that attempts to meet this need. From their website, they explain:

What began with a relatively traditional selection of Dutch products, has expanded into a company that not only offers the basics, but also focuses on a large selection of frozen Dutch snacks (fun fact: we are the only company who offers this service!), traditional and trendy Delft Blue souvenirs, wooden clogs, handmade jewelry, and original Dutch bikes and accessories...The website does not only feature products that can be ordered, but it is also a source for information and it is highly interactive. That is why TypicalDutchStuff.com offers a selection of Recipes, a Blog, Dutch Commercials, and many contests. These are just one of the key aspects that set TypicalDutchStuff.com apart from the rest!

This is a great idea even if you do live in the Netherlands. In my experience, I always have orders from the US for stroopwafels and drop, and often find myself running out of suitcase space to fulfill all requests from my friends and family. Hmmm...why not just ship them, instead! I also like the idea of having a Dutch Omafiets shipped to my parent's house in Minnesota...

It's almost here! From August 5-7, Amsterdam will host its annual Gay Pride Weekend. Get ready for street parties. Get ready for club circuit parties. And get ready for the canal parade on Saturday the 6th!

You can find Amsterdam Gay Pride on Facebook (strangely, from the looks of it they aren't doing Twitter). If you're not sure whether you should attend, check out amazing photos of past Amsterdam events that will be sure to convince you.

The official site also has a hotel search function and provides details on all parties along with an online map. More to come on this big event!

At the height of the summer, the crowds stay big and the music stays great, but where to begin?

Friday:

Uplifting organic electro dance music by Loonaloop from Australia is at Pakhuis Wilhemina, 10pm, 9€.

Saturday:

The country-trash stylings of Bob Wayne and the Outlaw Carnie play MaloeMelo, 11pm, €7.50.

Sunday:

The Oi! Minifestival is actually not so mini anymore, as the premier annual dub-step party in Amsterdam. It takes place in Amsterdam North at the Tolhuistuin which is on the Tolhuisweg. It starts at 5pm and will cost €15 for full access.

Monday:

Gogol Bordelo, international music icons, are sold out at Melkweg. But true fans always find a way. 8pm.

Even with mediocre summer weather, it is possible to enjoy outdoor activities with milder temperatures. Particularly if the rain stays away as it did today!

This afternoon I had the privilege of strolling around the Vondelpark, enjoying the sites and getting some lunch. It wasn't as busy as usual, though the same eclectic mix of bikers, joggers, and leash-less dogs were there.

If you're coming from outside Amsterdam it's easy to get to the Vondelpark. Just head to the Central Station and then take tram 1, 2, or 5. To keep it simple you can get off in Leidseplein and the main entrance to the park is about a five minute walk from there. Highly recommended at any time of year! (photo taken with Instagram)

It's another dark and cloudy day in the Netherlands. So how about some theater? At 8pm tonight the Regentenkamer van de Meermansburg (Oude Vest 159a, Leiden) hosts "Liefde van het Donker," or "Love in the Dark." Visitors can expect Leonard the magician to provide a mixture of fascinating storytelling and breathtaking magic tricks.

The entrance fee is € 12,50 and the price includes drinks. For more information or to reserve seats, you can visit Leonard's website, call 06-10824301 or email info (at) leonardillusions.com.

When island hopping comes to mind, it's easy to think of places like Greece or the Caribbean. But this activity is also possible in the Netherlands. Ever heard of Texel, Vlieland, Terschelling, Ameland and Schiermonnikoog? These are the islands located in the Wadden Sea, which also happens to be a World Heritage Site since June 2009.

What can you do there? Texel, the largest of the islands, hosts the nature center Ecomare, which is located within the seventy-acre Dune Park. You can visit one of the tallest lighthouses in the Netherlands (236 steps high, on Ameland) or visit the seal colonies on Terschelling. If you visit in the warmer months you might even spot some baby seals. As with any visit in the Netherlands you can also cycle around the islands and enjoy nature.

In the summer, from Amsterdam you can make use of the Eilandhopper, or Island Hopper. This service provides sailing trips between three and six days long.

They offer three main options: meat, fish, or vegetarian. Take your pick, and then you are presented with a large rotating tray (a Lazy Susan) with four small plates that match your selection. Being vegetarian, it was clear which one I chose, and I was delighted with the selection. Vegetarian lasagna, mushrooms with goat's cheese, and two other unidentifiable cheeses along with a great mix of olives and bread. (Some of the options in the photo are fish as I was eating with a large group). Yum! They also have more than 100 wines, and 15-20 of these wines are available by the glass. I'll definitely be back.

Proeverij de Dames is open seven days a week, starting at 10am. They are located right in the center of Leiden, at Nieuwe Rijn 37. You can reach them by phone at 071-5126066 or by email, proeverijdedames(at)gmail.com.

If you feel like visiting the Domplein today, consider heading over in the evening to enjoy the weekly carillon concert. The concert begins at 19:45 and entrance is free. The concerts are held every Monday through the end of August. The best place to enjoy the concert is in the Pandhof, the cloistered garden area. Enjoy a drink and the sounds of the bells and be glad the Domtoren wasn't destroyed in the storm. The concerts are organized by the Utrechtse Klokkenspel Vereniging.

The Dutch Vegetarian Association is going to be attempting to put together the longest vegetarian table tonight (3 August) at Neude in Utrecht. From 18:30 until 20:00, they will be hosting a vegetarian dinner for 200 people. Stop by this evening and see for yourself. You may even be able to squeeze in for a spot at the table. Among the dishes on offer will be filled endive leaves with raspberry and humus, a peasant bread with rosehip chutney and pine nuts, and a ginger and zucchini soup.

