Best of the Binn3 - BrunssumBrits

The Binn 

The Best 

of 

The Binn 3 

2008-2010 

The best of the Binn 2008—2010

Name of attraction Kinderstad 

Location 

How many miles from Brunssum? 

Type of attraction 

Is this attraction suitable for: 

Young children 0-5 

Children 6-12 

Teenagers 

Families 

Singlies 

Visiting relatives 

The best of the Binn 2008—2010 

Heerlen 

6 miles 

Massive indoor play 

area 

Yes, it may be a little busy for them at peak 

periods 

Yes 

Yes, older teens might get bored 

Yes, you do have to pay for adults, but children 

under two are free 

No 

Yes, my 64 year old mum had as much fun as the 

kids on the carousel, dodgems and trampolines! 

Large groups Yes and birthday parties can be held there. 

How much did it cost to get in? 

Did they sell food? 

Was the food good? 

Was the food expensive? 

Would you go back? 

Any other comments? 

Website: 

Kinderstad 

€9 per person, the BFPO sell tickets for €7. 

Yes, however you can take your own food and 

drinks in. 

We only tried the coffees, hot chocolates and chips 

which were fine. 

No, all items cost 1 euro. 

Definitely – it’s great! 

To buy food and play slot machines you use 

tokens purchased at the entrance and by the food 

kiosk. 

Afnorth teacher training days are a great time to 

go, it’s virtually empty then. 

www.kinderstad.nl 

Review by: Louise Walton

Some helpful phrases 


Dutch: FOOD SHOPPING 

Ever spent an hour in the supermarket, reading every label and trying to figure out what was 

in the packet? 

Yes? Well, here’s a list of everyday food items and phrases in Dutch to help out. 

Thank you to Carla Pluymakers and Rachel Loudon for their help with this! 

If you’d like to learn more Dutch, have a look at which Dutch courses are on offer. 

How much is that? Wat kost dat? 

Please write that down Kunt u dat alstublieft opschrijven? 

That’s all right Dat is goed 

Do you have .....? Heeft u .....? 

Where can I get some ....? Waar kan ik ......krijgen? 

I’d like ..... Ik had graag .... 

A bit more Een beetje meer 

A bit less Een beetje minder 

A piece of Een stuk 

A kilogram Een kilo 

Small Klein 

Big Groot 

Please Alstublieft 

Thank you Dank u 

Fruit—fruit 

Groenten—vegetables 

Vlees—meat 

Vis—fish 

Bread 

White Bread—Wit brood 

Brown bread—Bruin brood 

Bread roll— Broodje 

Pinnen—to pay by debit card 

Gillian Fernandes

Basics 

Plain flour meel 


SHOPPING 

Selfraising flour zelfrijzend bakmeel 

Wholemeal flour/corn flour maismeel 

Bicarbonate of soda zuiveringszout 

Horseradish mierikswortel 

Mint sauce muntsaus 

Apple sauce appelmoes 

Gravy jus 

Jelly gelatine, gelei 

Sugar suiker 

Marmelade marmelade 

Jam jam 

Pastry gebak(jes), (korst)deeg 

Puff pastry bladerdeeg 

Curry powder kerriepoeder 

Brown sugar bruine suiker 

Icing sugar poedersuiker 

Castor sugar strooisuiker 

Salt Zout 

Gillian Fernandes

FISH – VIS 


FOOD SHOPPING 

Often, when shopping in the Netherlands, a combination of guesswork and common sense can help 

you when translating produce in the supermarkets. However, with fish, many of the Dutch words 

are nothing like the English!! If you are a fish-lover and need some help in discovering your 

favourites, I hope the following is of help: 

Cod - Kabeljauw 

Tuna - Tonijn 

Herring - Haring 

Haddock – Shelves' 

Skate –Vleet 

Plaice Schol 

Sole - Tong 

Whiting – Wijting 

Eel – Paling 

Trout - Forel 

Prawns - Garnelen 

(Smoked) salmon— Gerookte Zalm 

Sardine – Pelser 

Swordfish – Zwaardvis 

John Dory – Zonnevis 

Flounder – Bot 

Dab – Schar 

Turbot – Tarbot 

Pollack – Pollak 

Conger Eel Zeepaling 

Did you know…? 

Pangasius is very common here, a white 

flaky fish, known as white catfish or grey 

sole. It is much cheaper than cod and has a 

rather bland flavour. Be careful when cooking 

as it can disintegrate if overdone. However, 

there is a warning on the internet that 

they are intensively farmed in Vietnam and 

do contain high levels of toxins! 

