AWC Going Dutch January_February 2019

one stop shop 

for all your beauty desires 

Going Dutch 

January/February 2019 

The Magazine of the 

American Women’s Club 

of The Hague 

Denneweg 56 

2514CH The Hague 

Tel. 0703458442 

www.lifestylesalonthehague.nl 

Holiday Bazaar 

Thanksgiving in Leiden 

Winter Blues 

22 

44 

48 

5 Officers and Chairwomen 

6 Message from the President 

7 Winter Welcome Back 

Coffee and Borrel 

7 February General Meeting 

8 Letter from the Editor 

10 Membership 

12 Ongoing Activities 

19 One-of-a-Kind Activities 

22 AWC Holiday Bazaar 

28 January Calendar 

30 February Calendar 

33 Holocaust Memorial Day 

33 Private Art Tour 

34 FAWCO Corner 

35 FAWCO Handbag and Art 

Auction 

36 Handbag Auction 

37 Restaurant 

Recommendations 

38 C, C & C Open House Recap 

40 MLK, Jr. Tribute and Dinner 

42 The Dutch Daily 

44 Thanksgiving in Leiden 

46 AWC Benefit Event 

47 Women in Need: TLC Dinner 

48 8 Ways to Beat the Winter 

Blues 

50 Clues in the Calico 

52 Announcements 

56 Classifieds 

57 Index of Advertisers 

and Ad Rates 

58 Proost! Interview 

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 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 

Snow in Voorschoten, December 2017 by 

Melissa White 

Back Cover ad by Marcel Vermeulen: 

Vintage brooch transformed into a necklace 

Photography 

Mary Adams, Susan Cave, Susanne Dundas, 

Greetje Engelsman, Amber Gatewood, 

Rebecca Hines, Jaimie Keppel, Suzanne 

MacNeil, Teresa Mahoney, Julie Mowat, 

Melissa Rider, Liliana Todorovic, Michelle 

Voorn, Melissa White 

Proofreaders 

Celeste Brown, Jane Gulde, Diane Schaap, 

Debbie van Hees 

Advertising Manager & Invoicing 

Open 

Contributors 

Susan Cave, Jane Choy, Susanne Dundas, 

Greetje Engelsman, Roberta Enschede, Dena 

Haggerty, Marsha Hagney, Eileen Harloff, 

Suzanne MacNeil, Julie Mowat, Naya 

Pessoa, Melissa Rider, Holly Savoie, Liliana 

Todorovic, Michelle Voorn, 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 

awcthehague.secretary@gmail.com 

Club and Community Development 

Naya Pessoa 

awcthehague.community@gmail.com 

Clubhouse Administrator 

Jan Essad 

awcthehague.clubhousemgr@gmail.com 

Communications Audrey Goodman 

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 

Benefit Event: Michelle Voorn & Deana 

Kreitler 

Board Advisor: Jessie Rodell 

Caring Committee: Naomi Keip 

Chat, Craft & Cake: Suzanne Dundas 

eNews Amber Gatewood 

Evening Events: Elizabeth Zeller 

Events & Tours: Liduine Bekman 

FAWCO: Julie Mowat and Teresa 

Mahoney 

Front Office Coordinator: Open 

General Meeting Programs: Dena 

Haggerty 

Heart Pillow: Jan de Vries 

Historian/Archivist: Open 

Holiday Bazaar: Jaimie Keppel-Molenaar 

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: Open 

Deadlines: Submissions are due no later than the last Monday of the month preceding the publication month. 

For example, for the March issue, submissions are due before Monday, January 28 

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. 


Message from the President 

by Suzanne MacNeil 

Welcome to 2019! I hope your holiday 

celebrations were filled with 

family and lots of love. I started 

the holidays in early December with those 

eight crazy nights of Hanukkah. Then, it was 

off to the U.S. where I spent time with my 

mom, brother and his family in Jacksonville. 

After Florida, we hit the cold climate of Lake 

Tahoe where we rented a house for a week, 

with plenty of space for family. It was the 

perfect way to end the year…with my boys 

plus one girlfriend and my sister. 

The New Year marks the start of the second 

half of this Club year and I’m looking 

forward to the next few months of events 

and activities, including the annual benefit 

on April 13. Plans are still under way, but 

our beneficiary organization has been chosen 

(see page 46), and I know you’ll want 

to attend to support it by buying a ticket 

and bidding on fab items in our auctions. It 

promises to be a fun and exciting evening. 

Stay tuned for more information in the next 

few weeks. Please mark your calendars for 

Saturday, April 13! 

The first half of the Club year has been 

a whirlwind for your Board Members and 

Committee Chairs as we started implementing 

our three-to-five-year plan. Here’s 

a recap of the work that has already been 

accomplished, with so much more to come. 

6 GOING DUTCH 

As of the first of this new year we bid 

adieu to GroupSpaces (good riddance) and 

have migrated to our 

new website platform 

thanks to 

Julie Otten, our 

IT Chair and 

Webmaster. 

She worked 

tirelessly, 

and though 

there are minor 

tweaks under 

way, the most challenging 

aspects 

of the project are 

complete. 

Marsha 

Hagney, our 

Vice President, 

worked side by 

side with Julie in 

November and 

December learning 

how to populate the new calendar on the 

website and helping Members sign up for 

events and activities during our transition. 

She told me she’s enjoyed learning new technology 

skills and working with Members. 

The newly refurbished Clubhouse 

looks amazing and inviting, thanks to the 

intrepid team of Jan Essad, our Clubhouse 

Administrator, and Sunita Menon, our 

Member-at-Large. Many of their wishes 

came true as our landlord agreed to cover 

the cost of some of the requests from Jan 

and Sunita. The redo isn’t over yet! 

Our Communications Team is led by 

Audrey Goodman, who is also the Going 

Dutch Editor. She is working to expand our 

marketing materials and increase activity 

on the Club’s public Facebook page over 

the next year. 

As I mentioned earlier, there is a benefit 

event planned for Saturday, April 13. 

The Benefit Committee includes our Club 

& Community Chair, Naya Pessoa. Naya is 

also working with Philanthropy Chair Holly 

Savoie to prepare for our annual TLC Dinner 

(see page 47) and the Easter basket project 

for children and families who may need a 

helping hand. Volunteers will be needed! 

The GDPR has tested our Club in various 

ways, not the least of which is ensuring 

we maintain our Members’ privacy. 

Melissa Rider, who chairs the Membership 

Committee, is collecting forms signed >>11 

Winter Welcome Back Coffee 

and Borrel 

Ring in the New Year by connecting and 

reconnecting after the busy holidays! 

Daytime best for you? Join us for our 

morning coffee… 

Evenings better? Stop by for an evening borrel… 

The Winter Welcome Back Coffee and Borrel 

are just what we need to settle back into our 

routines after the holidays. Reconnect with 

friends, meet new Members, or introduce potential 

Members and share all that our AWC 

has to offer. Learn about upcoming activities, 

programs, philanthropic efforts, and volunteer 

opportunities from our Board Members 

and the chairs of our many programs and 

activities. Come and go as your schedule allows! 

What better way to start 2019 than in the company 

of your AWC friends? Come join us! 

We are still working on the details 

for our February meeting as we 

go to print, so please look to our 

Facebook page and eNews for further information. 

Thursday, February 14 

10 a.m. - 12 p.m. 


Thursday, January 17 

Morning Coffee: 10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. 

Evening Borrel: 6 – 8 p.m. 


