American Women's Club magazine Oct 2018 edition
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Going Dutch
October 2018
The Magazine of the
American Women’s Club
of The Hague
Denneweg 56
2514CH The Hague
Tel. 0703458442
www.lifestylesalonthehague.nl
AWC treats its Honorary Members to a
luncheon.
See what the Holiday Bazaar has to offer.
AWC kicks off the new Club year!
6
22
26
5 Officers and
Chairwomen
6 Volunteer and Honorary
Member Luncheon
8 Message from the
President
9 October General
Meeting
9 Vote!
10 Letter from the Editor
12 Membership and
Newcomers
13 Newcomer’s Coffee
14 Club and Community
Chair
15 Ongoing Activities
20 One-of-a-Kind Activities
22 Holiday Bazaar
26 Fall Kick Off
28 October Calendar
31 AWC and the Arts
32 FAWCO Corner
34 Recipe
35 AWC Community
Calendar
36 Chat, Craft and Cake
40 The Dutch Daily
42 Adventures in Madeira
47 Lunch with Girlfriends
48 Announcements
52 Classifieds
53 Index of Advertisers
and Ad Rates
54 Proost! Interview
OCTOBER 2018 3
Editor
Audrey Goodman
2018-2019 AWC Officers
Committee Chairs
AWC Clubhouse
Johan van Oldenbarneveltlaan 43
2582 NJ Den Haag
Tel: 070 350 6007
info@awcthehague.org
www.awcthehague.org
Going Dutch Magazine
goingdutchmag@gmail.com
Clubhouse Hours
Tuesday and Thursday
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Monday, Wednesday and Friday Closed
Dues (Effective 2018-2019)
€ 110 per year (€ 66 after January 1)
€ 90 business, professional
€ 55 valid US military ID
€ 35 student
€ 35 Outside the Netherlands (Going
Dutch magazine not included)
Add € 15 new member registration fee
Design and Layout
Teresa Mahoney
Cover Photo
Cows in Leidschendam by Melissa White
Photography
Mary Adams, Jane Choy, Sabine Crowley,
Greetje Engelsman, FAWCO, Dena
Haggerty, Teresa Insalaco, Veronica June,
Suzanne MacNeil, Julie Mowat, Perspektief,
Melissa Rider, Anne van Oorschot, Melissa
White
Proofreaders
Celeste Brown, Jane Gulde, Diane Schaap,
Debbie van Hees
Advertising Manager & Invoicing
Open
Contributors
Jane Choy, Susanne Dundas, Roberta
Enschede, Jan Essad, Heather DeWitt, Dena
Haggerty, Marsha Hagney, Eileen Harloff,
Deana Kreitler, Suzanne MacNeil, Sunita
Menon, Julie Mowat, Melissa Rider, Lindsay
Turnau, Emily van Eerten, Melissa White
Printer
www.dwcprint.nl
AWC Bank Account Number
IBAN: NL42ABNA0431421757
KvK Den Haag
40409274
Honorary President Diane Hoekstra
President Suzanne MacNeil
awcthehague.president@gmail.com
Vice President Marsha Hagney
awcthehague.firstvp@gmail.com
Treasurer Sheyla Karman
awcthehague.treasurer@gmail.com
Secretary Heather DeWitt & Laura Suttles
awcthehague.secretary@gmail.com
Club and Community Development
Naya Pessoa
awcthehague.community@gmail.com
Clubhouse Administrator
Jan Essad
awcthehague.clubhousemgr@gmail.com
Communications Open
awcthehague.communications@gmail.com
Member-at-Large
Sunita Menon
Front Office
Liduine Bekman, Siska Datema-Kool,
Dominique Duysens, Amber Gatewood,
Machelle Hollar, Paula Looijmans, Melissa
Rider, Robin Rose, Holly Savoie, Carol
Schapira, Chelsea Wald
Activities: Greetje Engelsman
Arts: Jane Choy
Assistant Treasurer: Teresa Insalaco
Board Advisor: Jessie Rodell
Caring Committee: Naomi Keip
Chat, Craft & Cake: Suzanne Dundas
eNews Amber Gatewood
Events & Tours: Open
FAWCO: Julie Mowat
Front Office Coordinator: Open
General Meeting Programs: Dena
Haggerty
Heart Pillow: Jan de Vries
Historian/Archivist: Open
Holiday Bazaar: Jaimie Keppel-Molenaar
Hospitality: Open
IT Administrator: Julie Otten
Kids’ Club: Lindsey Turnau
Library: Dena Haggerty
Membership: Melissa Rider
Newcomers: Holly Savoie, Greetje
Engelsman
Parliamentarian: Georgia Regnault
Philanthropy: Holly Savoie
Public Relations: Open
Social Media: Ceci Wong and Julie Otten
Tennis: Molly Boed
Volunteer Coordinator: Laurie
Martecchini
Webmaster: Julie Otten
Women with Dutch Partners: Loren
Mealey
Deadlines: Submissions are due no later than the last Monday of the month preceding the publication month.
For example, for the December issue, submissions are due before Monday, October 29
Please Note: Articles submitted to Going Dutch will be published subject to space limitations and editorial approval.
All rights reserved; reprints only by written permission of the Editor. Please email to: goingdutchmag@
gmail.com
Legal Notice: Articles in Going Dutch express the views and opinions of their authors alone, and not necessarily
those of the AWC of The Hague, its Members or this publication.
4 GOING DUTCH
AWC Mission Statement
The AWC is an association formed to provide social and educational activities for American
women living in the Netherlands and to promote amicable relations among people of all nations,
as well as acquiring funds for general public interest. Membership in the club is open
to women of all nations who are friendly and welcoming to American culture. The association
does not endeavor to make a profit. The AWC is a 100% volunteer organization.
OCTOBER 2018 5
Volunteer and Honorary Member Luncheon
Message from the President
by Suzanne MacNeil
October General Meeting
by Dena Haggerty
The new Club year is off to a rousing
start! I hope you were able to take part
in one (or more) of the many offerings
in September, whether it was Kick Off,
Prinsjesdag, watching an NDT rehearsal, or
the Welcome Back BBQ. I went to most of
the above and it was fun to reconnect with
Members who’ve been away for the summer
and the new Members who are just getting
acquainted with the Club.
One of the September events held in the
Clubhouse was a Board and Committee Chair
Luncheon. My goal was to help our great team
of volunteers to put faces to names and to
meet others who serve under the same Board
Member. More than 20 Members joined us,
including our favorite Club mascot, three-yearold
Simon (Lindsey Turnau’s son), and the
attendees were able to share best practices, ask
questions, and get to know what’s entailed in
the job of other volunteers.
I did notice a few pieces missing at the luncheon,
though. There are several key volunteer
positions still open and I’d like you (if you’re
thinking of how to become more involved) to
consider jumping into the fray. And, when I say
fray, it’s more like a fun fray, not a brawl, but
an easy way to make the Club better.
Pick one, any one of the volunteer opportunities
still open, and find yourself working
with the best team in The Hague! This is just
a sampling:
8 GOING DUTCH
A major missing
piece is our Gala
Chair. Our
AWC offers
social events
and activities,
but we also
give back
through our
philanthropic
programs. This
Club year we
plan to hold a
gala in May.
Several Members
have already
approached me
to say they will
serve on the
Gala Committee.
If planning
and project
management are
your forte, please
consider helping
in this crucial
role. If you would like more information about
the position, please contact Naya Pessoa, our
new Club and Community Officer. She can be
reached by email at awcthehague.community@
gmail.com. (To learn more about Naya, please
turn to page 14.)
Going Dutch, our monthly magazine, is
self-sustaining. The ads in the magazine pay
for the printing and mailing of each edition. If
you have sales skills, please consider volunteering
as the Advertising and Invoice Chair.
This is a high-priority role that will enable
Going Dutch to continue.
Have you been to Hoge Veluwe National
Park in Gelderland? Did you know that
Maastricht was once a Roman settlement? Or,
that Waddenzee in Groningen is almost 2,500
square kilometers and is home to millions of
migratory birds, fish, and colonies of seals?
If we had a Chair overseeing tours, she could
design trips that will help us explore more of
our host country.
Have you got www.Kayak.com, www.
Booking.com, and www.Hopper.com down to a
science? We’re missing our own travel agent!
The most recent major trip was several years
ago to Iceland. Pick a place you’d like to visit
and chances are other Members would like to
join you. Many of our Members have traveled
thanks to the Club and we already have information
and contacts to get you started. >>39
Garbage. Not the sexiest of topics but
a topic everyone must deal with on
a daily basis. It’s also an important
method by which individuals can lend a
helping hand in saving the environment.
Separating waste is a part of life in The
Hague. Plastic, tin, drink cartons, paper, glass,
batteries… the list of items that do not belong
in the household waste containers (and for
which you can actually get a fine for improper
disposal) is long and varied. These items are
recycled into raw materials for new products
such as plastic bottles, toys and car parts.
Drink cartons are used to make office supplies,
cardboard boxes and toilet paper. Tin/
steel cans are used to make new food cans,
paint cans, aerosol cans and other materials.
A representative of The Hague will join us for
our October meeting to discuss recycling and
how separating your trash can help save the
environment. She’ll discuss what items can
be recycled (which plastic can be recycled)
and where they should be deposited. She will
also discuss the city’s adopt-a-bin program
and how the municipality is aiming to make
The Hague a cleaner city.