Red Mullet – Mul 

Lemon Sole – Tongscher 

Anchovy – Ansjovis 

Bass/Sea Perch - Zeebaars 

Sprat - Sprot 

Brill - Grief 

Halibut – Heilbot 

Ling - Leng 

Rachel Loudon

Meat and Dairy 

Beef – Rundvlees 

(Cooked) ham— Gerookte Ham 

Kidney—Nieren 

Lamb—Lamsvlees 

Liver— Lever 

Minced meat— gehakt 

Pork— Varkensvlees 

Pork chops—Varkens kotlet 

Rabbit— Konijn 

Sausage— Braadworst 

Veal— Kalfsvlees 

Chicken— Kip 

(Roast Chicken) - Haantje 

Duck— Eend 

Goose—Gans 

Turkey— Kalkoen 

(Unsalted) Butter— (Ongezouten) Boter 

Cheese—Kaas 

Plain creamy cheese for cooking/baking— Kwark 

Cottage cheese— Huttenkaas 

Whipping cream—Slaagroom 

Fresh—vers 

Egg(s) Ei (Eieren) 

Lard— Rundvet 

Mragarine—Margarine 

Milk—Melk 

Full cream milk— Volle melk 

Semi skimmed—Halfvolle melk 

Skimmed milk—Magere Melk 

Yoghurt— Yoghurt 


FOOD SHOPPING 

Did you know…? 

Minced meat is sold in various 

ways? 

Rundgehakt is minced beef 

and 

half om half is 50% minced 

pork and 50% minced beef 

Look out! 

Ei is egg and ui is onion! 

Carla Pluymakers and Gillian Fernandes

Vegetables—Groenten 

Beans—Bonen 

Broccoli— Broccoli 

Cabbage— Kool 

Carrots— Worteln 

Cauliflower— Bloemkool 

Celery— Selderij 

Corn—Mais 

Garlic—Knoflook 

Leeks— Prei 

Lentils—Linzen 

Mushrooms—Champignons 

Onions—Uien 

Parsley—Peterselie 

Peppers—Paprika 

Peas—Erwten 

Potatoes—Aardappelen 

Spinach—Spinazie 

Berries 

Blackberries— Braambessen 

Blueberries— Bosbessen 

Gooseberries— Kruisbessen 

Raspberries— Frambozen 

Strawberries— Aardbeien 


FOOD SHOPPING 

Fruit—Fruit 

Apple— Appel 

Apricots— Abrikozen 

Bananas— Bananen 

Cherries—Kersen 

Grapefruit— 

Grapefruit 

Grapes (White/red) - 

Druiven (wit/blauw) 

Lemon— zitroen 

Lime— Limoen 

Oranges—Sinaasappelen 

Peach—Perzik 

Plum— Pruim 

Pear— Peer 

Pumpkin— Pompoen 

Raisins—Rozijn 

Nuts 

Almond— Amandel 

Chestnut— Kastanje 

Hazelnut—Hazelnoot 

Peanut—Pindas 

Walnut— Walnoot 

Gillian Fernandes

WINTER TYRE INFORMATION 


WINTER TYRES 

Although not a legal requirement within the Netherlands it is law within Germany to have vehicles fitted 

with winter or all season tyres and from 01 May 2006 a new law came into affect that concerns the type 

of tyres vehicles must have when driving in winter conditions. The provision reads as follows: 

“The equipment of vehicles must be adequately adjusted to the weather conditions. This includes in 

particular suitable tyres…..” 

What are suitable tyres? 

Suitable tyres for winter conditions are all-season tyres or winter tyres. These can be identified by 

symbols or wording on the tyre walls. All- Season tyres have the 4 seasons symbols on and the wording 

“M+S, M.S “(Mud & Snow use). Winter tyres have a snowflake symbol and the wording “winter tyre”. 

Which tyres meet the legal requirement? 

This depends on the prevailing weather conditions at the time. If roads were dry without snow & ice 

even normal tyres would meet legal requirement. However if the weather changed to ice & snow it 

would be unlawful to drive a vehicle with normal tyres. During the winter season (approx Nov-Mar) full 

winter tyres will give optimum performance in low temperatures and roads covered in snow & ice. Mud 

& snow (all season) tyres are deemed to be the next best alternative. 

The tyres you choose are a personal choice but it’s recommended to choose tyres most suitable for the 

area in which you live. If your area is gets heavy snow fall regularly then winter tyres and if snow & ice 

on the roads is not the norm, like here in the Limburg region of the Netherlands then all season tyres 

could be the best choice for you. 

If I am involved in an accident in wintery conditions, can I be liable for any damage caused 

if I do not have suitable tyres fitted? 

Depending on the circumstances of the accident the Police can apportion blame to drivers of vehicles 

without suitable tyres. Thus meaning you could be held fully or partially liable for any damage caused. 

Can I be fined if my tyres are unsuitable for the weather? 

YES, if you cause a traffic obstruction due to unsuitable tyres you could be fined €20.00 min. and if you 

caused an accident as a result, the fine would on average be doubled, €40.00. 