FREE 

February General Meeting 

Did you know that any Englishspeaking 

woman may join the AWC? 

Invite your English-speaking friends 

from other countries who have an 

affinity for Americans to join us today! 


Letter from the Editor 

by Audrey Goodman 

Wow, 2018 was a whirlwind! My 

husband, Dan, and I arrived in 

The Hague just days after the New 

Year, jet lagged and still in shock that we had 

moved to the Netherlands. For the first couple 

of months, we kept saying, “I can’t believe we 

actually live here.” That feels like an eternity 

ago. And yet, this past year has also gone by 

in the blink of an eye. 

Well-behaved women seldom 

make history. 

~Laurel Thatcher Ulrich 

We had agreed to move to The Hague 

before we ever set foot here, and I had this 

preconceived idea of how our lives would be 

in the Netherlands: My husband and I would 

ride our bikes all over the country, past endless 

fields of blooming tulips and countless 

windmills. We would speak Dutch fluently 

within the first six months, and I would effortlessly 

cook Dutch food. Ha! We don’t 

own bikes. Tulips don’t bloom year-round. 

My Dutch vocabulary is limited. And I can’t 

make decent stamppot or erwtensoep. 

8 GOING DUTCH 

Our lives may be nothing like I imagined, 

but this experience has been better than I 

could have hoped. I truly think my easy adjustment 

is attributable to my amazing husband 

and the wonderful women of the AWC. 

Dan handles change much better than I do; 

I like routines and prefer familiarity. On the 

days when I’m frustrated or homesick, he 

has been patient and understanding. Having 

a supportive partner makes all the difference. 

Not only is the AWC full of interesting 

and generous women, there are countless 

activities and events to keep me busy. From 

our recurring activities to our unique events, 

I’m never bored. Recently I’ve attended a 

Thanksgiving service in Leiden, made a pearl 

bracelet in a lovely jewelry shop, attended 

a sculpture tour with a local artist, joined a 

book club, and had a glass of wine (or two) 

with other Members at a newly-discovered 

restaurant. Our events range from day to night 

and weekdays to weekends, providing options 

for everyone. Thirsty Thursday (one 

of my favorite events) is a great opportunity 

for prospective Members to come meet 

other women and find out what our Club is 

all about. I’ve discovered places and activities 

I would have otherwise missed and met 

women whose paths I would likely not have 

crossed. I’m beyond grateful for the friends 

I’ve made through the AWC, and I can’t wait 

to see what 2019 has in store for us. 

Audrey 


Membership 

by Melissa Rider 

Message from the President (cont.) 

Continued from page 8 

January marks the one-year anniversary 

of me taking over the role of Membership 

Coordinator. I have found this volunteer 

job of welcoming new Members and keeping 

the membership records very rewarding. 

Our Club has grown by more than 20 

new Members since our Fall Kick-Off, and 

I know we will be seeing more new faces 

after the January Kick-Off. 

You can help recruit new Members by inviting 

friends or acquaintances to our activities 

and events throughout the year. Your best 

recruitment tool is our website, where prospective 

Members can read Going Dutch 

online to learn in-depth about all that the 

Club has to offer, from philanthropic events 

to social activities. New Member registration 

and dues payment are all done on our 

website too, so it is one-stop-shopping. If 

you meet someone whom you think would 

be a good fit, suggest they visit our website: 

www.awcthehague.org. 

Welcome New Member 

Maria Linkogle 

by Members giving them allowing them 

to opt in or out of allowing their likeness 

to be used in the Club’s social media and 

collateral material outreach per the GDPR. 

Membership falls under the Secretary, 

Heather DeWitt, who is responsible for 

taking minutes at Board meetings and annual 

general meetings. 

Club finances are always at the top of 

mind for your Board. Sheyla Karman, who 

is our Treasurer and an accountant by trade, 

keeps us on track and reminds us of the funds 

coming in and what’s needed to pay our bills 

and cover costs. We are in constant contact 

and I so appreciate her dedication and guidance 

these last six months. 

As for me, I still have much to learn 

about overseeing our AWC. I met the AWC 

Amsterdam (AWCA) President at our 

Prinsjesdag Luncheon and we’ve stayed in 

touch about various aspects of our Clubs. 

We’ve agreed to hold a Joint Board Meeting 

(with some of our Committee Chairs) on 

Tuesday, January 22 at our Clubhouse to 

share best practices. I’ll report the key 

takeaways from the session at our General 

Meeting on Thursday, February 14. 

As a TV news anchor I once worked with 

signed off each newscast, “That’s it for now 

from here.” 

Happy New Year and tot ziens! 

Suzanne 

Going Dutch is Available Online 

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! 

The AWC Clubhouse, which has been closed for the holidays, 

will re-open January 8 

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. 

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. 

Travel4U@americantravelcenter.net/www.americantravelcenter.nl/tel. +3261234901 

“Our next holiday is 

a safari. They do 

the whole world!” 

“They make booking a 

holiday so easy. I just 

leave it to them!” 

“Every trip is 

customized, just for 

me! That’s unique!” 

10 GOING DUTCH 


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 

January Selection: 

The Secret Scripture 

(McNulty Family) by 

Sebastian Barry 

In The Secret Scripture, 

Sebastian Barry revisits 

County Sligo, Ireland, the 

setting for his previous 

three books, to tell the 

unforgettable story of Roseanne McNulty. 

Once one of the most beguiling women in 

Sligo, she is now a resident of Roscommon 

Regional Mental Hospital and nearing her 

hundredth year. Set against an Ireland besieged 

by conflict, this is an engrossing tale 

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. 

Daytime Book Club Reading List: 

Thursday, March 28: 21 Lessons for the 21st 

Century by Yuval Noah Harari 

of one woman’s life, and a poignant story 

of the cruelties of civil war and corrupted 

power. This novel was made into a film starring 

Rooney Mara, Eric Bana, and Vanessa 

Redgrave. 


10 a.m. 


FREE 

February Selection: 

Milkman by Anna Burns 

In an unnamed city, middle 

sister stands out for the 

wrong reasons. She reads 

while walking, for one. And 

she has been taking French 

night classes downtown. So 

when a local paramilitary 

known as the milkman begins pursuing her, 

she suddenly becomes “interesting,” the last 

thing she ever wanted to be. Despite middle 

sister’s attempts to avoid him—and to keep 

her mother from finding out about her maybe-boyfriend—rumors 

spread and the threat 

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. 


of violence lingers. Milkman is a story of the 

way inaction can have enormous repercussions, 

in a time when the wrong flag, wrong 

religion, or even a sunset can be subversive. 

Told with ferocious energy and sly, wicked 

humor, this novel establishes Anna Burns as 

one of the most consequential voices of our 

day. 


10 a.m. 


FREE 

Daytime Book Club Recap – November: 

Tara Westover’s Educated: A Memoir 

brought up strong emotions from the readers 

about education, families, communities, 

religion and politics. The author’s path from 

a rural, Mormon community household to 

Cambridge University was considered by 

some as a hero’s journey and by others as 

a contrived memory map. The group discussed 

public school, home-schooling and 

“un-schooling”, and concluded that any type 

of schooling is a way to unlock intelligence. 

In the academic world, the author was able 

to write her dissertation on world religion 

comparisons without being hampered by her 

strict Mormon upbringing. But education 

in our personal worlds, the school of life, is 

more difficult to write about. Westover shares 

how family love evolved into societal isolation 

and abuse. She examines the challenges 

of separating herself from her family in her 

struggle to selfhood. Our families act as our 

frame of reference—our definition of normal. 