Thursday, October 11
10:00 a.m.
AWC Clubhouse
Free
Register NOW to vote on
November 6, 2018!
To start the process, it is recommended that you submit a Voter
Registration and Absentee Ballot Request, aka the Federal Post
Card Application (FPCA), to your state election official.
This should be done early in every calendar year you
wish to vote, or whenever you change your address.
If you voted in past elections, do not assume you
will continue to receive automatic mailings or
you could end up missing out on the November 6
midterm elections.
For more information, please visit https://fawco.overseasvotefoundation.org/vote/home.
htm.
Photo credit: Federal Voting Assistance Programs
OCTOBER 2018 9
Letter from the Editor
by Audrey Goodman
One of my favorite things about being
an expat is sharing my adventures
with family. Since arriving in the
Netherlands in January, we have had the pleasure
of hosting my mother- and father-in-law,
my sister-in-law, and my mom.
When my in-laws visited in July, we
crossed quite a few things off our bucket list.
We met them in Paris (first time visit for me
and my husband!), where we spent several
days exploring the Louvre, tasting many wonderful
French desserts, strolling through the
Trocadéro while gawking at the Eiffel Tower,
wandering through Versailles, and enjoying a
wonderful dinner on the Seine. But the highlight
of our trip was the two-day adventure to
the Normandy region.
We hired a private guide, Mathias with
D-Day Guided Tours, who made the experience
absolutely perfect. He picked us up
from the train station in Bayeux and took us
to numerous World War II sites on the first
day. Between the stops, while driving, he provided
us with endless facts and stories about
the war. We ended our day at an adorable bed
and breakfast in Bayeux, Hôtel Tardif. The
next morning, Mathias drove us to Mont Saint
Michel, where he again wowed us with endless
facts during our tour. It’s awe-inspiring to
think such an amazing monastery was designed
and built in the 11th century, without the use
of modern tools and technology. It was a trip
that I never thought I would have the opportunity
to take.
10 GOING DUTCH
My mom visited in August and spent two
weeks exploring with me. During her time
here, we took a trip to Munich and (back) to
Paris. She studied in Germany when she was
in high school and again in college, but was
never able to visit the Neuschwanstein Castle.
When I was a teenager, she and I took a trip to
the Bavarian region, where we enjoyed beers
for the first time together. Sadly, the castle was
under renovation at that time, so we were unable
to take a tour. But we made up for it this
year! We took a day trip from Munich, and
she was absolutely thrilled to finally visit the
castle. And, of course, no visit to Munich is
complete without a stop at the Hofbräuhaus,
for a couple very large beers.
When we went to Paris, we stayed at Hotel
Muguet, just a ten-minute walk from Champ
de Mars. We spent our days drinking wine,
visiting the Notre Dame Cathedral, taking a
tour of the King’s Apartments in Versailles,
and wandering the charming streets of Paris.
For her, the highlight of the trip was sitting in
the park and watching the Eiffel Tour sparkle
at night.
It’s sad when family leaves to return to
the U.S., because we know it will be awhile
before we see them again. But it’s thrilling
to spend time with them, enjoying European
adventures that may otherwise be impossible.
Whenever I’m feeling a little homesick, I just
think about the experiences I’ve had since
arriving in The Hague. My time as an expat
will be over before I know it, so I’m taking
advantage every chance I get!
Audrey
OCTOBER 2018 11
Membership
by Melissa Rider
Thank you for
renewing your
membership to
the AWC for
the 2018/19
Club year and
a warm welcome
to those
just joining
the AWC. As
an AWC Member you automatically become
a Member of FAWCO (Federation of
American Women’s Clubs Overseas).
Welcome New Members!
Theres Akesson
LaTasha Baker
Mary Ellen Brennan
Barbara Brookman
Marianne De Beer
Shanon Gonzales
Rachel Hines
Julie Miller
Lori Schnebelie
Michelle Voorn
More benefits of being an AWC Member
include the ability to gain entry into the
wholesale stores Hanos in Delft and Sligro
in Leidschendam and The Hague. The
American Book Center in The Hague offers
a 10% discount and the Crowne Plaza
Promenade offers discounted rates on their
health club, spa, and other services to our
Members. Please remember to bring your
Membership card to these businesses.
If you have any questions about your
Membership, please feel free to contact me
at awcthehague.membership@gmail.com.
Newcomer’s Coffee
Newcomers
by Holly Savoie and Greetje Engelsman
Are you a new AWC Member? Be sure to
attend a General Meeting at the Clubhouse
on the second Thursday of the month.
Meetings start at 10:30 a.m., but please do
stop in a bit early to meet Members, sip coffee,
and get the lay of the land. Also, take
advantage of the monthly events planned especially
for Newcomers. If you have questions
about how to navigate in your expat
country, the AWC Newcomers’ team is very
eager to help. Greetje Engelsman and
Holly Savoie welcome your emailed questions
at awcthehague.newcomers@gmail.
com.
Unique products
for entrepreneurs
1061246
Birthdays
Due to changes in European privacy laws, and because Going Dutch will soon be posted on
our external Facebook page, we won’t be sharing birthdays in print any longer. Instead, you’ll
see Members’ birthdays in the weekly eNews, which is sent to your private email account
and is more secure. We value our Members’ privacy. If you have any questions, please contact
Melissa Rider, our Membership Coordinator, at awcthehague.membership@gmail.com.
Sligro The Hague Forepark is the perfect fit for you as entrepreneur.
We inspire and support you with our products and services, that will
help you with your business. Our people are always there for you
with professional and tailored advice.
sligro.nl
Linge 2, The Hague
12 GOING DUTCH
OCTOBER 2018 13
Club and Community Chair
by Naya Pessoa
I
have been living in The Hague for seven
years, and recently joined the AWC. The
path that brought me to The Hague was
unexpected as I was born in the city of Manaus
in Brazil, and grew up in a multicultural and
multilingual family in the small town of
Gainesville, Florida. I completed my undergraduate
degree at the University of Florida
and graduated cum-laude with a Bachelor’s
Degree in Political Science and Spanish. I
spent time in the beautifully preserved town
of Guanajuato, Mexico in order to improve
my Spanish language skills. As graduation
approached, my interests in human rights
drove me to pursue a Juris Doctorate from
New England Law Boston. During my legal
studies, I was an AmeriCorps Fellow working
on the immigration rights project and also
volunteered at the local legal clinic providing
assistance to Haitians seeking temporary protected
status. I decided to take my experience
global as an International Criminal Process
Clinic Fellow at the ICTY in 2010. During
that time, my personal life changed when I
met the Spaniard who is now my husband.
Upon graduation from law school, I decided
to follow my heart and return to The Hague. I
immediately began working at the Permanent
Court of Arbitration in the Peace Palace where
my work focused on Latin American commercial
contract claims, investor-state claims
under bilateral investment treaties, and interstate
disputes. I recently made the decision to
change my career path and now work at the
Webster University Leiden Campus as the
dedicated officer
for Graduate
Studies where I
can embrace a
healthy work-life
balance.
Did you know that any woman who speaks English is
eligible to join the American Women’s Club?
Invite your English-speaking friends, wherever they’re
from, to join us today!
14 GOING DUTCH
I have been passionately
involved
in volunteer
work for the
past 15 years, including
Habitat
for Humanity in
the U.S. and Buddy Project for Victims of
Human Trafficking in the Netherlands. Most
recently, I have served as a nonprofit project
manager spearheading refugee-focused
projects including language workshops, access
to higher education programs, active
lifestyle programs, and a number of other
initiatives. The most successful program,
My University Cares Too, is formally part
of the UN campaign to address Sustainable
Development Goal 4 to “ensure inclusive
and equitable quality education and promote
lifelong learning opportunities for all”.
My goal is to help empower others to recognize
they have skills that can be shared. My
aim is to contribute to the continued success
of AWC projects, and also learn from fellow
AWC Members who bring a wealth of
experience to the table. I really am honored
and look forward to this new chapter with
the AWC.
Photo and summary credit: Amazon
Ongoing Activities
Book Clubs
The AWC Book Clubs are open to all
readers, and new Members are especially
welcome! There are no requirements that
you must attend every meeting or lead
a discussion. Snacks are provided by a
different Member each month. There are
two Book Clubs hosted by AWC Members:
One in the daytime and one in the evening.
Questions? Teresa Mahoney organizes the
daytime group, and Dena Haggerty handles
the evening meetings. For more information,
please contact them at awcthehague.
bookclub@gmail.com. Happy reading!
Daytime Book Club
October Selection:
Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
This unforgettable New
York Times best seller
begins with the story of
two half-sisters, separated
by forces beyond
their control: one sold
into slavery, the other
married to a British slaver.
Written with tremendous sweep and
power, Homegoing traces the generations
of family who follow, as their destinies
lead them through two continents and three
hundred years of history, each life indelibly
drawn, as the legacy of slavery is fully revealed
in light of the present day.
Thursday, October 25
10 a.m.
AWC Clubhouse
FREE
Daytime Book Club Recap – August
Think about post-revolutionary Russia:
Bolsheviks, famine, Siberia, Stalin. Your
images will hardly be gentle and charming.
Yet, A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor
Towles, which takes place in Russia between
1922 and 1954, is gentle and charming.