Do I still require snow chains? 

YES, whenever the use of snow chains is mandatory. When you see the blue snow chain sign as below, 

German law still requires vehicles are to be fitted with snow chains regardless of the type of tyre on the 

vehicle. 

Sgt Ziggy Marley


Winter Tyres 

Winter tyres – what’s all the fuss about? 

Because I’ve lived in Belgium, Germany or the Netherlands for the last 5 years, I have been using either 

winter or all-season tyres for a while now. The main reason I started was that I go skiing to South 

Germany most winters and in Bavaria it is law to either have winter tyres or carry snow chains. I also 

thought it seemed like a good idea from a safety point of view considering the long journeys across 

Europe that we all end up doing to get home or away on holiday. 

Winter Tyres 

Winter tyres have a more open tread which grips in mud and snow, and are made of a softer compound 

which doesn’t freeze in colder conditions. They perform well in cold weather 

where summer tyres would lose their grip, and can decrease winter stopping 

distances by up to three times. The softer compound wears more quickly in 

warm temperatures and decreases the life of the tyres if they’re left on over 

summer. 

For my first sortie into this territory I had winter tyres put onto my alloy rims 

in October and switched back again in April. The upside is that you get real 

winter tyres and you extend the life of both sets of tyres. The downsides are 

that this cost €60 each time just for the fitting and balancing, your alloys still 

suffer winter damage, if you change your car you get left with a set of tyres 

that may not fit the new one. 

If you plan to keep your car for a long time you would be well advised to do 

what most Germans do and buy a set of steel rims with winter tyres and change the whole wheel. This is 

also beneficial because you can have a slimmer tyre profile which also helps grip in snow. 

All-season tyres 

My last experience was to replace my worn out summer tyres with all-season tyres. These tyres are a 

slightly softer compound and have a combination of winter and summer tread which is deeper so that the 

tyre lasts for the same mileage as a normal summer one. 

They performed excellently in deep snow in Bavaria and didn’t wear 

abnormally quickly during summer. They provide excellent peace of mind in 

torrential rain or icy conditions. The benefit is that they stay on all year round 

and you can just treat them like normal tyres. The downside (which I couldn’t 

notice) is reported to be slightly more road-noise, and of course your alloys 

are still in the winter conditions. 

All-year winter tyres. 

This year new research has led to a tyre which is sold as a winter tyre but can 

be left on all year round. I picked up my car with summer tyres on and arrived 

in time for the snow. This was the first time in years I had driven on 

summer tyres in snow and I couldn’t believe the lack of grip. I couldn’t brake 

or accelerate and a couple of times I slid around corners. I couldn’t change my tyres fast enough! I’ve 

just started using them and so far they are performing really well in the snow and ice and haven’t lost 

grip once. 

Capt Phaedra McGill

Summary 

WINTER TYRES cont. 

If you commute to work or go on long journeys regularly I can’t recommend strongly enough that you 

consider using some form of winter-capable tyre. It is the best insurance you can have for you, your 

family and your car. If you consider all-season tyres you can simply put them on when your existing tyres 

wear out, that way they don’t cause you an extra expense. 

Abc Sampermans in Heerlen (1 min from LTM Weg) have always been incredibly helpful with good prices 

and you can get the tax off straight away. Their details are: 

Willemstraat 80 

6412 AT Heerlen, Netherlands 

045 5725910 

For more detailed and scientific information about winter tyres visit the following sites: 

http://www.tyres-online.co.uk/techinfo/winter.asp 

http://www.etyres.co.uk/bad-weather-tyres 

Braking distance statistics 

At 50 km/h on a snowy surface 

Winter tyres 35 m 

Summer tyres 43 m 

At 100 km/h at 25 degs C 

Summer tyres 38 m 

Winter tyres 41m 


Capt Phaedra McGill 

Winter tyres are effective 

when the temperature 

drops below + 7 degs C. 

You don’t have to wait 

for the first snowfall! 

Source: www.pro-winterreifen.de

FACTS AND FIGURES 

1 Black Run 

8 Red Runs 

21 Blue Runs 

200 km Cross Country Trails 

19 Ski Lifts 

830 m Highest Lift 

700 m Resort Altitude 

620 m Lowest Piste 


WINTERBERG SKIING 

FANCY SKIING THIS WEEKEND? 

For those that don’t know (I didn’t as I haven’t been posted to Germany) 

there is outdoor skiing on real snow less than 3 hours drive from Brunssum. 

It is definitely not the Alps or Rockies – but then again it isn’t a flight 

or 8 hour drive! And it is cheaper than Snow World in the winter! 