What happens when you discover your 

family isn’t normal? The group discussed our 

own familial bonds. Where do we draw the 

line (or even cut the line) to discover and empower 

ourselves? Westover gives us a hint, 

“Education means access to as many ideas 

and perspectives as you can to make up your 

own mind.” A memoir at such an early age 

isn’t a definitive work—but is a compelling 

depiction of a work in progress. 

Evening Book Club 

January Selection: The 

Only Story by Julian Barnes 

One summer in the ‘60s, 

in a staid suburb south of 

London, Paul comes home 

from university, aged 19, 

and is urged by his mother 

to join the tennis club. In 

the mixed-doubles tournament 

he’s partnered with Susan Macleod, a 

fine player who’s 48, confident, ironic, 

>> 14 




Ongoing Activities (cont.) 


and married, with 2 nearly adult daughters. 

She is also a warm companion, their bond 

immediate. And they soon, inevitably, are 

lovers. Clinging to each other as though 

their lives depend on it, they then set up 

house in London to escape his parents and 

the abusive Mr. Mcleod. Decades later, Paul 

looks back at how they fell in love, how he 

freed Susan from a sterile marriage, and 

how—gradually, relentlessly—everything 

fell apart, and he found himself struggling 

to understand the intricacy and depth of the 

human heart. It’s a piercing account of helpless 

devotion, and of how memory can confound 

us and fail us and surprise us (sometimes 

all at once), of how, as Paul puts it, 

“first love fixes a life forever.” 

The location changes every month, so please 

contact Dena Haggerty at awcthehague. 

bookclub@gmail.com if you are interested 

in attending. 

Evening Book Club Reading List: 

March: The Dinner by Herman Koch 

April: The Song of Achiles by Madeline Miller 

Wednesday, January 9 

7:30 p.m. 

Location TBA 

FREE 

February Selection: The Mars Room by 

Rachel Kushner 

It’s 2003 and Romy Hall is at 

the start of two consecutive 

life sentences at Stanville 

Women’s Correctional 

Facility, deep in California’s 

Central Valley. Outside is 

the world from which she 

has been severed: the San 


Francisco of her youth and her young son, 

Jackson. Inside is a new reality: thousands of 

women hustling for the bare-essentials needed 

to survive; the bluffing and pageantry and 

casual acts of violence by guards and prisoners 

alike; and the deadpan absurdities of institutional 

living, which Kushner evokes with 

great humor and precision. Stunning and unsentimental, 

The Mars Room demonstrates 

new levels of mastery and depth in Kushner’s 

work. It is audacious and tragic, propulsive 

and yet beautifully refined. As James Wood 

said in The New Yorker, her fiction “succeeds 

because it is so full of vibrantly different stories 

and histories, all of them particular, all of 

them brilliantly alive.” 

Wednesday, February 13 

7:30 p.m. 

Location TBA 

FREE 

Chat, Craft & Cake 

Chat, Craft & 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. CCandCers 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 


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. 

>> 16 





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 awctehhague.heartpillow@ 

gmail.com. 

Tuesday, January 8 & 

Tuesday, February 12 

Noon – 2 p.m. 


FREE 

Visitors Welcome 

Out to Lunch Bunch 

If you’re interested in making new friends 

and exploring new restaurants throughout 

The Hague, then this is the group for you! 

Rather than setting one specific day of the 

month, we change our days each month in 

order to accommodate a variety of schedules. 

If you have a favorite restaurant in your 

neighborhood you’d like to share with the 

group, please contact Greetje Engelsman 

at awcthehague.activities@gmail.com. 

Out to Lunch Bunch: January 

This restaurant is named after Jamey 

Bennett, a diplomate and spy who worked 

for the British Secret Service. He was sophisticated 

and naughty, an irresistible 

Upcoming Out to Lunch Bunch: 

Wednesday, March 20 

Monday, April 15 

combination. He knew the world and preferred 

luxury. He wanted to sit down on a 

Chesterfield with a good gin & tonic. Never 

a dull moment with Jamey. Those were the 

days… and still are! 

Tuesday, January 22 

Noon – 2:30 p.m. 

Jamey Bennett 

Plaats 11, Den Haag 

www.jameybennett.nl 

Sign up at www.awcthehague.org 

Out to Lunch Bunch: February 

Restaurant Van Kinsbergen in the 

Zeeheldenkwartier is named after the 

commander in Chief Van Kinsbergen of the 

Dutch Navy. The restaurant is a mix of a 

Dutch grand café and the popular gastropubs 

in London. Many choices in drinks, and 

surprisingly good and affordable food. 

Families, colleagues, couples and groups of 

friends eat here: from meat from a charcoal 

grill to vegetarian and fish dishes. The 

gigantic bar has 15 taps with many English, 

American, Dutch and Belgian specialty 

beers. Mmm… time to try this restaurant for 

lunch in February. 

Tuesday, February 19 

Noon – 2:30 p.m. 

Restaurant Van Kinsbergen 

Prins Hendrikplein 15, Den Haag 

www.gastropubvankinsbergen.nl 


Thirsty Thursday 

Join us again for our monthly gathering. 

Thirsty Thursday is a casual evening of 

companionship and good conversation – a 

favorite for AWC Members and prospective 

Members. Two soft drinks, wine or beer, 

plus snacks. 


6 – 9 p.m. 

Grand Central Food Market 

The Hague Central Station 

1st floor, Koningin Julianaplein 17 

€ 15 for two drinks and food 

No RSVP needed 

February’s monthly gathering will be a bit 

different—at an art gallery! We’ll have an 

interesting discussion about the retail side of 

the art world: What is takes to run a gallery, 

and to work as a go-between for the artists 

and customers. As usual, prospective 

>> 18 





One-of-a-Kind Activities 

by Marsha Hagney 

Members and guests are welcome! 


6 – 9 p.m. 

Project 2.0 Gallery, Noordeinde 57 

€ 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 the AWC website to receive 

email updates, or contact Emily van Eerten 

or Greetje Engelsman at awcthehague. 

walkietalkies@gmail.com. 

Mondays 

9:30 a.m. 


Free 


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. 


9:30 a.m. 

Location TBA 

FREE 

RSVP directly on www.awcthehague.org. 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, on the AWC website (www.awcthehague.org) or by 

bank transfer to the AWC account NL42ABNA0431421757. 

Women with Dutch Partners 

Holiday Party 

Celeste Brown will 

be hosting a WWDP 

Post-Holiday gathering 

at her home in 

Oegstgeest. Everyone 

is asked to bring: 

• a delicious item for 

the buffet table (we 

are using SignUp Genius to keep track of 

what everyone’s bringing), and 

• a wrapped gift for the gift exchange, €10 

maximum. Consider bringing a gift you 

received that you would rather “re-gift”. 

Remember, one person’s “trash” is another 

person’s “treasure”! 

Women with Dutch Partners is a loose collection 

of Club Members who have/had 

Dutch partners. If you identify with this 

group but have not yet received your invitation 

from SignUpGenius, please let us know 

and we’ll add you to the list. 


Begins at 6:30 p.m. 

Address will be provided upon registration 


>>20 

Unique products 

for entrepreneurs 

1061246 


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 


One-of-a-Kind Activities (cont.) 