The event, of course, is to raise awareness about the vegetarian diet and encourage more people to become vegetarians. For more information about the association, visit their website (in Dutch), which also includes recipes and lists of restaurants.

Remember this entry, from May? Well, the American Book Center is at it again - they're hosting another book trade-in! It's a great opportunity to sort through your (perhaps overflowing?) bookshelves and get rid of anything that isn't really interesting anymore. As last time, here are the criteria:

• We will accept all fiction as long as it is in English.
• We are particularly interested in science fiction, fantasy and horror, romance, graphic novels and manga.
• We don't accept non-fiction or children's books.
• We prefer paperbacks, but might accept your hardcovers if they are deemed resellable.
• We'll buy your books from you at prices based on their re-sale potential.
• We pay in ABC Vouchers, which are valid forever in our stores.
• The value of the gift voucher you'll receive depends on the condition of the book and the title offered, and is at the discretion of the buyer.
• Please note that we do not pay in cash.

The next trade-in day is August 5, and following that, you can do it again on November 4th. You can bring your books to the second floor of the Amsterdam store from 11:00-18:00, or to the Treehut in The Hague from 10:00-17:00. Happy cleaning!

This weekend, Utrecht is hosting the In Vervoering Festival. Music, poetry, theater and film are on offer throughout the city during this free festival. Rather than the audience being removed from the art, though, this time the audience can gain more intimacy with the artist. Ride around on a bakfiets as you have poetry recited to you, or listen to a private water concert on a boat. Performances take place at various spots around the city, sometimes where you least expect it. Much of the action takes place at Korte Minrebroederstraat (behind the Stadhuis) on Saturday, and on Sunday, many of the performances take place at the charming Lepelenburg Park. The Spoorweg Museum will also have events taking place, with performances on some of the trains.

For more information about the various artistic endeavors and the full schedule, check out the website (in Dutch).

From August 12-21, you'll have another great excuse to visit Amsterdam: this time, it's the Grachtenfestival (Canal Festival)! Get ready to enjoy beautiful, outdoor concerts all over Amsterdam, and also on the canals. For a list of all concerts and their locations, visit this page.

Online ticket sales are available through www.grachtenfestival.nl. You can buy tickets up to the day of the concert. You can also stop by the AUB Ticket Shop (located at Leidseplein 26).

For more information, you can email kassa (at) grachtenfestival.nl or call 020 627 23 73 (weekdays from 10am - 4pm).

There are hidden, and not-so-hidden, gems of greenery throughout the historic city center of Utrecht. Despite all of the brick and stone that makes up the city, it's possible to find a variety of flora in places where you sometimes least expect it. This Thursday, 11 August, Utrecht tour guide, Willem Kragten, will be leading a special tour of these flowering spots in the city.

The tour begins at 14:00 at the VVV tourist office in the Domplein, and lasts for approximately 1.5 hours. The cost is €5, and pre-registration is required. To register, send an e-mail to infovvv@toerisme-utrecht.nl or call 0900 128 8732 (€1,30 per call).

Head to Rotterdam on 21 August for the Bavaria City Race. According to The Hague Online,

The Bavaria sponsored festival is an F1 demonstration and exhibition event featuring drivers from the very top of international racing. Beginning in 2005 as 'Monaco on the Mass', Bavaria City Racing now attracts more than half a million spectators to Rotterdam's city centre.

The 2011 program sees the Ferrari Team with race drivers Fernando Alonso and Felipe Massa show off the team's new car for the 2011 season, the Ferrari 150° Italia.

Spectators can even experience the track in an F1 simulator. The event is free if you want to take a position along the route. VIP tickets are also available for even better seats (adults pay €77.50 and children under 12 years pay €47.50).

The program is on Sunday, 21 August 2011. The warm up program beings at 12:10 and the main program is from 2-4:30pm.

The Volkenkunde museum in Leiden has done it again - another great event to highlight the museum's fabulous art and culture.

Tomorrow night (Friday, 12 August) they host a Ladies night. Visitors will be treated to Maori artists and performers providing some great live music and dancing, jewelry workshops and a dazzling fashion show.

On the more academic side of things, curator Wonu Veys tells visitors about the role of women in Maori culture. Other experts on Maori culture will be present to provide a fun and entertaining education to all.

Want to join? It costs €7.50 at the door.

This is the last weekend for the summer film festival Plukt de Nacht in Amsterdam. The final film is tomorrow night, a Canadian production entitled "Small Town Murder Songs." It features an excellent soundtrack by Bruce Peninsula.

The weather this weekend is just right for a true summertime evening night at the movies. Bring your picnic basket and a blanket, as per tradition.

There's nothing like a margarita on a warm summer day. Sadly, we haven't had many summer days this year, and today doesn't look to be much different, but you can still get a margarita. Or a margarita ice cream. Today, for one day only, there will be a pop-up Margarita Ice Salon at Potten & Pannen, Nachtegaalstraat 94, Utrecht. These pop-up margarita ice cream shops have already made an appearance in Amsterdam and next week they'll be in Den Haag at Gransjean Wijnen & Delicatessen, Bankastraat 12.

Of course, if it's a good old fashioned margarita drink that you want, try the ones at Popocatepetl. Although it's a chain of Mexican restaurants here in the Netherlands, they do a pretty good margarita, along with typical Mexican dishes, including nachos, burritos, fajitas and more. The restaurant is located at Nobelstraat 163, just a short walk down the same street from Potten & Pannen. You can make reservations online and they have group dining options if you want to get a large group together.

Short on cash, or reluctant to keep buying new things? Even tiny little Leiden offers some great options for buying (or selling) used clothes. To name two:

Appel en Ei (Pieterskerk-Choorsteeg 30) prides themselves on a great selection of high quality, brand nam