Winterberg and Willingen are east of Dortmund/Dusseldorf and south of 

Paderborn – they are under 3 hours drive whether you take the motorway 

past Dusseldorf/Doertmund and towards Kassel, or go past Aachen and 

Cologne. You can check the snow/weather conditions in advance on the 

internet (search “Winterberg Skiing” or go to http://www.j2ski.com/ 

snow_forecast/Germany/Winterberg_snow_report.html ). 

Winterberg is larger than Willingen – but also busier. They both have 

slopes ranging from green and blue to red and black. They 

have drag lifts, chair lifts, ski rental (we paid 32 euros for 3 

of us for 1 day), ski school, nursery slopes and sledging 

slopes. Ski lift passes can be bought for 2 days (40 euros 

adult) 1 day (23 euros adult/14 child) or half day (14 euros 

adult/9 euros child). Sometimes under 5’s are free. There 

are lots of cafes and it feels like a proper ski resort – just 

smaller. 

If you don’t mind an early start it is good to get there for 

9am on Saturday so it is not so busy. There are lots of 

guesthouses and hotels in the area – we look on booking.com. Can highly 

recommend Hotel Hochland in Bad Fredeburg (30 mins drive west of 

Winterberg) – family run, very clean, lovely mineral indoor pool at 35 degrees, 

good breakfast – and our 6 year old was free! 

The area is lovely and as well as Winterberg and Willingen, there are 

Several little ski slopes in the area which are ideal if you are skiing for the 

first time, or just want to sledge on real snow with your children. There 

are 2 small slopes just before Winterberg and also one near Bad Fredeberg 

called Ski Hanau. There is also lovely walking in the area through the 

woods and clearly marked trails. It is also so nice to see snow! 

Sue MacLeod 

(Sue and Charlotte 

enjoy the snow!)

Amstel gold race 

!! DIARY REMINDER – APRIL ROAD CLOSURES !! 

Now that your appetite has been wetted with the GB Gold medals at the World Track Cycling Championships 

last year, why not sample some of the global cycling atmosphere; right here on your door step! 

Oh...and the roads will be closed for the weekend of the race so beware of travel plans on 17 and 18 April. 

On Sunday 18 April the best road racing cyclists in the world will gather in Maastricht for the start of the 

Dutch one-day Spring Classic – The AMSTEL GOLD RACE. This is the most prestigious cycle race to be held 

in the Netherlands and it passes right past your door (well nearly!). 

After the start in the city it makes it way up and down the escarpments near Sittard and Heerlen and, after 

covering it 2 times, ends on a killer climb in Valkenburg. It is a great way to sample the delights of road 

race spectating and will give you a taster if you are considering going to watch Le Tour de France 

(Ed: see page 7 BINN article). 

On the hills the crowds can be packed 5 deep so set out early if you want a good vantage point, however if 

you do not want the bustle of the crowds you can still have a good time spectating on the flatter sections, 

closer to the finish (on a lot of sections the riders will pas 3 times with the pace hotting up each lap); park 

up the car as close as you can get, wrap up warm and make your way to the race route. 

For the 'party atmosphere and big crowds head for Valkenburg, however another spot I can recommend is 

at the top of the Fromberg hill; there is a grassy pick-nick area with benches right by the road, relatively 

easy parking, a great view of the surrounding country and you get to see the riders twice, the second time 

is the second time is just before they get to the finish so the winner is always one of the first 5 riders over 

the Fromberg! 

There will be lots of stragglers to cheer on as well; the spring races are used as training events for many 

riders reaching for greater things. 

If you are mad you can always try and see the 

riders at many different sections by taking 

your bicycle and dashing between vantage 

points (the Brits and Dutch always seem to be 

the only ones silly enough to try this). 

The route map can be found at 

www.amstelgoldrace.nl/index.php?pageId=32. 

See you there! 


Paul Rowland

VIVE LE TOUR! 

In 1903 a Paris sports 

newspaper decided to sponsor 

a cycle race around France, who 

ever was in the lead would 

wear a jersey the same colour 

as the pages of the paper – 

yellow. Over a century later 

and the race is still being held 

each year – Le Tour de France. 

It is the largest single sports 

event on the planet and attracts 

close to one million spectators 

every day and you too can 

sample the atmosphere. 

The race has recently been 

famous for the winning streak 

of Lance Armstrong, but the race 

is bigger than Lance. It is 

also bigger than the riders and 

the cycling that decides the 

outcome. 

It is the only race in the world 

where the national train 

timetable is altered to 

accommodate the event (to 

stop riders taking advantage of 

level crossings being closed 

behind them). It lasts just over 

20 days with the riders covering 

close to 3,500 km, and it even 

has its own police force. Towns 

and cities pay handsomely for 

the privilege of having Le Tour 

pass through and big bucks 

change hands to get a start or 

finish in your town (one benefit 

of a stage passing through, is 

that Le Tour usually pays for 

the roads to be re-surfaced). 