Defend Yourself Class 

Have you ever felt you needed to be on guard 

or wary of your surroundings while out and 

about? Have you worried about what to do 

if someone tries to mug or attack you? Tim 

MacNeil, (Suzanne MacNeil’s husband) 

is a graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, 

a retired marine, and a blackbelt in Iaido, a 

Japanese martial art that honors the samurai 

traditions. Tim will teach participants basic 

self-defense moves and methods to prevent 

you from being hurt or violated. There 

won’t be any tossing or throwing of opponents, 

but the class will involve participants 

to work in pairs to help master effective defense 

methods. 


7 – 9:30 p.m. 


€ 10 Members / € 15 Non-Members 

Maximum 30 / No Minimum 

Please wear sneakers or other flat shoes, 

and comfortable pants 


Guided Tour of Femmes Fatales— 

Strong Women in Fashion 

Femmes Fatales will be the first exhibition 

in fashion history to focus exclusively on 

female designers. The exhibition includes 

work by Coco Chanel, Jeanne Lanvin, 

Mary Quant, Vivieene Westwood, Miuccia 

Prada, Maria Grazia Chiuri (Dior), as well 

as Dutch greats like Fong Leng, Sheila de 

Vries, and Iris van Herpen, among many 

other. For more information, contact Jane 

Choy at jechoy@me.com. 


11 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. 

Gemeente Museum, Den Haag 


Museum entrance fee of € 13.50 not 

included (Entrance is free with Museum 

Card) 

Maximum 20 / Minimum 12 

Registration/Cancellation Deadline: 

January 13 



Dutch Products Class 

AWC Member and long-term resident 

of the Netherlands, Carol Slootweg, 

will explain Dutch cooking and cleaning 

products. She teaches cooking classes, so 

she is an expert in using local products and 

converting American recipes. Carol and 

Greetje Engelsman have co-produced a 

book entitled Dutch Products, which will be 

available for € 10. Join this class and you 

Credit: Gemeente Museum 

will never be confused about cooking or 

cleaning products in the Netherlands again! 

If you have questions, contact Greetje at 

awcthehague.newcomers@gmail.com. 

Friday, January 25 

10 a.m. – Noon 


FREE 


Guided Tour Behind the Scenes 

of Panorama Mesdag 

Panorama Mesdag gives you a 360-degree 

vista of the sea, dunes and fishing village of 

Scheveningen as it was in 1881. Step back 

in time and experience a unique view of our 

cultural heritage—the oldest 19th century 

panorama in the world on its original site. 

This cylindrical painting, more than 14 meters 

high and 120 meters in circumference, 

was painted by one of the most important 

painters of the The Hague School, Hendrik 

Willem Mesdag, with help from his wife 

and friends. A very impressive piece of art! 

We will have a guided tour in the Panorama 

Mesdag, as well as a behind-the-scenes 

look. Join us and be amazed! 

Wednesday, February 13 

10:30 a.m. 

Museum Panorama Mesdag 

Zeestraat 65, Den Haag 

www.panorama-mesdag.nl 


Tour does not include € 8.50 admission 

fee for the museum (Free with Museum 

Card) 

20 Maximum / 15 Minimum 

Registration Deadline: February 7 


FAWCO Handbag & Art Auction 

We will have an afternoon of bubbly, bites 

and fun, bidding on donated items from our 

own Club Members to support the FAWCO 

charity, Hope Beyond Displacement. 

Donations of once-loved handbags or art, to 

be auctioned off, can be dropped off at the 

clubhouse during opening hours between 

January 8 and February 14. 


Begins at 1 p.m. 



Playball Netherlands is now 

taking bookings for 2019! 

Want to get your little one involved? 

www.playballkids.com to see the fun for ages 

2-7 years 

Email kidsplayball@hotmail.com to arrange a 

FREE trial class 

www.facebook.com/PlayballNetherlands 

Or call Maggie on: 0627214347 


2018 AWC 

Holiday 

Bazaar 

by Naya Pessoa 

Last month our AWC hosted the annual 

Holiday Bazaar and I’m happy to report 

that volunteers and attendees ended 

the two-day event with bellies full of baked 

sweets and warm memories. The vendor list 

was extensive with 40+ participants, with 

quite a few returning from last year combined 

with new vendors from The Hague area. It 

was a full showcase of talent including handmade 

arts and crafts products, accessories 

for adults and children, jewelry, chocolate 

sculptures, wine, and so much more variety. 

This year’s Holiday Bazaar was one of 

many firsts: trying out the new venue at the 

Hilton The Hague, new faces on the organizing 

committee, and a new sponsorship 

from PlayBall Netherlands. 

The Kids’ Corner activities were organized 

by Holly Savoie, and professionally 

supervised thanks to the staff of PlayBall 

Netherlands, which donated its staff and 

time for both days—which is an incredible 

gift to the AWC and to the parents 

who attended the Holiday Bazaar! Many 

thanks to Teresa Mahoney for bringing 

PlayBall Netherlands into the loop. To top 

off the festivities for the kids, thank you 

to Roberta Enschede for helping recruit 

our dear Santa “Peter” Claus who stopped 

by to say hello. Rest assured that Santa and 

everyone else made a pit-stop for cookies 

and other treats at the Bake Sale organized 

for the first time by Cathleen Owens. 

Thank you to everyone who contributed 

their culinary skills so we could start gaining 

that requisite holiday weight! 

The success of the event is fully attributable 

to the event’s committee members for their 

attention to detail (and deadlines!). A special 

thank you dedication to: 

Jaimie Keppel – Chair 

Teresa Insalaco – Finance 

Laurie Martecchini – Volunteer Coordinator 

Cathleen Owens – Bake Sale 

Amber Gatewood – Public Relations 

Emily van Eerten – Raffle 

Holly Savoie – Kids’ Corner 

We appreciate the valuable guidance from 

AWC President Suzanne MacNeil as she 

answered questions and offered advice 

while some of us navigated uncharted 

waters. This was the first year for Jaimie 

Keppel to serve as the Chair of the Holiday 

Bazaar, and she unquestionably rocked it! 

Jaimie’s role in the Holiday Bazaar was 

spotlighted in an article in the Dutch publication 

AD, thanks to the efforts of Amber 

Gatewood who spread the word in classic 

print and digital media. 

At the end of the day, our efforts would be 

nothing were it not for our fearless volunteers 

who offered to roll up their sleeves 

in preparation before, during, and after the 

event. Laurie Martecchini was tasked 

with the coordination of volunteers—both 

skills and scheduling—and it is fair to 

say she is a professional at it! Speaking 

of professional, did you see the raffle display? 

Another successful display from the 

experienced Raffle Organizer, Emily van 

Eerten, who coordinated raffle prizes and 

ticket sales. It really is such a gift to be 

able to work with committee members who 

are so incredibly committed to this annual 

event. Not everyone’s efforts are immediately 

visible during the two-day event, but 

trust that they were surely hard at work— 

shout out to the finance team of Teresa 

Insalaco and the Club’s Treasurer, Sheyla 

Karman. 

Personally, it was my first Holiday Bazaar 

and I can’t believe what an experience I’ve 

been missing. To top it off, it is incredible 

to see how such a beautiful event comes together 

through 100% volunteer effort. The 

gathering of the community—young and 

old, Dutch and international, entrepreneurs 

and customers—is unmatched, and thank 

you to everyone who shared with friends 

and family! 