How does Towles do it? He confines
his protagonist, a serene and genteel Russian
count named Alexader Ilyich Rostov, to
Daytime Book Club Reading List:
Thursday, November 15: Educated: A
Memoir by Tara Westover
house arrest in an exclusive Moscow hotel.
With one brief exception, the count spends
32 years within the Metropol. Yes, Rostov is
surrounded by luxury and worldly visitors
but his own accommodation is a small converted
storeroom. As we all must do, Rostov
becomes the architect of his own life within
circumstances over which he has no control.
Rostov’s quest for purpose, meaning, and
love in his life makes for an interesting and
uplifting story. Some of us could have done
without the references to classic Russian literature
but others thought they helped anchor
the story to place and to illuminate the
Russian mindset. Recommended.
>> 16
OCTOBER 2018 15
Photo and summary credit: Amazon
Ongoing Activities (cont.)
Continued from page 15
Evening Book Club
October Selection: A
Long Way from Home by
Peter Carey
A Long Way from Home is
Peter Carey’s latest style
masterpiece; a thrilling
high-speed story that starts
in one way, then takes you
to another place altogether.
Set in the 1950s in the embers of the British
Empire, painting a picture of the Queen and
her subjects, black, white and those in-between,
this brilliantly vivid novel illustrates
how the possession of an ancient culture
spirals through history —and the love made
and hurt caused along the way.
Wednesday, October 10
7:30 p.m.
AWC Clubhouse
FREE
Evening Book Club Reading List:
Wednesday, November 14: A Gentleman in
Moscow by Amor Towles
Wednesday, December 12: The Only Story
by Julian Barnes
Chat, Crafts & Cake
Chat, Craft and Cake is a weekly highlight
for those who enjoy crafts and camaraderie.
Whether your craft is knitting, quilting,
needlepoint or simply mending your
clothes, or whether you are a beginner or an
expert, you are welcome to join us. Fish that
UFO (Unfinished Object) out of the drawer
and get going on it again. CCandCer’s are
always ready with a helping hand, a lesson,
or some advice. Each week, a different
Member brings a cake—tried and true,
or experimental. Babysitting is not available
and there are lots of sharp objects
about (pins, needles, scissors and wit) so
we cannot accommodate children. Contact
Suzanne Dundas at awcthehague.crafts@
gmail.com for more information
Every Tuesday
10 a.m. – Noon
AWC Clubhouse
FREE
Heart Pillow Project
Members work together to make heartshaped
pillows designed to help support
the arms of recent mastectomy patients.
Each pillow is made with TLC, wrapped,
and comes with a note signed by an AWC
volunteer. No sewing skills are needed,
as you can cut, stuff, or wrap the heart
pillows. We are proud to provide men
and women with something both practical
and comforting, and we know our work
helps because we often receive thank-you
notes and emails from the patients who
have received a heart pillow. For more
information, please contact Jan de Vries at
awcthehague.heartpillow@gmail.com.
Tuesday, October 9
Noon – 2 p.m.
AWC Clubhouse
FREE
Visitors Welcome
Out to Lunch Bunch: October
Restaurant De Haagsche Beek is as Dutch
as Dutch can be, and as Haags as The Hague
can be. But for most expats, it is a hidden
secret. It is time the Lunch Bunch discovers
this restaurant in Kijkduin, close to the
beach. The restaurant is located in a >> 18
16 GOING DUTCH
OCTOBER 2018 17
Ongoing Activities (cont.)
Continued from page 17
modern building but tells you a lot about the
history of the Haagsche Beek (The Hague
brook). The restaurant is used by many citizens
in The Hague for parties, weddings,
birthdays, bridal showers, etc. But also for
dinner or lunch of course: never a dull moment.
The food is international, but with a
Kijkduin touch. The restaurant is easy to
reach by car or public transport. After signing
up, you will receive a leaflet about the
the Haagsche Beek and about the panorama
in the dunes. It’s a piece of art on top of the
dune, opposite the restaurant!
Restaurant De Haagsche Beek, Machiel
Vrijenhoeklan 175, Kijkduin
www.dehaagschebeek.nl
Friday, October 26
Noon – 2 p.m.
Sign up on GroupSpaces
Tennis League
Players needed! The AWC Tennis Group
plays doubles every Tuesday in Warmond.
Ladies move up and down the courts according
to a ladder tennis system. The emphasis
is on having fun! The League is available
for all levels except true beginners. Contact
Molly Boed at mollyboed@gmail.com for
more information.
Every Tuesday
(except specific holidays TBD)
1 – 3 p.m.
Dekker Tennis Courts
Veerpolder 14, Warmond
€ 275 Members / € 325 Nonmembers
Sign up on GroupSpaces
Thirsty Thursday
Join us again for our monthly gathering.
Thirsty Thursday is a casual evening of
companionship and good conversation—a
new favorite for AWC Members and prospective
Members. Two soft drinks, wine or
beer, plus tapas.
Thursday, October 18
6 – 9 p.m.
Tapisco, Kneuterdijk 11, Den Haag
€ 15 for two drinks and food
No RSVP needed
Walkie Talkies
Whether you count your steps or just want
to walk with friends, the Monday morning
Walkie Talkies is a fun, healthy and
energetic way to start the week. The group
meets in front of the Clubhouse before
heading out to walk to various destinations
in the area, usually racking up 10,000 steps
along the way. Sign up on GroupSpaces
to receive email updates or contact Emily
van Eerten or Greetje Engelsman at
awcthehague.walkietalkies@gmail.com.
Mondays
9:30 a.m.
AWC Clubhouse
Free
Sign up on GroupSpaces
Wassenaar Coffee &
Conversation
If you live in or north of Wassenaar, join
your neighbors for coffee and conversation
once a month without having to drive to
the clubhouse. One Member will host a casual
coffee at her home at 9:30 on the first
Thursday of every month. Prospective
Members are welcome too. Suzanne
Dundas coordinates these meetings and
can be reached at awcthehague.crafts@
gmail.com. Because the location changes
every month, contact Suzanne if you are
interested in attending or for more information.
Thursday, October 4
9:30 a.m.
FREE
Cancellation Policy
Members may reserve a spot for an AWC tour, activity or
event in advance. Payment is required within five business
days of the reservation or before the deadline date (whichever
is sooner) otherwise your name will be moved to a waitlist.
It is the responsibility of the Member to notify the Club at
awcthehague.finance@gmail.com to cancel a reservation
prior to the cancellation deadline. Please note that there will
be NO REFUNDS (no exceptions) after the cancellation deadline.
Members may find a substitute in lieu of cancellation
provided that arrangements are made with the tour, activity
or event organizer. Members shall be held responsible for
their guest reservations in accordance with this policy.
AWC Guest Policy
Guests are welcome
to participate in AWC
activities and tours
on a limited basis.
As a nonmember, a
guest is limited to
attend two functions
per calendar year
and will be charged
an additional
nonmember fee. Only
Members are entitled
to use babysitting
services.
18 GOING DUTCH
OCTOBER 2018 19
One-of-a-Kind Activities
by Marsha Hagney
RSVP directly on AWC GroupSpaces.com. Direct any questions to
awcthehague.firstvp@gmail.com.
Payment must be made within 5 calendar days of reserving or your name will be moved to
a waitlist. Payment can be made in the Front Office by PIN or by bank transfer to the AWC
account NL42ABNA0431421757.
Guided Tour of Dutch Masters
from British Country Houses
This autumn the Mauritshuis will feature a
special exhibit of Dutch 17th-century paintings
from National Trust Houses. This will
be a Mauritshuis exclusive: never before
has such a selection been exhibited in the
Netherlands.
Thursday, November 1
6:00 – 7:30 p.m.
Mauritshuis, Museum Plein 29
Den Haag
Max 15 / Minimum 12
€ 10 Members (€ 15 nonmembers)
Museum entrance fee of € 15.50 is not
included (Entrance is free with Museum
Card)
Registration Deadline: October 22 (Later
registration possible if space is available)
Sign up on GroupSpaces
AWC Members, please connect with
us on LinkedIn
https://nl.linkedin.com/in/
20 GOING DUTCH
awcthehague
Members: eNews Distribution
A weekly electronic newsletter
is sent to all AWC Members.
If you have not been receiving your
eNews,
please contact Melissa at
awcthehague.membership@gmail.com.
Halloween Trick-or-Treating in
Voorburg
We’re thrilled to be partnering with the
town of Voorburg for a Halloween event
this year. Join us for trick-or-treating. All
are invited, including nonmembers.
Saturday, October 27
Time TBA
Location TBA
FREE
See eNews for details
Morning Tea with Diane
Hoekstra, AWC Honorary
President
Join us for tea, coffee and great company.
Our Honorary President, Diane Hoekstra,
invites AWC Members to gather at her
home. Details will be sent directly to those
who register, closer to the event. Please
note that this event is for AWC Members
only.
Wednesday, October 24
10:00 a.m. – Noon
Location will be provided upon registration
Max 30 / No Minimum
FREE
Registration Deadline: October 18
Sign up on GroupSpaces
Tour of Private Art Collection
The AWC and The Arts are honored to offer
this very special activity. The collection
you will visit is a private art space
that houses a multidisciplinary collection
spanning the genres of painting, sculpture,
photography, installations and video. You
will visit this collection in a unique building
which in part is built 26 feet (8 meters)
underground. It is situated close to The
Hague; you will receive location information
once you have signed up on Group
Spaces and confirm that you will be taking
part in the tour.