To go and watch Le Tour is a 

national passion for the Dutch 

and huge numbers of orange 

flagged camper vans make 

their way to France each July. 

Speaking from personal 

experience, it is an amazing 

event to witness. This year Le 

Tour comes to Holland! The 

first 4 stages are within a few 

hours drive from Brunssum, it 

starts on 3 July with an 

individual time trial around 

Rotterdam city centre. 

The best place to watch a 

stage (other than the finish line) 

is in the last third of the route, 

when racing has hotted up and 

if there is a steep climb (you 

can find each day’s route profile 

on the web) then there is more 

chance of some action and of 

course, the riders obviously 

pass you slower. You need to 

arrive early as the roads are 

closed about 4 hours before the 

race arrives (in the mountains 

the roads can be closed 24 hrs 

beforehand) and the crowds 

are large every day. 

However your day will not be 

wasted. The French take a 

huge picnic and set up as a 

family by the side of the road, I 

suggest you do the same. 

You will see many amateur 

cyclists riding the route before 

the race arrives and about 2 

hours ahead of the racers is the 

promotional caravan; a long 

convoy of publicity and 

marketing vehicles that pass 

by, liberally throwing out 

assorted merchandise (baseball 

caps, water bottles etc) to the 

crowds lining the roads. (If you 

are a group, spread yourself 

along the road, either side, for 

more chance of being thrown 

some goodies—children always 

get thrown lots). 

There are a number of UK 

riders (3 notable ones are: 

Mark Cavendish – the world’s 

best sprinter, Bradley Wiggins – 

world and Olympic champion, 

and Robert Millar, all who will 

be riding for the UK Sky team). 

So go along, sample the unique 

Le Tour atmosphere and cheer 

on the Brits (you can even 

paint their names on the road 

to encourage them – however I 

found out that this is 

discouraged by the Police (and 

please do not use gloss paint!). 

If you are already holidaying in 

France during le Tour (3 – 25 

July) and close to a stage, I 

would say this is a MUST NOT 

MISS event. More information 

(stage routes and times) can be 

found at www.letour.fr. 

Paul Rowland

keukenhof 

Keukenhof 2010 will be open from 18 March to 16 May (inclusive) 

This year’s theme is ‘From Russia with Love’. 

Opening times: daily from 08:00 – 19:30. (Ticket office closes at 18:00). 

Admission charges: 

Adults: € 14,00 pp, Children (4-11 years): € 7,00 pp & Parking € 6,00 per vehicle 

The website: www.keukenhof.nl has lots of information to help you plan your visit. 

Tickets may also be bought online. 

Things you may or may not know about Keukenhof: 

It is one of the most popular attractions in the Netherlands and has 

clocked up more than 44 million visitors in the last 60 years 

It is the largest bulb flower park in the world 

It covers an area of 32 hectares 4.5 million tulips in 100 varieties 

It is the most photographed place in the world 

There are 15 kilometers of footpaths 

Top Tip! If you do not want to pay to visit the Keukenhof, you can still 

enjoy the Dutch flower season by taking a train, driving or cycling between 

Haarlem and Leiden. The commercial bulb fields are spectactular! 

Flower Parade 2010 

This year’s theme: ‘Journey trough Europe’ 

The bulb growing area’s Flower parade on Saturday 24 April 2010 follows a forty kilometre route from 

Noordwijk to Haarlem and passes through Keukenhof in the afternoon. 

This parade is the most famous parade in the Netherlands. It consists of about twenty floats and more 

than thirty vehicles all covered with flowers and decorated lavishly. 

The flower parade is free of charge. 


Chocolate! 

March 14th is Mothering Sunday and April 4th is Easter Sunday so you may well be on the 

look out for chocolate gifts. The following all come highly recommended: 

Lindt Chocolate Factory 

The factory shop (Werksverkauf) for Lindt Chocolates in Aachen. 

Imagine a supermarket that sells nothing but chocolate, where people get shopping trolleys and fill them 

with boxes and packets of chocolate. That’s pretty much the Lindt factory shop. It’s ace! 

Special extended pre-Easter Opening hours: Open Mon—Fri 0900-1900 and Sat 0900-1600 

The shop sells seconds of bars and individual chocolates, seasonal produce —all at discount prices. They 

will take EC debit cards and cash, but not credit cards. 

Bahlsen Biscuit Factory 

Whilst you are in the area, across the road from the Lindt factory is the Bahlsen Biscuit factory, selling 

Leibnitz biscuits, crisps, some sweets and other savoury nibbles. Please note you will need cash if you 

don’t have a German account card. 

You can find the Lindt factory at Sϋsterfeldstraβe 130, D-52072 Aachen, Germany 

Chocolaterie Ducharette 

Handmade chocolates, gifts and even use your own design! 