>> 24 


Holiday 

Bazaar 

Volunteers 

LaTasha Baker 

Laurie Martecchini 

Liduine Bekman 

Loren Mealy 

Lori Schnebelie 

Lynne Roukema 

Marianne de Beer 

Marsha Hagney 

Mary Ellen Brennan 

Melissa Ride 

Michele Jacquemain 

Michelle Voorn 

Naomi Keip 

Anne van Oorschot 

Belgin Genc 

Cathleen Owens 

Celeste Brown 

Chelsea Wald 

Claire Talbot 

Deana Kreitler 

Dominique Duysens 

Dory Ritchie 

Elaine Pimm 

Emily van Eerten 

Emma Patterson 

Georgia Regnault 

Naya Pessoa 

Rachel Hines 

Sabine Crowley 

Shanon Gonzalez 

Sheyla Karman 

Silke van Eerten 

Sue Cramp 

Susan Cave 

Suzanne Dundas 

Suzanne MacNeil 

Teresa Insalaco 

Teresa Mahoney 

Una Mulvihill 

Ginnie Rempt 

Heather DeWitt 

Holly Savoie 

Jaimie Keppel-Molenaar 

Jan de Vries 

Jan Essad 

Jo van Kalveen 

Julie Bravo 

Julie Mowat 

Julie van der Wolf 

Kimberly Carlton 

Lana Heidar


January 2019 

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 

1 2 3 4 5 

Clubhouse Closed through January 7 

6 7 8 9 10 11 12 

Walkie Talkies 9:30 a.m 

Chat, Craft & Cake 10 a.m. 

Buddy Check 12 

AWC Board Meeting 

6:30 p.m. 

Clubhouse Closed through January 7 

Heart Pillow Workshop 

Noon 

AWC Tennis 1 p.m. 


7:30 p.m. 

WWDP Post Holiday Party 

6:30 p.m. 

13 14 15 16 17 18 19 




Winter Welcome Back 

Coffee 

10:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. 

Defend Yourself Class 

7 p.m. 

Winter Welcome Back 

Borrel 6 - 8 p.m. 

20 21 22 23 24 25 26 



Out to Lunch Bunch Noon 

Guided Tour of Femmes 

Fatales—Strong Women in 

Fashion 11 a.m. 

Daytime Book Club 10 a.m. 

Dutch Products Class 

10 a.m. 


Thirsty Thursday 6 p.m. 

27 28 29 30 31 



Martin Luther King Jr. 

Tribute and Dinner 

5:30 p.m. 




February 2019 

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 

1 2 

Save the Dates: 

March 20: Lunch Bunch with Art Tour 

April 13: Benefit Event 

April 25: Keukenhof Castle Tour 

3 4 

5 

6 7 

8 9 




Wassenaar Coffee and 

Conversation 9:30 a.m. 

AWC Board Meeting 

6:30 p.m. 

10 11 

12 

13 

14 

15 16 



Heart Pillow Workshop 

Noon 

Guided Tour Behingd 

the Scenes of Panorama 

Mesdag 10:30 a.m. 

Coffee 10 a.m. 

February General Meeting 

10:30 a.m. 


Buddy Check 12 


7:30 p.m. 

17 18 

19 

20 21 

22 23 



Out to Lunch Bunch Noon 


FAWCO Handbag & Art 

Auction 1 p.m. 

Women in Need TLC Dinner 

5 p.m. 

Thirsty Thursday 6 p.m. 

24 25 

26 

27 28 



Daytime Book Club 10 a.m. 




Holocaust Memorial Day 

The new AWC Website is now up and running! 

Please visit 

www.awcthehague.org 

for all of your Club-related needs: 

Payment of Membership dues, registration for activities and events, 

Membership directory, etc. 

If you have any questions about the website, please contact 

awcthehague.communications@gmail.com. 

On January 27, 2005, the U.N. General 

Assembly held a special session in 

remembrance of the liberation of 

Auschwitz on that same day in 1945. It declared 

the 27th of January the International 

Day in Memory of the Victims of the 

Holocaust. 

Since that time, there are ceremonies and 

projects worldwide. In the Netherlands, the 

Nooit Meer Auschwitz lecture (Never Again 

Auschwitz) is held each year in Amsterdam. 

Private Art Tour 

by Susanne MacNeil 

There are gems hidden among us. One of those gems, a private art collection, was opened 

to Members for a tour. The who and the where remain private, but the reactions from those 

who took part speak volumes. 

Credit: Roel Wimmenhove 

Emily van Eerten: “What an amazing private art tour we had today! I’m so thankful to 

our host, and to Suzanne MacNeil, Jane Choy and Marsha Hagney for arranging it. I’m 

feeling rather smug for signing up for it not having had any clue what it would be. Fortune 

favors the bold! Since I respect the host’s request for privacy, I’ll just leave it there.” 

Jo van Kalveen: “It was incredible. I felt so moved by all that we saw and heard about.” 

Heather DeWitt: “It truly was a very special event!” 

Marsha Hagney: “What a wonderful morning!” 

Michelle Voorn: “Thank you for putting this together. It was an amazing experience! And, 

as unique and particular as it was, it had passion, love, and most of all approachability. Plus, 

who can resist interesting and beautiful art!” 



FAWCO Corner 

by Julie Mowat, AWC The Hague FAWCO Representative 

Handbag and Art Auction 

by Teresa Mahoney 

Federation of American Women’s Clubs Overseas, a United Nations NGO with 

consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council 

www.fawco.org. 

On November 5, the inspiring Amanda Lane, 

Executive Director of Collateral Repair 

Project (CRP), joined us for coffee and gave 

a presentation about their program. Our Club 

will be raising money for their community 

center programs for refugees, which is the 

FAWCO Target Fundraiser: Hope Beyond 

Displacement. Please see the facing page 

about our Handbag and Art Auction to be 

held on February 21. 

Amanda shared stories about the refugees 

and how CRP makes a difference in their 

lives. She was able to tell us how the money 

we raise will be used for the SuperGirls program, 

gender-based violence program, salon 

and auto skills, women’s empowerment, 


school supplies and uniforms, etc. With the 

additional funds raised by FAWCO Clubs 

through the end of February, they hope to: 

• Fund participation for 30 more women 

in the Economic Empowerment 

Program for hair styling, beauty and 

self-employment skills, 

• Renovate a playground, 

• Launch the After School Club at a new 

community center in downtown Amman, 

reaching more refugee children, 

• Translate the SuperGirls’ curriculum 

into Arabic to ensure it can be used in 

the future by all staff, 

• And create a dedicated space for women 

to learn and train. 

It was a wonderful chance to ask questions 

and learn more about refugees in Jordan. 

You can learn more by visiting www. 

collateralrepairproject.org. 

One Billion Rising is the biggest massaction 

to end violence against women in 

human history. The theme of SOLIDARITY 

remained the focus of One Billion Rising 

2018, with the call to “Rise, Resist, 

Unite!”. FAWCO encourages its Clubs to 

participate, and last year we had so much 

fun in a flash mob dance in Leiden with 

Leiden University. Save the Date: February 

14. We hope to do something again this year! 

Visit www.onebillionrising.org for more 

information. 

FAWCO’s Biennial Conference is March 21 

to 24 in Edinburgh, and all AWC Members 

are invited to attend. It is a great way to 

learn about all the things FAWCO has to 

offer. There will be excellent speakers 

and workshops. Please ask me or Teresa 

Mahoney if you have any questions. Register 

at www.fawco.org. 

You might find this hard to believe, but 

despite all these years of being involved 

with Going Dutch, I have never written 

a single article! Well I am finally inspired to 

do so because I am thrilled to be in charge of 

the Handbag and Art Auction that will take 

place February 21, and am excited to get everyone 

involved. For you new Members, I will 

explain the details more in-depth in a minute. 

