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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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