Tuesday, November 13
10:30 a.m. – Noon
Location will be provided upon registration
Max 22 / No Minimum
€ 10 Members (€ 15 nonmembers)
Registration/Cancellation Deadline:
October 15
Sign up on GroupSpaces
Visit from FAWCO’s Amanda
Lane
Amanda Lane, Executive Director of the
Collateral Repair Project, will be visiting
to discuss FAWCO’s Target Project: Hope
Beyond Displacement. This is a great opportunity
to ask her questions and learn
more about the efforts to support refugees.
See the FAWCO article in last month’s
Going Dutch, for more information.
Monday, November 5
10:30 a.m. – Noon
AWC Clubhouse
FREE
Sign up on GroupSpaces
OCTOBER 2018 21
Holiday Bazaar - Come One, Come All…
and Shop!
by Amber Gatewood
Believe it or not, the holidays are right
around the bend. This means Santa and
his AWC elves are in full swing preparing
for our annual AWC Holiday Bazaar!
On November 10 & 11 you’ll find the most
unique range of gift options under one roof, as
The Hilton Hotel is transformed into a winter
wonderland. From baked goods to paintings
to textiles to beer and wine, there is something
for everyone. You’ll also have the opportunity
to support several of our own Members who
will be selling their goods.
Let your senses carry you by the Aromatique
Shop. You’ll find a selection of candles, wax
melts and reed diffusers to satisfy all your
fragrance needs. (www.aromatiqueshop.com)
Are you enthusiastic about vintage finds?
Atelier34bc brings flea market discoveries to
life and transforms them into revitalized interior
furnishings. (www.atelier34bc.com)
Need something with some Dutch flare?
Check out a Bazaar favorite, Alexandra
Breeze Ceramics, and her line of imprinted
porcelain Amsterdam canal houses. Each
piece has its own unique character. (www.alexandrabreezeceramics.nl)
The variety doesn’t stop here. Make your list
and check it twice: the AWC Holiday Bazaar
is coming to town!
Hilton Hotel, Zeestraat 35, Den Haag
Saturday, November 10
11 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Sunday, November 11
11 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Entry: € 2 Adults / Children Free
Kid’s Corner: € 5 per Child
A friend or family member must be with
your child, so bring your spouse, partner, or
friends, and take turns shopping!
Bake for the Bazaar
by Cathleen Owens
The days are getting shorter, which means
it’s almost time to show off those baking
skills! Break out those recipes for your famous
cookies, brownies, or pies (non-perishable).
If baking isn’t in your repertoire,
or you prefer savory treats, why not stir up
spicy cashews or marinated olives? Your
baked goods give our guests the energy to
shop ‘til they drop!
The Holiday Bazaar is taking place this year
at the Hilton Hotel on November 10 and
11. Baked goods drop off takes place at the
AWC Clubhouse on Friday, November 9.
Sign up to donate your baked goods by filling
out the form at http://bit.do/bazaarbakesale.
You will be contacted closer to the date to
confirm. If you have any specific questions,
feel free to email hol.baz@gmail.com.
To volunteer for the Bake Sale, contact
Laurie Martecchini at awcthehague.
volunteercoord@gmail.com.
22 GOING DUTCH
OCTOBER 2018 23
We Need Your Hands at the Holiday Bazaar
by Jaimie Keppel
Calling all hands ... and bodies and smiles!
The AWC annual Holiday Bazaar is one
of our major fundraising activities. It’s
also a lot of fun. Volunteers are needed for
both Saturday, November 10 and Sunday,
November 11. There are two shifts each
day: 11a.m. – 2 p.m., and 2 p.m. – close. For
most shifts, we pair an experienced Member
with someone new to the Bazaar. There are
plenty of areas in which to volunteer:
• Entry Table: Welcome visitors and sell
entry tickets
• Floor Monitors: Help as needed
• Bake Sale: See Cathleen’s article on
page 23 for details
• Raffle Table: Sell raffle tickets and
highlight all the wonderful donations
• Payment Tables: Accept payment for
goods using a PIN machine and tallying
funds received. No prior experience
needed, just a comfort with taking payments.
• Kids’ Corner: See Holly’s article below.
Will you come and help? Please contact our
Volunteer Organizer, Laurie Martecchini:
awcthehague.volunteercoord@gmail.com.
Help Share Christmas Fun at the Kid’s Corner
by Holly Savoie
Do you enjoy crafts or working with
children? Then this is for you! The Kid’s
Corner is a dedicated play space with
activities run by AWC volunteers. All the
activities and crafts will be planned and
organized ahead of time. The children will
be accompanied by a parent or family friend
during their time in the Kid’s Corner.
Saturday, November 10
Sunday, November 11
Shifts: Noon – 3 p.m. & 3 – 6 p.m.
(2 adults per shift)
To volunteer, please contact Holly Savoie
ASAP, at awcthehague.kidsclub@gmail.
com.
24 GOING DUTCH
OCTOBER 2018 25
Fall Kick
Off
October 2018
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat
1
2
3 4
5 6
Walkie Talkies 9:30 a.m
Chat, Crafts & Cake 10 a.m.
AWC Tennis 1 p.m.
Wassenaar Coffee and
Conversation 9:30 a.m.
7 8
9
10
11
12
13
Walkie Talkies 9:30 a.m
Chat, Crafts & Cake 10 a.m.
Heart Pillow Workshop
Noon
Coffee 10 a.m.
October General Meeting
10:30 a.m.
Buddy Check 12
AWC Tennis 1 p.m.
Evening Book Club
7:30 p.m.
14 15
16
17 18
19
20
Walkie Talkies 9:30 a.m
Chat, Crafts & Cake 10 a.m.
AWC Tennis 1 p.m.
AWC Board Meeting
9:30 a.m.
Thirsty Thursday 6 p.m.
21 22
23
24
25
26
27
Walkie Talkies 9:30 a.m
Chat, Crafts & Cake 10 a.m.
AWC Tennis 1 p.m.
Morning Tea with Diane
Hoekstra, Honorary
President 10 a.m.
Daytime Book Club 10 a.m.
Out to Lunch Bunch Noon
Halloween Trick-or-Treating
in Voorburg TBA
28 29
Walkie Talkies 9:30 a.m
30
Chat, Crafts & Cake 10 a.m.
AWC Tennis 1 p.m.
31
Upcoming:
Holiday Bazaar - November 10 – 11
Thanksgiving in Leiden - November 22
Jewelry/Pearl Party - December 6
Christmas Lunch - December 14
28 GOING DUTCH
OCTOBER 2018 29
AWC and the Arts
by Jane Choy, AWC Member and Mauritshuis Docent
Tour of Private Art Collection
The AWC and The Arts are honored to offer
this very special activity. The collection
you will visit is a private art space
that houses a multidisciplinary collection
spanning the genres of painting, sculpture,
photography, installations and video. You
will visit this collection in a unique building
which in part is built 26 feet (8 meters)
underground. It is situated close to The
Hague; you will receive location information
once you have signed up on Group
Spaces and confirm that you will be taking
part in the tour.
Tuesday, November 13
10:30 a.m. – Noon
Location will be provided upon registration
Max 22 / No Minimum
€ 10 Members / € 15 Nonmembers
Registration/Cancellation deadline:
October 15
Sign up on GroupSpaces
RSVP for all Arts Activities directly on
AWC GroupSpaces.com
Direct any questions to jechoy@me.com
30 GOING DUTCH
OCTOBER 2018 31
FAWCO Corner
by Julie Mowat, AWC The Hague FAWCO Representative
Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas, a United Nations NGO with
consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council
www.fawco.org.
This year, our Club sponsored a
Development Grant, naming it the AWC
The Hague Creating Better Futures.
Recipient: Kitchen for Rural Kenyan
Catering Program
Location: Chepkanga, Kenya
Nominating Club: AAWE Paris
Purpose of the Grant: Grant funding will
go to Rafiki Ya Maisha, an NGO that raises
money for two schools in Kenya. The funds
will be used to construct a teaching kitchen
at Sergoek Vocational Training Center in
Chepkanga to help improve professionalism,
as well as the self-esteem of the students.
Wonderful way for our Club to make
a difference again!
Curious to learn about FAWCO? Contact
Julie Mowat or Terri Mahoney
(awcthehague.fawco@gmail.com) to learn
more!
On November 5, Amanda Lane, Executive
Director of the Collateral Repair Project
(CRP), will be visiting to discuss our
FAWCO Target Project: Hope Beyond
Displacement. (Teaser: we will have the
Helping Hands Fundraiser for them on
February 21.) Even if you attended Celeste’s
and my dinner discussion about our Jordan
trip, you will still find this session informative.
This is a great opportunity to ask
Amanda questions and learn more about the
efforts to support refugees.
Monday, November 5
10:30 a.m. – Noon
AWC Clubhouse
FREE
Sign up on GroupSpaces
FAWCO’s Biennial Conference will be
hosted by AWC of Central Scotland in
Edinburgh. Mark your calendars for this
major conference, Thursday, March 21
through Sunday, March 24. Many of us
from this Club will be attending. Scotland
is not too far away (last one was in India),
so it is a great opportunity to see what
FAWCO is about and hear some great
speakers. More information to follow in
the near future.