For us veterans, I just want to reminisce a 

little about some of the emotional moments 

we have experienced together at previous 

Handbag Auctions. 

Remember the 

time when Dru desperately 

wanted that 

beautiful pink Chanel 

bag but the bidding 

went beyond her budget 

and she very reluctantly 

had to stop? 

Then Nancy stepped 

in, bought the bag, and 

presented it to Dru as 

a present. Drew burst 

into tears—and, oh my 

gosh, I am tearing up thinking about it now. 

What 

about when 

Lara won 

the beautiful 

white-beaded 

bridal clutch 

donated by 

her own 

mother Georgia? There were very few dry 

eyes in the room after that touching motherdaughter 

moment. 

Did you hear about Melissa bidding on 

that gorgeous vintage Hermes scarf as a surprise 

for me? (Have I mentioned my scarf 

obsession?) Again, the bidding started going 

high, and suddenly Melissa thought “Crap 

(sorry for the swearing but you know how 

Melissa thinks!) what if Teresa had actually 

donated that scarf!?” So 

she stopped bidding only 

to have Susan swoop in, 

buy it, and present it to 

her as a gift. And I am 

the happy recipient of that auction highlight! 

New Members, you can tune back in 

now… So how does the auction work? 

First: Over the next few weeks, have a 

look to see if you have any well-loved handbags 

that need a new home. Accessories like 

scarves or gloves are appreciated, too. This 

year we are introducing a new category: art. 

If you have any nice pieces that need a new 

home, please donate those as well. 

Second: Bring those lovely auction items 

to the Clubhouse during office hours through 

February 14. 

Third: Relax while my team and I put 

together a catalog and get some bubbly and 

snacks ready. The lovely and talented Loren 

has volunteered to be auctioneer again this 

year, so thank goodness success is assured! 

Fourth: Come to the Auction February 

21! There will be bubbly, good cheer, lots of 

fun and, of course, snacks! All proceeds go to 

the very worthy and well researched FAWCO 

Charity: Hope Beyond Displacement. Have a 

look at the facing page for more info in case 

you missed Amanda Lane’s inspiring presentation. 

When she explains about all the good 

work they are doing, you just want to throw 

money at her! How much nicer to throw money 

to support the charity while also getting a few 

handbags in return. 

Ok, I feel I have gushed enough. Here’s the 

condensed message for those who have dozed 

off despite the plethora of exclamation points: 

Handbag and Art Auction 

Thursday February 21 

starting at 1 p.m. 

Please drop off auction items (wellloved 

handbags and art) at the 

Clubhouse starting now! 


Restaurant Recommendations 

by Audrey Goodman 

Thank you to AWC Member Michelle Voorn, for submitting the following restaurants 

to be featured this month. Please send your recommendations to goingdutchmag@ 

gmail.com. 

Cencalli 

Authentic Mexican restaurant. They even 

make their own tortillas! 

Korte Houtstraat 14C, 2511 CD, 

Den Haag 

070 215 7547 

cencalli.com 

Mexican, Latin, Spanish 

€€ - €€€ 

Tuesday, 5 – 10 p.m. 

Wednesday – Saturday, 

11:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. & 5 – 10 p.m. 

Closed Sunday & Monday 

KUA Mexican Kitchen 

They make their own mole and have a 

pozole to die for! 

Torenstraat 77, 2513 BP, Den Haag 

070 737 1335 

Kuarestaurant.nl 

Mexican, Latina, Vegetarian 

€€ - €€€ 

Tuesday – Sunday, 5:30 – 11 p.m. 

Closed Monday 

Madestein Restaurant & Events 

Relaxed but trendy restaurant, with a variety 

of dishes. And a very pretty location by a 

lake. 

Madepolderweg 100, 2553 EG, 

Den Haag 

017 424 4843 

madestein.nl 

French, Dutch, Seafood 

€€ - €€€ 

Monday – Saturday, 10 a.m. – 10 p.m. 

Sunday, 9 a.m. – 10 p.m. 



Chat, Craft & Cake Open House Recap 

by Susanne Dundas 

“You are all so talented.” 

“I must have the recipe for the Sarah Bernhardt cookies.” 

Yes, we enjoyed the accolades, but Chat, Craft & Cake was more pleased to welcome 

some new faces (and Rebecca Wood, a former AWC Member visiting from Texas) 

during our community-wide open house on November 27. It was also nice to display 

our projects and admire what other CCandCers have accomplished through 

the years. Chat, Craft & Cake meets every Tuesday at the Clubhouse from 10 a.m. 

until noon. 


“Your stitches are so precise.” 

“You designed that yourself?!” 

Sarah Bernhardt Bars 

Submitted by Hilde Hatlestad Volle 

Ingredients: 

Almond Base 

400 g almonds 

400 g sugar 

4 tsp baking powder 

6 egg whites 

Chocolate buttercream 

250 g butter 

200 g powdered sugar 

6 egg yolks 

4 tsp cocoa powder 

2 tsp vanilla sugar 

Chocolate glaze 

200 g chocolate (I used milk chocolate, but 

use the dark one if you prefer that) 

2 tbsp butter 

Directions: 

Grind the almonds and mix them with the 

baking powder. Whisk the egg whites until 

stiff. Add the sugar little by little and whisk 

until it is a thick merengue. Fold in the almonds. 

Put the mixture in a roasting pan (approx. 

30x40 cm) and bake it in the oven on 175°C 

for 20 minutes. Let it cool in the pan until 

completely cold. 

Whisk soft butter together with the powdered 

sugar. Whisk in the egg yolks until you get a 

fluffy buttercream. Then whisk in the cocoa 

powder and the vanilla sugar. Spread it all 

over the almond base and put it in the fridge 

for a couple of hours. If you can’t fit the pan 

in the fridge you can divide it in two and put 

in on serving plates. 

Melt the chocolate together with the butter. 

Spread it over the cold cake in a thin layer. 

Let it cool in the fridge again until the chocolate 

glaze is stiff. Slice the cake with a sharp 

knife – and enjoy! 

P.S. – This cake is excellent for the freezer. I 

slice it and put it in the freezer, then I take out 

as much as I need/want. Thaw it for 10 – 15 

minutes before serving. 


Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. 

Tribute and Dinner 

by Roberta Enschede 

On November 2, 1983, President Ronald Reagan signed a bill making the third Monday 

in January a federal holiday in honor of the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. At the 

time he noted that Dr. King’s 39 years changed America forever, “The conscience of 

America has been touched,” he said. 

Since 1986, we have commemorated Martin Luther King Day in this community. Then 

as now, there is much to reflect upon and much to do. The poet Nikki Giovanni wrote, “If 

we are wrong, then the Constitution of the United States is wrong. This is a sacred poem.” 

Dan Rather, former news anchor who covered Dr. King commented, “There are Lifters and 

Leaners. While thousands leaned on him, I never saw his shoulders give way or his back 

bent.” Former Secretary of State General Colin Powell warned, “We cannot forget where 

we came from.” 

In these times, General Powell’s statement is more urgent than ever. It is a call to action! 

In November 2018, the FBI released a report that documented a significant increase in hate 

crimes. The totals included a doubling of anti-Arab hate crimes and a 37 % increase in anti- 

Semitic incidents. African-Americans made up nearly half of all the victims of hate crimes. 