Kloosterstraat 5, 6374 EN Ubach over Worms, Landgraaf (NL) 

Visser Chocolade 

Aachen: Kapellenstrasse 26 

Heerlen: Weltertuynstraat 74 

Munstergeleen: Peterstraat 10 

Nuth: Stationstraat 266A 

Valkenburg: Walramplein 16 


Restaurant review 

Aan Sjuuteeänjd – Schinnen 

An unobtrusive converted barn that pleasantly surprises you with the quality of service and food. (At the 

foot of the hill coming into Schinnen from the Puth direction). 

Many people recommended Aan Sjuuteeanjd to us but we steered clear until a few weeks ago as all said 

it was very expensive, however we found it to be very much a 'value for money' experience (yes I do 

have some Yorkshire blood in me!). 

As a special occasion meal out is was a big hit. The atmosphere was very pleasant (decorated for 

Christmas when we were there), with the maître d' greeting you at the door to take coats etc, although 

no bar area for a pre-dinner drink (however in the summer they have a nice courtyard) and the tables 

were not squeezed in too closely together. The food was excellent, some (but not quite) of the best we 

have ever had, and definitely the best we have had whilst in the Netherlands; and just as important, it 

was served on piping hot plates (an often missed aspect of modern dining I feel). Do not be fooled by 

the small portions at the start, there are 6 courses to get through if you go for a set menu. 

We chose the 'Bib Gourmand Menu' at € 33,50 per head, offering a choice between 2 starters and 2 

mains with a set dessert, but also included is a small appetizer (selection of local delicacies – the pork and 

pea soup was amazing), sorbet and ice-cream for between courses, and a selection of fresh bread. My 

pheasant was cooked extremely well – all meat is organic and from local suppliers. They also offer a 

'Surprise menu' which is flexible to cope with different dietary requirements and offers a selection of local 

and seasonal dishes. 

Another option, not shown on the web site, is a 'Taster menu' where they serve a small portion of every 

dish they cook (this is about € 60 per head). They have a reasonable choice of wine with about 30% of it 

available by the glass or in half bottles, we paid € 4.25 for a large glass of very agreeable red. We were 

celebrating an anniversary and they picked up on this and we received a complimentary seasonal cocktail, 

a nice touch to a very pleasant evening. 

So, for just less than € 80, we had a superb meal that we will remember for a long while, the timings between 

courses was perfect, we were very well looked after with discreet and high quality service from the 

staff, and could unwind in the pleasant surroundings; it all adding together to make a very special 

evening we would recommend to anyone 

with a special occasion to celebrate. 

The restaurant has a web site and contact/ 

location details are below, they are normally 

closed Tue & Wed (check, as we ate on a 

Tue) and book early as it is full most nights. 

Boerderijrestaurant Aan Sjuuteeänjd 

Dorpsstraat 74 

6365 BH Schinnen 

Tel. 046 - 4431767 

Fax. 046 - 4434930 

mail info@sjuut.nl 

web. www.sjuut.nl 


Paul and Caroline Rowland


KENNEDY MARS 

The Sittard Kennedy Mars (i.e. march) came into 

existence in 1963 when the American president John 

F.Kennedy spoke the words “I think most American people 

are so weak, they can’t even walk fifty miles within 20 

hours”. At many places people tried to prove that these 

words didn’t apply to them. In Sittard, Netherlands, 

four high school students started the first Kennedy March 

in 1963. It developed into a tradition in which Cpl Dai 

Evans “leave no one on the battle field” wanted to be a 

part of! 

Sgt Paul Wright and I were very disappointed that Cpl 

Sgt P Wright Cpl D Evans Sgt J Farthing Evans invited us to be part of his marching team for 

this event. Unfortunately Cpl Evans 

ambushed us both with this great idea to march 50 miles over the Easter weekend and Paul and I did 

not have time to come up with any manly excuses to give it a miss! 

Cpl Evans made full use of his PARA/MARINE knowledge and experience to prepare or drag us (maybe 

the honest truth) into a serious amount of personnel training for the event. No stone was unturned in 

preparation for the march by Cpl Evans, who went to full lengths checking our footwear, socks, 

equipment and cutting back on the number of Mars Bars in Paul’s back pack! 

The morning of the March came with my wife (Jennifer) preparing the team a good old British Fry up 

at 03.30hrs in the morning. The start of the March was at 0500hrs at Sittard Sports Hall with a Dutch 

band playing as we made our first steps! The challenge was to march 50 miles (in under 20 hours) 

through parts of the Netherlands, Belgium and Germany and then finish back at Sittard where we 

started. Along the route you would be applauded by the general public who would hand out food and 

drinks to encourage you on your way. In the evening as you approached different streets in the 

Netherlands you would be welcomed with lots of loud music and merry locals having street parties. 

They would come over and shake your hand and cheer you on as you marched past. This for me was 

one of the highlights of the March. 