We are in Region 4, but are invited to other
regions’ meetings. Region 5 will be in
Heidelberg November 9 through 11, for
an opportunity to get to know the newest
FAWCO member club. International
Women’s Club Heidelberg is a brand-new
club and looks forward to welcoming
you. This Regional Meeting will throw
out watches and give ample time to connect,
chat, help, support, understand and,
of course, inspire. Please check out www.
FAWCO.org or reach out to me if you have
any questions.
Did you know as a Member of this Club
you and your family are eligible to apply
for an Educational Grant? Did you also
know that you can nominate your favorite
nonprofit for a Development Grant? Several
of our Members and their families have
received one. There are several different
catagories and it can be well worth your
time! Member Michelle Oliel’s Pillow
Project with Stahili was awarded a grant
this spring and this amazing program has
already started making a difference. Please
check out fawcofoundation.org for further
information.
32 GOING DUTCH
OCTOBER 2018 33
A Retrospective of Past October Covers
AWC Community Calendar –
Fall 2018
Philanthropy is a large part of what the
AWC does for our community, and this
fall we will again ask you to open your
hearts for Children’s Gift & Clothing Drive
and the Toiletry Drive. Your donations mean
so much to the families who receive them,
and even the smallest gift can go a long way
in the eyes of a child. For those of you who
have contributed in the past, many thanks for
your kindness! And for those considering a
contribution this year, please know the organizations
to whom we donate always deeply
appreciate anything you can give.
Toiletries Donations
Collection of toiletries:
Thursday, November 1 through Tuesday,
November 27
Package toiletries:
Thursday, November 29 (time TBA)
Toiletries drop-off:
Monday, December 3
Holiday Bazaar
Saturday, November 10 (11 a.m. – 6 p.m.)
Sunday, November 11 (11 a.m. – 5 p.m.)
Children’s Gifts & Clothes
Collection of tagged gifts:
Thursday, November 1 through Tuesday,
November 27
Wrap gifts and clothes:
Thursday, November 29 (time TBA)
Gift drop-off: Monday, December 3
34 GOING DUTCH
OCTOBER 2018 35
Chat, Craft and Cake: The Crafts
(Part Two of a Two-Part Series)
by Suzanne Dundas
Quilting
Most AWC Members think “quilting”
when they think of CCandC because quilting
is our most visible handwork. It’s hard
to sneak into the Clubhouse unnoticed with
a queen-size quilt tucked under your arm.
Some of our quilts are for charity. CCandC
as a group have made and donated quilts
to be auctioned off for our local causes.
Anja Knoop and Agatha Zwaan made an
“Arkansas Crossroads” quilt out of scraps
left over from the Heart Pillows Project. It
was destined to be auctioned off but was
so beautiful that Sonja Kelle bought it outright.
The money raised was used to buy a
dedicated sewing machine and more fabric
for Heart Pillows.
Every year CCandC quilters contribute
squares to be incorporated into a FAWCO
quilt. Since 1996, Roberta Zollner of the
Munich International Woman’s Club has
sewn together donated blocks to make 24
FAWCO quilts. Auctioned off at FAWCO
conferences, these quilts have raised approximately
$75,000. This year we’re
making a simple “bookcase” block. If
you’d like to make one, contact me and I’ll
send you the instructions.
We have some very experienced quilters
among us. Beverly Bennett is experienced
in all forms of quilting and is amazingly
prolific. In fact, one of our outings was to
see Beverley’s quilt-filled home and her
well-appointed quilting room. She keeps
abreast of what experts are doing in terms
of quilt and fabric design and has had a pattern
of one of her own designs published.
Beverley is a geologist by training and her
quilts are crafted with scientific precision.
As a quilting teacher herself, Beverley
keeps current, taking classes at quilting
shows and online via such sites as
www.craftsy.com. She and I met in a
2008 appliqué class at Quilter’s Palet on
Weissenbruchtstraat in Den Haag.
The instructor was the internationally renowned
quilting superstar, Ted Storm, who
lives in Monster. Lifelong learners, most
CCandC members relish a class that teaches
them either a new technique in their craft
of choice or an entirely new craft.
Agatha Zwaan’s speciality is appliqué
and she turns out three-dimensional blocks
of great intricacy and beauty. Agatha also
has a very large sewing machine, called a
long-arm machine. About ten feet (three
meters) long, it is used to machine quilt
entire quilts. Agatha has an empowering
saying that comforts me when I am struggling
with a quilt. “You are the boss of your
fabric.”
My goal for my quilts is warmth and washability.
No one will ever make a pattern of
the quilt I’m currently designing and working
on (A Tribute to My Dogs), but I enjoy
the process. My dogs, already spoiled, now
strut through the park like runway models.
Susan Baragwanath is not a quilter herself
but an expert nonetheless. Susan is an extremely
knowledgeable collector of historical
quilts. She is currently a long-distance
curator of an exhibit of her own quilts to be
shown in New Zealand in 2019. It’s called
Conversations with the Quilts and features
many fascinating antique American quilts
along with their histories. If we ask nicely
and often enough, Susan may be willing
to speak on this topic at an AWC General
Meeting.
Cross Stitch
Dory Ritchie can cross-stitch anything,
including a “medieval” box. Her latest
project, a mermaid, gleamed with golden
thread and beads throughout.
Dory is currently working on her second
mystery stitch-along. Every month for a
year, instructions are downloaded onto
http://linenandthreads.com/mysterysampler-stitch-a-long.
Each part to be
completed before the next part is available.
You don’t know what the finished project
will look like until it is done. It’s free and it’s
fun for the 10,000 participants worldwide.
There are similar monthly mystery projects
for quilts, called “Block of the Month” .
Knitting
We have a lot of knitters—Sonja Kelle,
Elaine Pimm, Gabrielle van der Winden,
Hilde Hatlestad Volle—who turn gorgeous
yarns into wearable art. It’s amazing
to see how they can hold up a piece of knitting
and, working without a pattern, modify
the fit, change the sleeves, or add an intricate
border. >> 38
36 GOING DUTCH
OCTOBER 2018 37
Chat, Craft and Cake (cont.)
Continued from page 37
Message from the President (cont.)
Continued from page 8
Eileen Baker, who has repatriated to
Colorado, is also a superb knitter. I had the
good fortune to win a set of her famous fingerless
gloves and a scarf at an AWC auction
one year. She is also extremely knowledgeable
about wools, especially handspun
wools. The patinaed wooden spinning wheel
that stood in her dining room was not a conversation
piece. It was well used.
Sewing
Yes, we sew. Susan Baragwanath and
Loren Mealey maintain, mend, and modify
their clothing, often with advice from
Anja Knoop, who has been sewing her own
clothing since she was a young girl. Anja is
so skilled at sewing that she has been known
to make her own, very intricate bras.
Dutch women of a certain age learned to
sew, and sew very well, at school. Dory
brought in a charming yellow cotton dress
for a young girl, beautifully detailed and
sewn by hand.
38 GOING DUTCH
Gabrielle van der Winden, our Jill of all
Trades, also sews, her latest creation being
a Tory Birch inspired summer dress with
long sleeves and an embellished neckline.
Gabrielle also dyes silk scarves and sews
elegant cushions.
Miscellany
At any given time, CCandC’s table can
be laden with needlepoint destined to be a
pillow, green rope being crocheted into a
purse, or family photographs—hard copies
being arranged in an album or virtual ones
being organized onto a laptop.
Once or twice, an adult coloring book has
made an appearance. That makes sense.
Though they yield nothing wearable or usable,
adult coloring books distill the soothing
repetition of handwork into its purest
form. Creativity can take many forms and
operate at many skill levels. Chat, Craft
and Cake welcomes them all.
Interested in history? Specifically, the
Club’s history, dating back to 1930? The
Historian/Archivist Chair is available.
Preserving almost 90 years of history was
started by a Member who recently repatriated,
so this isn’t a start-from-scratch job.
Our AWC offers numerous opportunities to
use our skill sets in significant ways, whether
you chair a committee or join other Members
for the events and activities we offer. One of
the most significant ways we can reduce the
stress of moving to a new country and putting
our own career on-hold (for those of us who
were employed outside the home) is helping
one another realize we are significant, no matter
the role we play within our family, at a job,
within the Club, or with friends.
I subscribe to a number of expat Facebook
pages. Some posts are funny, some members
ask advice, while other posts are written by
expats who need a boost because they’re experiencing
loneliness, miss their home country
comforts, and are looking for a way to enjoy the
expat experience without self-imposed guilt.
One recent post caught my attention. It was
written by a woman who had been floundering,
having given up her long-time career to follow
her husband to a country that didn’t offer her
the opportunity to continue working in her
field. She found workarounds and is building
her new life piece-by-piece through her volunteer
work. In her post, she wrote that she’s gone
from success to significance. For many of the
Members of our American Women’s Club, this
is what we’re doing. We are all significant and
have much to offer one another.
We are continuing the Membership drive
that was started last Club year. More than
five new Members joined the day of Kick Off
and more say they will soon become part of
our AWC. And we welcome them with open
arms! It’s important that we keep welcoming
new Members as the expat community
in The Hague and nearby communities is
constantly shifting, and with that shift, we
sometimes lose Members who repatriate or
leave for personal reasons. One such recent
loss is Rebecca Niles-Pourier who served
on the Board as our Communications Officer.