We will never forget what happened when people were praying in the Mother Emanuel 

Church in Charleston, South Carolina or in the synagogue in Pittsburgh or on the streets of 

Credit: TJ Brown 

Sunday, January 27 at 5:30 p.m. 

Hotel Den Haag-Wassenaar, Zijdeweg 54, Wassenaar 

(just off the A-44 at the bridge) 

€ 30 Adults / € 15 Children under 12 

Charlotteville, Virginia, when men 

carrying torches reminiscent of Nazi 

times and the KKK shouted “Jews 

will not replace us.” They even carried 

signs emblazoned with the words 

“Diversity is a code word for White 

Genocide.” They explained, “We’re 

just going up there to, like, stand up 

for the white race and defend our 

heritage, keep the Confederate monuments 

from coming down.” Rep. 

John Lewis, a hero of the Civil Rights 

Movement, said, “I cannot believe in 

my heart what I am witnessing today 

in America. Why do people put each other down because of their race or what part of the 

world they come from. We can and must do better.” 

Like Rep. Lewis, our speakers Lois Mothershed-Pot and Reverend Harcourt Klinefelter 

lived through the times and the struggles. Like his, theirs are the voices of history who see 

their personal experiences manifest not in the past, but in the world today and tomorrow. 

Lois was the first African-American student in her university and the first Black President 

of the National Christian Students Union. Her sister, Thelma Mothershed, was one of the 

Little Rock Nine, the young high school students who tried to integrate Central High School 

in Little Rock against the orders of Governor Orval Faubus. Ultimately President Eisenhower 

had to send in the National Guard. Her father was a U.S. Army officer in WWII, who fought 

in Europe and the Pacific in the segregated U.S. Army. He fought for freedom that was not 

his in the army or back home in Little Rock. 

Reverend Harcourt Kinefelter finished his studies in Theology at Yale University and 

went down South to find Dr. King. He worked for him for three years till his death. Since 

that time, he has devoted his life to non-violent conflict resolution. 

Agence France Presse – Getty Images 

We hope you will come and bring the children. TS Galloway from Chicago will be 

there with his trombone and other musician friends. TS used to play with Count Basie and 

before that with Ben Branch in Chicago for Dr. King’s rallies. We’ll have some wonderful 

singing too and U.S. Deputy Chief of Mission, Shawn Crowley, will speak as will some of 

our young people. 

Though so much of the news has been negative this past year, we know “deep in our 

hearts, we shall overcome someday.” Please join us for a simple dinner, the kind Dr. King 

would have liked. Join us to share the words and wisdom of the young and the people who 

were there and remember. 

Sponsored by OAR – Overseas Americans Remember 

Anneke Beeuwkes, Michelle Beier, Roberta Enschede, Tove McGrew, and Jessie Rodell 

For reservations or further information, please contact Roberta Enschede at 

oarinnl@yahoo.com. 



The Dutch Daily 

by Eileen Harloff 

A Tale of Two Dams 

Under this intriguing headline was a twopage 

story that opened up a whole new world 

for me—that of sophisticated food and cooking. 

It was reported that on an evening at 

the end of October 2018, for a ticket costing 

$180, some 80 people were served a modern 

Dutch menu at the James Beard House in 

New York City. This is the site of the James 

Beard Foundation, the most prestigious culinary 

institute of America, and to be invited to 

prepare a meal there is not only a great honor, 

but also an opportunity to receive international 

recognition. Five Dutch restaurants were 

involved—Choux, Vermeer and Kaagman, 

and Kortekaas from Amsterdam, and Aloha 

and Dertien from Rotterdam (hence the “two 

dams”). These restaurants were selected by 

010/020, an organization that was set up two 

years ago with the aim of highlighting the 

“diversity of the large city gastronomy within 

and outside the Netherlands.” This entails an 

exchange of chefs at local, national and international 

levels, and promoting the “activist 

chef,” who regards cooking as an art, not just 

a job, and chefs as agents of change, who operate 

with a social agenda. This means cooking 

with natural ingredients, using more vegetables 

and biological products, paying cooks 

and food personnel decent wages, avoiding 

unnecessary waste, and the like. 

As for the menu of the Dutch dinner last 

October, three creative examples include 

sunflower seed cream with apple espuma, 

calves brain with oysters, and pig cheeks 

with fermented pears. As for me, I’ll stick to 

my peanut butter cookies and tuna fish sandwiches—at 

least I’ll know how to pronounce 

them. 

From Restauranteur to 

Archaeologist 

Among the cultural treasures of the City of 

Delft for visitors to see in the coming year 

may well be artifacts that restauranteur Jon 

Cornelese found in his recently purchased 

building located next to the Grote Kerk. 

These were discovered when he was checking 

for a potential leak in the floor and came 

upon a cellar with two parts—one dating 

back to the 15th century and the other to the 

13th century. Archaeologists were called in to 

inventory the site, and their findings were impressive. 

There were blue tiles (one of which 

featured an elephant, long before elephants 

were widely known), clay pipes, a beer tankard 

dating back to 1280, and even a human 

leg bone. There were also several bricks that 

were identified as coming from the 13th and 

14th centuries and had probably been part of 

Credit: Fred Leeflang 

Credit: Museum Mondial 

Miniatures at Their Minimalist 

They were created in the Soviet era. They 

require a microscope to see and recognize 

them. They are few in number. They are 

unique and truly spectacular. They are 14 

of the many miniatures created by Mykola 

Syadristy, a well-known artist in his home 

country of the Ukraine. They are on display 

in Museum Mondial in Volendam, which 

was created especially for this purpose after 

a visit that Mural Bilan made to an exhibition 

of Syadristy’s work in Turkey. What 

he saw astonished and impressed him, and 

he enthusiastically told his neighbor in the 

Netherlands, Marc van Hartog, who was 

then Director of the Stedelijk Museum in 

Zwolle. He too was impressed, and an exhibition 

was arranged in his museum. In the 

meantime, Bilan and van Hartog envisioned 

a museum dedicated to just the works of 

Syadristy, who agreed to the plan if he himself 

could select its location. The three men 

visited many sites and finally, in the small 

town of Volendam, the artist chose a site on 

items on display are portraits of Rembrandt 

and Yuri Gagarin, the first person in space, 

a bug on a foot and a 1.8 millimeter beautifully 

detailed windmill. The materials used 

by the artist are pliable gold and fruit pits. 

The history of the artist is as fascinating as 

his works. Born in 1937 in Ukraine, then a 

part of Russia, he was an engineer by career 

and a diver for sport. As such, he learned to 

slow down his breathing, which stood him 

in good stead in his art, whereby a slight 

trilling of the hand could lead to the destroying 

of a work in progress. The KGB— 

the Russian Secret Service—wanted to 

recruit him to make miniature devices for 

listening in on people’s conversations, but 

he refused and as a result he was arrested 

and tortured. Fortunately, he survived and 

has become a well-known artist. Museum 

Mondial is open Tuesday to Sunday, from 

10 a.m. to 6 p.m. 

The Last Post Office 

In November the only remaining post office 

in The Hague was closed. The era of 

the local post office, with the head office 

next to the Grote Kerk in the center of town, 

is over. They have been replaced by neighborhood 

postal agencies in stores, tobacconists, 

and supermarkets. One of the most 

unusual of these locations is situated across 

the street from the former central office and 

is in the shop Papegaaien Paleis, or Parrot 

Palace. Here can be found some 300 parrots 

of various colors, attributes and countries 

of origin. As the owner of the Palace 

says, “nowhere else in the Netherlands can 

you buy stamps or send packages among 

parrots” and, incidentally, you may even be 

prompted to buy one. 