Those who have completed the March will know that it is not an easy task and should not be 

approached lightly. The main problem you will face is blisters and if you are lucky you may have 

some skin left on parts of your feet by the end of the March. The most painful part for us all was 

around the 65k point, the route planners kindly chose a 4k cobbled road to help burst any blisters that 

may have been slowing you down, very thoughtful! Thankfully with Super Trooper Dai Evans at our 

side giving us plenty of advice and motivating us, and those generally around him, it enabled us to 

complete and finish within the time limit. Give the Kennedy Mars 2010 a go for yourself, it’s a must 

experience while you are serving in the Netherlands. 

For those interested in doing the 50mile March next year this is the website:- 

http://www.kennedymars.org/index.php?lan=en&page=Home 

by 

Sgt Jon Farthing

Visit UK- 

Some places to investigate: The library, the barbershop, the gym, the church, the cinema, 

1 

T H E B I N N 


NEW TO BRUNSSUM? 

Ever felt like this? Jumping through hoops? 

You must be based in Brunssum! 

There is something very particular about a Brunssum posting which 

means you have to jump through a number of hoops in a particular order 

so as to get up and running. Here is a list of some of the hoops and 

pitfalls. 

This guide is not an official guide, nor is it a fully comprehensive guide to 

starting out, it is merely intended as a ‘handy hints, from those who’ve 

been there’ page. So, on your marks, get set, go! 

ID cards 

2 

Without a 

NATO ID card, 

you won’t get 

Get a NATO ID card. Get an ‘alien’ card—you must register family members as ‘aliens’ 

within 8 days of arrival. Each needs a passport photo, available from the passes and 

Book in 

Get ahead! Book 3 appointments : to open a Dutch bank account, to register 

your car (allow enough time before the registration appointment to jump 

through hoop numbers 4, 5 & 6 ) and book an appointment for a ‘BFG tick- 

MT 

You need a Dutch bank account 

to get a phone connection, 

car insurance and a 

cash card to shop in local 

3 

Speak to MT to see if you need to APK (=MOT) your vehicle. 

Take the BFG tick test—for all drivers wishing to drive the family car. 

Take the tick test paperwork to get a NATO driver’s permit. 

Bank 

Much more expensive than in UK! Be sure 

to read the small print. Not all Dutch 

policies have ‘protected no claims’ as 

4 

Open a bank account. 

Car 

insurance 

Arrange Dutch vehicle insur- 

Phone 

KPN is the national Dutch provider. There are other companies 

out there—some better than others. Do not expect great 

service! Connections can take up to 6 weeks. Keep an eye 

on your bank account if you choose direct-debit payments. 

Bills are not always accurate! Consider getting a Dutch mo- 

5 

6 

7 

Get a phone and internet connection. 

Ca 

Register your car within 30 days 

of arrival. Pay to get 

Dutch plates. Visit a garage 

to get plates then 

Health 

Congratulations! You have now jumped through all 

the hoops. You can now ‘sniff out’ all the other 

amenities on camp and in the local area. 

The post office, the thrift shop, the coffee shop, the Hive, the education centre, the arts and craft centre, shop 

8 

9 

Register at the 

British Medical 

& Dental centres. 

Get hospital 

card. 

G Fernandes


GOOD TO KNOW! 

Anyone who has registered as an alien in JFC HQ Brunssum needs to renew 

their registration every year. (Not every 3 years, as previously!) 

It is up to you to visit the KMR again two months before your current card 

expires. You need to take a long a new passport picture of yourself and your 

children (if they too have been registered as aliens). You may not receive a 

reminder that re-registration is due! However, just to complicate matters, if 

you do receive a renewal from the Central Dutch immigration agency—do not 

complete it, you must renew through the local KMR on camp! 

So, if you arrived in July — time to renew it. It takes about 6 weeks for anew 

card to arrive…….. 

There are some very good websites out there which will provide 

lots of information about the community in which we live. 

For British people, especially newcomers: www.brunssumbrits.co.uk 

This is a comprehensive site covering all aspects of living in our Brunssum 

community. Newly updated and re-vamped. This is a really useful site 

put together and maintained entirely by Sgt Steve Heywood. 

JFC HQ Brunssum library has lots of information and good links to other 

sites (follow the local info link): 

www.jfcbrunssumlibrary.eur.army.mil 

A GK spouse has started a website to ‘pool’ information about the local area. Log on to : http:// 

livingingk.blogspot.com 

This blog page has a wealth of information and observations from people just like you! 

Log on and add to it! 

Tax-free regulations in the Netherlands are not the same as in other countries. 

The regulations are almost certainly not the same as in other countries 

where you may have been posted previously. 

If you are thinking of buying a tax-free car, quadruple check your tax-liability 

before you finalise the deal. 