We wish her well.
As you can see, it’s a bit of a chess game
to maintain our numbers, but we have so
much to offer women who are looking for
their home away from home. Whether you
hear someone speaking English at your
neighborhood Albert Heijn, or read a post
on a local Facebook page written by a
woman who wants to meet other expats,
please reach out and let her know that our
AWC offers many possibilities for interesting
and unique experiences. I truly believe
the warm welcome new Members receive
from our amazing group of women is what
separates our Club from all other organizations.
Thanks to everyone for all you do to
make our AWC special and for making each
and every Member feel significant.
Tot ziens,
Going Dutch is Available Online
Suzanne
Go to www.awcthehague.org to share the current month’s issue with friends and family. You
will also find links to our annual advertisers, whose support makes this magazine possible. If
you visit or contact one of our advertisers, let them know
Going Dutch sent you!
OCTOBER 2018 39
The Dutch Daily
by Eileen Harloff
Broken Record
One of the complaints that are often made
by visitors, temporary citizens and nativeborn
Dutch people themselves has to do
with the weather here, especially the summer
weather—the sun never shines, it is
cold, it’s always raining, etc. This is the reason
that once vacation days come around,
the airports and the roads are overcrowded
with people escaping to the south and east,
to the sun. This year, however, there was a
turn-about: the country experienced the longest
ever period—since records have been
kept beginning in 1901—of warm, sunny
weather. One day it was even so hot that
people didn’t want to go to the beach and
bask in the sun. The previous record of 53
days in a row occurred in 2003. In fact, the
2018 record may even be higher by the end
of the summer, we shall have to wait and
see. So if you were here for only the beginning,
the end, or the whole summer period,
you have experienced a rare phenomenon
that may never happen again, or may instead,
according to the environmentalists,
be the weather of the future.
40 GOING DUTCH
Another Record
Near the end of summer each year, Stichting
De Noordzee (North Sea Foundation) carries
out a clean-up day by volunteers of
the beaches from Schiermonnikoog in the
north to Cadzand in the south, with local
groups each covering some 10 kilometers.
The purpose of the clean-up, aside from
beautifying the beaches, is to see how much
trash is left, as all trash eventually ends up
in the North Sea where it becomes part of
the “plastic soup”. Not only is the soup unsightly,
it is also the cause of death for many
sea animals. This year, the 125 volunteers
from The Hague area were asked to focus
especially on cigarette butts, as these tend
to remain on land and are often mistaken as
food by birds. The findings were amazing—
between the Hook of Holland and Monster
(The Hague’s neighbor to the south), 14,696
cigarette filters were found, or 184 filters per
100 meters of beach. Add to this the findings
of another organization with a similar aim,
TrashUre Hunt, whose volunteers cleared
up 31,712 cigarette filters from the beach
at Scheveningen last year, and the danger
is clear. Filter cigarette butts are the worst
of all beach trash as they account for 95%
of cellulose acetate plastic, which takes two
years to deteriorate. There is a lesson to be
learned from these clean-ups. If one insists
on smoking, don’t throw your butts away,
put them in a container for trash. But most
of all, just stop smoking—our air will be
purer and your breathing will be easier.
Windmills in the Limelight
Who hasn’t seen or heard about windmills
in the Netherlands? There are 1,200
of them: 397 are for drainage purposes as
26% of the country lies below sea level,
594 are industrial and corn mills, and the
others, in my view, are there to pretty-up
the landscape. The most famous group of
windmills is at Kinderdijk, where 19 rise
above the flat landscape and are so remarkable
that they are on the UNESCO World
Heritage list. But windmills don’t just work
on their own volition. They have molenaars
or millers who maintain and run them, and
these important people have now also been
added to UNESCO’s Cultural Heritage List,
describing this as “a splendid trade that is
through and through interwoven with the
Netherlands culture”. At present there are
50 professional millers and hundreds of
volunteers who are keeping the Dutch mills
turning.
Historical Exhibition
Across the street from the Mauritshuis is The
Hague Historical Museum, where an exhibition
devoted to the life and times of Johan
van Oldenbarnevelt (1574 – 1619) will open
on December 1. This man rose from a modest
background to become the most powerful
person in the country. He lived in turbulent
times, with the Netherlands rebelling
against and breaking away from Spain, the
murder of William of Orange, the country’s
so-called ”Father”, and giving support, advice
and encouragement to his son and successor,
Maurits. The two worked together in
harmony for several years, but eventually
fell out over state and religious matters, with
the result that Maurits and his followers accused
van Oldenbarnevelt of high treason,
which ended in a public beheading on the
Buitenhof in The Hague on May 13, 1619.
This is the first ever exhibition held on this
historic figure and is named “Johan van
Oldenbarnevelt, Man, Power and Murder”.
Aside from an historical interest in this figure,
Club Members may want to know more
about the person for whom the street on
which the Clubhouse stands is named.
In Short
• According to a German institute for economic
research, the Netherlands has the
fairest income distribution in Europe.
Next in line are Finland and Norway, with
Lithuania, Italy and Romania showing the
least fair distribution of income among
their citizens.
• By the end of this year, smoking will be
forbidden in all Paris parks, following the
example of Strasbourg, which initiated
the ban on July 1. The reasoning behind
this decision is that parks are the lungs of
the city and that citizens must be given the
cleanest possible air to breathe. Moreover,
each year some 350,000 kilos of cigarette
butts are swept off public property;
last year fines of € 68 each were issued
to 21,000 people for discarding butts in
parks and on the streets. Also, since 2015
smoking has been forbidden in the vicinity
of all children’s play areas.
• In an effort to attract entrepreneurs and
institutions with ingenious and doable
innovations, the City of The Hague has
laid out a 100 x100 sea mile experimental
garden outside the Scheveningen Harbor.
Experiments can be carried out, new ideas
tested and demonstrations held. These
experiments will deal with sailing, boats,
water sports and technology that can detect
drowned victims.
• The headlines read that 1 out of 5
Netherlanders between the ages of 18
and 34 suffers from serious mental complaints,
which can lead to a burn-out.
The cause? The smartphone. From tests
it was found that 80% of those questioned
took their telephones to bed with
them, with the result being that they fell
asleep later than intended, and 5% even
set their phone alarm so as to wake up in
the middle of the night to check for any
new messages so that they would not miss
what was going on in their social and/or
work environment. Facebook, Instagram,
Twitter, etc., all lead to distress. The test
sample revealed that 17% of those questioned
felt they were acting badly if they
did not immediately respond to a call or
message.
OCTOBER 2018 41
Adventures in Madeira
by Melissa White
I
must admit that I have always been geographically
challenged. When an AWC
Member first mentioned years ago that
she thought my family would love Madeira,
I had no idea what she was talking about, as
the only Madeira I had ever heard of was a
type of wine. More recently, Jan Essad came
back from Madeira raving about it and said
that she thought it was a perfect vacation
spot for my adventurous family. The timing
of her recommendation was ideal, as I had
just begun to investigate options of where
to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary.
Rather than a romantic holiday for two, we
brought along our two daughters, Veronica
and Ashlynn, to celebrate their 21st and 18th
birthdays, respectively.
Madeira is an autonomous region of
Portugal, located 620 miles (1,000 kilometers)
southwest of Portugal. It was founded
by Portuguese mariner Joao Goncalves Zarco
in 1418 and became autonomous in 1976.
Nearly half of the island’s 280,000 inhabitants
live in the capital city of Funchal, named
by the first settlers due to an abundance of
wild fennel. Formed on top of a volcano, the
42 GOING DUTCH
terrain is very rugged and hilly, forming one
of Europe’s highest sea cliffs: Cabo Girao at
1,932 feet (589 meters). With a subtropical
climate, the island is like a vast garden with
incredible plant diversity.
When researching our travel plans, I was
happy to see that Transavia had very affordable
flights to Madeira. However, their return
flights were over twice as expensive. Luckily
TapPortugal’s fare was more reasonable for
our return and I was happy to learn that they
offer free layovers in either Lisbon or Porto.
Thus, we were able to add a two-night stay
in Lisbon for less than the Transavia flight
would have cost, even after considering the
cost of our additional accommodation.
While I was originally determined to rent
a villa with a private pool for an entire week,
I had to compromise with just four nights
in Arco do Calheta in the western part of
the island, and an apartment in Funchal for
the remaining three nights. Although I was
initially disappointed, these arrangements
turned out to be a blessing in disguise as it
allowed us two entirely different experiences
during our stay.
We began our adventures after leaving
the airport. Since we couldn’t check into our
apartment until the afternoon, we had several
hours to kill. James asked the rental car
agent if she had any suggestions of places
that would be easy for us to park and she suggested
that we head to Garajau to see Christo
Rei (Christ the King), a 49-foot (15-meter)
statue built in 1927. The views from the top
of the cliff were incredible. After our short
hike, we hopped on the cable car down to
the beach. What we assumed would just be
a snack bar at the bottom turned out to be
a nice café with a lovely terrace. It was the
perfect way to start our trip. Although there
are a few black-sand beaches on the island,
Garajau Beach consists of grey pebbles and
black basalt stones, but that didn’t stop our
daughters from swimming and sunbathing.