In a simple nutshell, if you import or buy a tax-free car and register it here 

with Dutch plates (which you are obliged to do) you can only sell-it to 

another ‘tax-free-entitled’ person if you choose to get rid of it before you are 

posted out of the Netherlands. Otherwise you must keep it ‘til the end of 

your tour here. 

Consult the UKDSU for more information.


BUSY BEES! 

Have you noticed a number of bees flying round your bin or house walls recently? You may even think 

they are wasps, given their size, but – don’t worry—chances are they are masonry (mortar) bees. 

They tend to go for holes in walls and even the holes in the side of your wheelie bin! Have a close look 

and see if you can find the holes blocked up with little ‘bungs’ of soil. 

Here is some information (taken from Chelmsford Borough Council’s website): 

“Like all bees they are important pollinators of plants, but unlike honey bees and bumble bees they 

have no workers and have no collective nest. Mortar bees excavate chambers in soft mortar joints in 

brick walls (approximately 20mm deep). 

These solitary bees: 

are harmless (do not sting) 

are beneficial 

they do not pester people, and they do not damage buildings 

Life Cycle 

The males and females are active from late April - mid June. On warm 

sunny days during this period they are busy constructing their chambers in mortar 

joints or soft/sandy soil. Despite popular belief mortar/masonry bees do not 

damage brickwork and mortar, and only take advantage of existing decay. They invariably choose areas 

that get a lot of sun and are frequently seen on South-facing elevations of buildings. 

The bees lay their eggs in their chambers, which they also stock with pollen and nectar. The chamber is 

then sealed. 

The eggs hatch out as a larvae. This feeds on the pollen and nectar left in the chamber. The larvae then 

pupates and subsequently hatch out as a bee and emerge from the chamber. The period of time from 

egg being laid to the bee emerging may take up to a year. The adult bees only live for a short period of 

time – approximately April – July and the parent bee will therefore have died before the offspring 

emerges. 

Identification of mortar/masonry/mining bees 

These bees are small bees with a similar shape to a wasp - they are frequently confused with 

wasps. They are active during April, May, and early June with the peak of activity in May - too early to 

be wasps.” 

These bees are protected in the Netherlands and it is therefore illegal to kill them. 

They won’t do you any harm. 

Nicole Marshall


THE HEIDE 

Ten things to do on the Brunssummerheide 

1. Go for a lunchtime run. OK, so you knew that already. But now that summer is here really go out 

and do it! 

2. Go for a walk through the heather and the woodland, then 

grab 'een biertje', a capuccino with vlaai, or a more substantial 

meal at the Visitor Centre and cafe located at the end of 

Schaapskooiweg, just off Akerstraat / Heerenweg. There is 

carparking close by the cafe so this can be as easy or 

strenuous as you like. Information on waymarked trails is 

available from the Visitor Centre, or just follow your 

instincts. See also www.natuurmonumenten.nl/natmminternet/de_natuur_in/bezoekerscentra/ 

brunssummerheide.htm. Fido will think he is in heaven, but 

remember he should be kept on a lead on most of the Heide. 

3. Go looking for frogspawn, 

tadpoles, or frogs in one of 

the many ponds. 

6. Go to the enormous 'sandpit', clearly visible on Google 

Maps or Google Earth. Build sandcastles, fly kites, picnic, 

sunbathe and have all the fun of the beach but without 

the endless traffic jams. 

4. Look out for the flock of 'Drentse' sheep 

that graze on the heide. On Sundays, in 

the spring, you can sometimes visit the 

lambs at the farm by the Visitor Centre. 

5. Follow one of the marked cycle paths, passable to all Dutch bikes in most weather, or (for the 

more adventurous) follow the excellent, technical, and well marked mountain bike route. 

7. Go geocaching – hunting for buried treasure using Dad's 

handheld GPS. If you dare, try to find the local witch, 'De heks 

van de Heksenberg' [GC18YKJ , a 10km walk and a reasonable 

knowledge of Dutch required to follow the instructions] or pick a simpler and shorter option to begin with, 

such as GC1CZCP, GC1CZD0, GC73D5, GC1NDFZ or GC1NDJZ. For more information see 

www.geocaching.com where you read about about the 'rules of the game' and find details of the geocaches 

listed above by searching for their 'GC' number. 

8. In late summer, wander through the heather in bloom and pretend to be in Scotland. And don't forget 

to bring your camera. 

9. Go butterfly-spotting. 

From April to August look 

out for the pretty 

Heideblauwtje, a local 

heather specialist. 

10. Start saving jam pots now, ready for 

the blackberry harvest at the end of the 

summer. Making your own blackberry 

jam with 'Brunssummerheide Bramenjam' 

on the labels is sure to impress 

both friends and visiting family. 

Roly Cockwell

Best of the Binn3 - BrunssumBrits

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