Our apartment in Funchal was exactly as
advertised on www.booking.com with amazing
views of the hills and the ocean from
every room and an incredible rooftop terrace
where we ate many of our meals. It was in a
great location within easy walking distance
of the old town, so we had no need for the
car. We thoroughly enjoyed wandering >> 44
OCTOBER 2018 43
Adventures in Madeira (cont.)
Continued from page 43
the small streets and alleyways of what we
affectionately nicknamed Funky Town. The
Painted Doors Project in the old town has
transformed that neighborhood into an openair
art gallery.
We had planned to go up the mountain
via cable car to the village of Monte to take
the carrinhos (wacky wood and wicker sleds)
pulled by two guides in traditional costumes
down the mountain, but we never managed
to get our timing right. James and Ashlynn
also hoped to go scuba diving, but had failed
to book in advance and were turned away
when they arrived at the dive center. Luckily,
we did manage to fulfill one of our biggest
desires: whale and dolphin watching. Our
two-hour sea safari on a semi-rigid boat was
incredible! While there were no whales to
be seen, we saw dolphins in three locations.
At the last, James and the girls got in the
water, held onto a rope and were dragged
along so that they could “swim” with the
Atlantic Spotted Dolphins. When three dolphins
swam right along beside her, Ashlynn
forgot that she was human and nearly forgot
to lift her head to breathe.
Often island prices seem very inflated, so
we were surprised that the grocery store at the
modern shopping center within a short walk
of our flat was cheaper than Dutch stores. We
became quickly addicted to the local bread:
bolo do caco, which is made with sweet potatoes
and is cooked over a stove or stone rather
than in an oven because of a medieval ban
on using ovens without paying an extra tax.
Restaurant prices were also very reasonable,
which was another pleasant surprise.
Driving in Madeira is not for the faint of
heart. While I am not afraid of speed, I am a
wimp when it comes to mountain roads, so I
opted to sit in the backseat and let Ashlynn
play navigator. The drive to Funchal wasn’t
too scary, but the drive to our villa was rather
hair-raising. Much of the journey was on
the main road around the island which went
through a series of tunnels built to keep the
road relatively flat. However, once off that
road we encountered a series of incredibly
steep switchbacks. Although there was always
a guardrail, I still found the roads terrifying.
Luckily James doesn’t share my fears
and drove with confidence. Once he perhaps
had too much confidence as he attempted to
drive up a road with a warning sign about a
32% grade. As he neared the crest, he realized
that he wasn’t going to make it. Luckily
there was no one behind us and he was able
to back into a driveway to turn around.
For our anniversary, we piled into the
car and drove further up into the hills so
we could hike to an incredible lagoon and
an impressive waterfall. Most of Madeira’s
hiking trails are narrow paths built alongside
levadas, stone irrigation canals dating back to
the 16th century used to carry surplus water
from the wet northwest of the island to the
more arid parts. The path to the levada itself
was quite steep, but most of the route was
quite flat and easy going.
After our hike, we continued to drive
up and over the island to make our way to
the northwest town of Porto Moniz. I kept
my eyes closed for much of the journey, but
the views coming down into the town were
breathtaking. Our destination was the natural
swimming pools formed by the volcanic
rock along the rugged coastline. There was
a nominal entry fee for what proved to be an
excellent way to spend a few hours. Once
back at the villa, the girls made us a lovely
three-course anniversary dinner. >> 46
44 GOING DUTCH
OCTOBER 2018 45
Adventures in Madeira (cont.)
Continued from page 45
Lunch With Girlfriends
by Kathy O’Malley (submitted by Rebecca Failor)
For one last adventure, James and the
girls went diving. I also know how to scuba
dive, but prefer diving in warmer water. I
entertained myself by walking up the steep
roads to the modern art museum, followed
by reading in a café until their return. Our
final day was spent just hanging out at the
villa, which was relaxing and a wonderful
end to our week. As Jan had said, Madeira
was perfect for our family. Perhaps it is for
yours as well?
Elaine’s vertigo has never been worse
Kay can’t recall where she left her purse
Rhonda’s about to replace her knees
Linda’s breathing is tinged with a wheeze
Donna’s left boob has a troublesome lump
Diane’s on her third trip to take a dump
Lorraine’s husband can’t remember a thing
Nine years a widow, Marge still wears her ring
Marlene is dealing with another UTI
Sally’s giving a hearing aid another try
Marie has decided she can’t drive at night
Sharon still wears clothes two sizes too tight
They’ve been through divorces and babies and wakes
They do for each other whatever it takes
They’ve already buried Marcia and Kate
And truthfully, Lizzie’s not looking so great
SAVE THE DATE!
Thanksgiving Ceremony at the Pieterskerk
Thursday, November 22
Meet at Starbucks in Den Haag Centraal at 9:45 a.m.
The Thanksgiving Ceremony will take place at the Pieterskerk in Leiden, at 11:00 a.m.
After the ceremony, lunch will be at Restaurant Koetshuis de Burcht, Burgsteeg 13,
Leiden
The ceremony is Free / Lunch and transportation is at your own expense
Registration deadline: November 20
Sign up on GroupSpaces
Contact Greetje Engelsman with questions (awcthehague.newcomers@gmail.com)
So whenever they can, they get out to eat
Open bottles of wine and forget their sore feet
There’s laughing and crying and letting down guards
And when the bill comes, there’s ten credit cards
So here’s to the waiters who keep orders straight
And to the places that let lunches run three hours late
And here’s to the girlfriends, those near and those far
Here’s to the girlfriends, you know who you are!!!
46 GOING DUTCH
OCTOBER 2018 47
Announcements
Leiden Liberation Celebration
This annual Leiden event commemorates
the Spanish siege and subsequent relief
of the city in 1574. The party starts on
Monday, October 2 at 1 p.m. with a huge
fun fair and market that covers a large part
of the city center. On Tuesday, October 3,
the official day of liberation, Breestraat is
turned into a lively street theater boulevard
with a giant parade featuring floats,
bands, and dancers starting at 1 p.m. This
year is the 131st anniversary of the parade
with a theme of: Parade Royale. The day
concludes with fireworks at 11:30 p.m.
www.3october.nl
Saturday, October 6 and Sunday, October
7 from noon to 6 p.m. Within the informal
atmosphere of these studios, visitors can
view and buy artwork as well as see artists
working in different disciplines. www.
openateliersdenhaag.nl
Community Fair for
Internationals
Experience the 16th annual “I am Not a
Tourist” Fair, a community fair for internationals
and expatriates living in
the Netherlands, hosted by Expatica in
Amsterdam. Whether you’ve lived in the
Netherlands for five months or five years,
you will no doubt find a workshop or entertainment
session of interest to you. One
hundred and twenty-five exhibitors will be
available to offer advice on topics as diverse
as employment, housing, relocation,
taxes and banking. Free tickets are offered
online: www.expatfairamsterdam.nl
Sunday, October 7
10 a.m. − 5 p.m
Beurs van Berlage
Damrak 243, Amsterdam
Japanese Garden Open
The Japanese Garden in Clingendael Park,
home to rare trees and plants, is so fragile
that it is only open six weeks per year, four
in the spring and two in the fall. Don’t miss
the chance to see this special garden in magnificent
fall colors. Free entrance.
Saturday, October 13 –
Sunday, October 28
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Clingendael Park, Den Haag
Canal Race in Amsterdam
On Saturday, October 13, the canals of
Amsterdam will come alive with 140
rowing teams participating in the 32nd
edition of the Grachtenrace Amsterdam,
a 15-mile (24-kilometer) race in the city
center. In addition to staying out of each
other’s way, the boats must contend with
many narrow bridges and tourist boats.
www.grachtenrace.com
>> 50
Open Ateliers The Hague
Sixty-five artists in the center of The
Hague will open their studios to visitors on
The Arts Society Lecture
The Changing Face of London
The Romans arrived 2,000 years ago on
the banks of the River Thames. Then
came the Norman Invasion, Elizabeth l,
the Great Fire of 1666, Samuel Pepys,
Christopher Wren, John Betjeman, the railways
and Docklands. The street names remain
while the buildings change constantly.
Lecturer Andrew Davies is the author of
nine books and is a frequent contributor to
radio and television. Previously known as
DFAS, The Arts Society The Hague aims
to bring people together through a shared
curiosity for all types of art. Nonmember
fee is € 13. www.theartssocietythehague.
org
Tuesday, October 9
Doors open at 7:15 p.m.
Lecture begins at 8:00 p.m.
Cultural Centrum Warenar
Kerkstraat 75, Wassenaar
48 GOING DUTCH
OCTOBER 2018 49
Announcements (cont.)
Continued from page 49
International Children’s Art
Festival
From October 19 to 27, children between
the ages of 2 and 12 years old will be
treated to 550 enchanting performances
of both Dutch and international origin and
workshops at 50 different locations around
The Hague as part of De Betovering (The
Enchantment). Performances, a number of
which are suitable for a non-Dutch speaking
audience (highlighted in the program
as NDR), include puppet shows as well as
dance, music and film. To see the program,
go to: www.debetovering.nl
LEGO World
LEGO World is the largest LEGO event in
the Netherlands for kids of all ages. Your
kids can play and build with millions of
LEGO bricks, giving them the possibility
to build anything they can imagine.
Your little ones can play with DUPLO
50 GOING DUTCH
in a separate area. Discounted tickets are
available online: www.legoworld.nl
Thursday, October 18 to
Wednesday, October 24
10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Jaarbeurs Utrecht
Jaarbeursplein, Utrecht
Sea Sights Festival
This festival at Scheveningen Beach from
Friday, October 19 – Sunday, October 21,
offers a unique insight into the future of cities
by the sea. In ten sea containers placed
on the boulevard, you will find a variety of
forward-thinking start-ups, students, artists
and architects presenting their vision on the
development of our coast. www.seasights.nl
Dutch Design Week
During Dutch Design Week (DDW) in
Eindhoven from Saturday, October 20 –
Sunday, October 28, you can see with your
own eyes how tomorrow’s world is taking
shape with smart solutions and inventive
designs by 2,500 national and international
designers offering new perspectives. This
year’s theme is If Not Us, Then Who? meaning
it is up to all of us to embrace and stimulate
creative solutions because together we
will decide how the world will look in the
future. DDW offers 400 events at 100 venues
throughout Eindhoven, including exhibitions,
experiments, lectures and workshops.
www.ddw.nl
Wildlife Film Festival
This multi-day film festival, organized
by a non-profit foundation, focuses on the
screening of 40 wildlife films and documentaries.
The main program consists of a juried
competition that is open to professional and
non-professional nature filmmakers from
the Netherlands and abroad.
Wednesday, October 24 –
Sunday, October 28
Cinerama Filmtheater
Westblaak 18, Rotterdam
www.wffr.nl
Crossing Border Festival
Ever since the first edition in 1993,
Crossing Border has examined the frontiers
of music and language in the city center of
The Hague. It has expanded to become one
of the most progressive international music
and literature festivals in Europe featuring
more than 100 artists ranging from
renowned names to promising upcoming
talent.
Monday, October 29 –
Sunday, November 4
Various venues in Den Haag Centrum
www.crossingborder.nl
Affordable Art Fair
Amsterdam is also hosting an art fair early
next month. This four-day event presents a
wide array of contemporary art from a variety
of galleries. You can find thousands
of original paintings, prints, sculptures and
photography all under one roof, and all under
€ 6,000. The work of young, emerging
artists hangs alongside some of the biggest
household names.
Thursday, November 1 to
Sunday, November 4
De Kromhouthal
Gedempt Hamerkanaal 231, Amsterdam
www.affordableartfair.com
Annual Church Bazaar
The American Protestant Church of The
Hague will host its 61st Annual Bazaar.
You can savor appetizing dishes and delicacies
from the international kitchen, as
well as shop for books, clothing, accessories,
arts and crafts, and more. Free entrance
with proceeds from sales to support
charities worldwide. www.apch.nl
Saturday, November 3
10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Esther de Boer-van Rijklaan 20,
Den Haag
Frans Hals and the Moderns
This year marks the 150th anniversary of
the rediscovery of Frans Hals (Antwerp c.
1582 – Haarlem 1666) and his transformation
from a drunkard into a modern idol.
He was admired and venerated by late 19th
century artists like Manet, Singer Sargent,
Liebermann and Van Gogh. From October
13 through February 24, this exhibition
shows the immense impact Hals had on
these modern painters as works by the famous
17th century portrait painter are being
shown alongside responses to his work
from other major eras of painting. www.
franshalsmuseum.nl
Postman Joseph Roulin by Vincent
van Gogh, 1888, Museum of Fine Arts,
Boston
OCTOBER 2018 51
Classifieds
Bijoux-dor Gold &
Silversmith
Professionally trained gold
and silversmith specializing
in handmade and custom
jewelry, and repairs. AWC
members are eligible for a
10% discount on custom work.
Visit my atelier at Noordeinde
47, 1st floor, The Hague
or call 0687598566 for an
appointment or send an email
to meriemoukil@hotmail.com.
www.meriem-dor.com
Blossoming Health and
Beauty
Looking for a professional,
licensed acupuncturist?
Contact Linda Chen
at 06-37315840. With a
background in leadership
development by Shell, Linda
graduated with Cum Laude
in TCM Acupuncture. She
is a registered member of
the professional association
ZHONG.
Insurance
reimbursement of the fee is
possible.
www.blossoming-healthbeauty.
com
Member Privacy
Counselling International
For professional, confidential
individual counselling or
coaching, relationship/couple
therapy or conflict mediation.
Experienced, multilingual
professional Els Barkema-Sala,
MPhil, MBACP.
Contact 071 528 2661 for FREE
initial telephone consultation
or for an appointment.
www.counsellinginternational.
com
Expat Families in Transit &
Work Life Balance
Ingrid offers Child & Teens
Counseling, Life Work
Coaching, Accountability
Coaching and Workshops
& Training. Experienced
Bilingual Psychosocial
Therapist/Counselor & Coach.
Certified NFG member.
Check for Coverage Health
Care Insurance. Contact
0640216544. FREE 30 MIN
CONSULTATION. www.
ingridmasselinkandreas@
gmail.com
Job Search and Career
Counseling
HR professional with 20+
years U.S. experience is providing
coaching for resume
writing, job search tactics
and strategy, and career
planning. Specializing in expats
returning to the U.S. job
market. Certified in Myers
Briggs and other assessments.
Mebrennan625@gmail.com or
www.Mebrennan.com.
Pippa’s Friendly Pilates
I am a certified Stott Pilates
Instructor offering private
matwork and reformer lessons
in a comfortable setting at
my home studio in central
Den Haag. Please contact
me at pippahillstrathy@gmail.
com or 06 82529931 for more
information.
Event information, suggestions or comments for eNews?
***New email account***
Please send all eNews information to awcthehague.enews@gmail.com no later than end of day
each Friday for the following week’s eNews.
Please be reminded that the AWC Membership List is for AWC Member reference only and use of this
information in any communication other than AWC official business is strictly prohibited. Members may
not share the list with anyone other than another AWC Member in good standing and never to any
third party.
The AWC takes care to protect Member information and adherence to this policy is critical to maintain
Member privacy. Members are asked to report suspected misuse of the list to any AWC Board Member.
52 GOING DUTCH
Index of Advertisers
ACCESS
page 30
American Travel
Center
page 45
Aveda Lifestyle
Salon
Inside Cover
Beacon Financial
Education
Back Cover
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Deadline: In general, the 1st of the month prior to the
month in which your ad will appear, although subject to
change due to holiday schedule.
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Frans Burgers
Tapijt
page 19
FRITSTAXI
Airport Service
Inside Back Cover
Happy Critters
page 15
Marcel
Vermeulen
Jewelry
page 11
Petros Eyewear
Sligro
page 11
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we are able to match up your payment with your ad.
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How to Submit Your Ad:
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page 30
Your Cleaning
Service
page 30
The AWC is not responsible for accidents or injuries occurring at
Club activities or on Club property. Sports and exercise instructors
must carry their own liability insurance.
Support Fellow AWC Members
Find links to a large variety of businesses owned by AWC Members at www.awcthehague.
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org/site/newcomers/business-links
page 13
VERHEY VAN
WIJK brilmode
page 17
Display Ads:
For full, half, third or quarter page commercial display ads,
email our magazine staff at goingdutchads@gmail.com
OCTOBER 2018 53
Proost! Questionnaire
Answers by Deana Kreitler
What do you love best about living here?
Everything, truly everything. The pace is
slower, everyone speaks English, it’s a better
environment. There’s time to just live, and
people take time to stop and smell the roses.
Give us a quick wrap-up of your family.
I have three children: two boys and one girl.
Darren, my husband, has one of each. We
met, and our families came together about 12
years ago. We have two grandchildren. Aidan
just started kindergarten and Lily is 10.
What do you consider the most overrated
virtue of being an expat?
I don’t think any of it is overrated. I get to
travel and meet new people. None of that is
overrated.
Which Dutch words or phrases do you most
overuse?
“Tot ziens!” I’ve been trying to incorporate
more Dutch, but it’s really all just
conversational.
What is your greatest travel extravagance?
Excursions. We try to splurge on the
experience.
What was your best travel experience?
Our trip to Yellowstone and Grand Tetons
National Parks. We did a road trip through
South Dakota and Wyoming for about
three weeks. It was the most beautiful and
interesting trip. We got to see so many things,
and it was relaxing.
Which locations haven’t been ticked off
your bucket list?
I don’t have a bucket list, but we still want
to go to Australia, Japan, and so many other
places.
Which talent would you most like to have?
There are two: I wish I could sing really well,
and be a good photographer without even
trying.
Tells us about your pets.
We have Maggie, who is a one-and-a-halfyear-old
corgi. Then there are the cats: Oreo,
Tigger, Snuggles, and Molly. We started our
pet collection almost 11 years ago.
What is your motto?
Oh, I have so many! But I always tell the
children, “Make good decisions.”
What is your most treasured possession?
Some of my mom’s possessions… A quilt
she made for me, some of her jewelry, and a
Christmas runner for my table.
What is your favorite drink?
That’s evolving. My new favorite is gin and
tonic. But I also really love a good margarita
or chocolate martini.
Where is your favorite place in the
Netherlands?
Maastricht. It was one of the first places we
spent a weekend, so it still had newness. We
were still in awe of the country. We had the
most delicious dinner at Courage, from the
Chef’s menu. And we brought Maggie for
that trip!
54 GOING DUTCH
OCTOBER 2018 55
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