Credit: James Beard Foundation 

a nearby cloister of that time. These bricks 

have now been donated to the Grote Kerk, 

whose tower is currently under renovation. 

While the archaeological findings have delayed 

the opening of the new restaurant by 

half a year, they have earned their keep as 

a unique addition to the finished building. 

Cornelese plans to place a glass floor over 

the cellar, which will house the WCs, and 

thereby take the customers 800 years back in 

time with a simple “wash room visit.” 

the harbor, with a beautiful view. And so 

Museum Mondial was established. 

Syadristy loaned the 14 works to the museum. 

Among this collection is a gold replica, 

3.85 millimeters small and containing 

256 details, of the Santa Maria, the lead 

ship that Christopher Columbus sailed to 

America. Syadristy commanded that this 

work of art should be so placed in the museum 

that it looked out over the harbor. Other 

Credit: Parrot Palace 



Thanksgiving in 

Leiden

Women in Need TLC Dinner 

by Holly Savoie 

Continuing the tradition of community outreach, the AWC is hosting its annual TLC 

Dinner on Saturday, February 23. Our goal is to share a bit of TLC with some women 

outside or inside our Club, who are experiencing personal struggles and could use a 

building up. A personal struggle might be trying to pay bills without enough funds, watching 

a loved one suffer, grieving the loss of a spouse or child, dealing with the collapse of a 

marriage, battling cancer or other illness, or losing a job and struggling to find a new one. 

You can always tell who the strong women are. They are the 

ones you see building each other up. ~Anonymous 

We want to provide an opportunity for women to put their trouble behind them for a few 

hours and maybe make some new friends, to support one another and make connections. 

Our goal for this project is to have these women walk away after a relaxing evening and see 

that the AWC is an organization of strong women determined to make a difference in the 

lives of those around us. 

If you know of a woman who could benefit from this uplifting and fulfilling evening, please 

send her name and a bit of her “story” to me by January 19 at hpsavoie@comcast.net and 

the committee will send out an invitation. If you would like to be involved, there are several 

ways that you can help: 

• Donate or find sponsors for gifts for the guests. 

• On the night of the event itself, we need the help of six volunteers to decorate and serve 

the ladies. 

• We are also looking for musicians who are willing to donate their services. 

Saturday, February 23 

5 – 10 p.m. 


Guests by Invitation Only 

Volunteers Needed 



8 Ways to Beat the Winter Blues 

by Liliana Todorovic 

While many people rejoice at the arrival 

of Sinterklaas and oliebollen, 

changes in the weather can bring 

about changes in our emotional state. With 

the temperature dropping and days getting 

shorter, it’s easy to get caught up in a flurry 

of negativity. 

Seasonal affective disorder (SAD), or winter 

depression, is characterized by changes 

of mood during the colder, darker days of 

autumn and winter. You are suffering from 

SAD if, at the turn of the season, you are 

suddenly experiencing never-ending negative 

moods, exhaustion first thing in the 

morning and throughout the day, sugar and carbohydrate cravings, lethargy, irritability, or 

feelings of worthlessness and despair. 

The recognition of the impact of the seasons on our emotional wellbeing dates back to 

Ancient Greece. As early as around 400 BC, pioneer physician Hippocrates described how 

seasonal changes influence our health. It is believed that seasonal affective disorder is triggered 

by our brain’s response to a decrease in daylight. Shorter days can disrupt our biological 

clock, the circadian rhythm, and decrease our levels of serotonin and melatonin, 

chemicals crucial to regulating our mood and sleep. Luckily, most symptoms subside with 

the arrival of spring. 

In the meantime, here are eight things you can do to beat the winter blues: 

1. Take advantage of your lunch break to step outside and soak in some rays. Studies have 

shown that vitamin D deficiency can affect up to 50% of people in the northern hemisphere. 

If you are new to the Netherlands and hail from warmer climates, the lack of 

sunshine might be affecting your health and wellbeing. Breaking up your day by going 

for a walk can boost your positive energy. Taking vitamin D and B12 supplements is 

proven to be beneficial. 

beta-carotene, and vitamin C and E. If you are in the mood for comfort food, try 

cooking a protein-rich curry with pumpkin, sweet potatoes, chickpeas or lentils and 

a sprinkling of turmeric, a spice known for its health benefits. Instead of bingeing on 

desserts—share your holiday cookies with your friends or your office. 

4. Stick to a regular sleep schedule. Because seasonal depression is caused by changes in 

the circadian rhythm, it’s important to make sure that you wake up and go to sleep at 

roughly the same time. Create an evening routine to help you unwind by stowing away 

electronics an hour before bedtime, doing a guided meditation, or cozying up with a 

good book. 

5. Use light therapy to improve your mood. Healthy light exposure prevents the development 

of severe winter depression by reducing the level of melatonin, which makes 

you sleepy, and increasing the level of serotonin. Studies show that a highly effective 

treatment for seasonal depression is the exposure to a light box, or SAD lamp, which 

mimics sunlight. Basking under the lamp every morning for up to one hour will significantly 

improve your mood and energy levels. The use of dawn-simulating alarm 

clocks, that progressively lighten up in the early hours to imitate the sunrise, is also a 

good option. Don’t be afraid to brighten your mood by wearing bright colors, lighting 

candles and sitting by a fireplace. 

6. Invest in a negative ion generator, or ionizer. About the size of an air purifier, this 

device is proven to fight effects of seasonal depression by increasing healthy air molecules 

in your home, the same that can be found on mountains, beaches and waterfalls. 

When inhaled, negative ions increase the flow of oxygen in our bloodstream and the 

production of serotonin. Negative ion generators make us feel rejuvenated and less 

drowsy, like a deep breath of crisp, mountain air. 

7. Spend time with your friends and loved ones. As the end of the year approaches, many 

people struggle with deadlines at work, exams, or the holiday rush. Take a break from 

the grind to connect with an old friend. Instead of stressing out about Christmas presents, 

why don’t you give a friend something even more precious: the chance to spend 

some quality time together trying a new activity? 

8. Talk it through. Seasonal depression can take away our ability to see the light at the end 

of the tunnel. If you are feeling hopeless, do not be afraid to seek help. A good, long 

talk with a professional therapist, who can can help you identify and personalize coping 

mechanisms, is the best cure for seasonal depression. 

2. Stay active. As much as we all want to 

cozy up at home during the winter, it’s 

important to keep moving. Don’t wait 

until the New Year to decide to get fit. 

Try a new sport with a friend, go to the 

gym, join a yoga class—all of this will 

lead to an increase in the production of 

serotonin, the feel-good hormone. 

3. Fight the urge to load up on 

carbohydrates and sugar. You can 

boost your energy by eating fruits and 

vegetables loaded with antioxidants, 



Clues in the Calico 

by Susan Cave 

I 

am a collector of old quilts. I bought my 

first in 1969 when I was in graduate school 

at the University of Georgia. It snowed 

in December, my thin dorm blanket left me 

freezing and I resorted to sleeping under my 

coat. I was envious of girls whose mothers 

arrived with armfuls of colorful quilts, both 

new and old. I was foreign and had no notion 

of them. I found a pink and white one at 

the local flea market for $3. It cost $2 for a 

box of soap powder and six quarters for the 

communal washer and dryer. I have been 

studying quilts and their stories ever since. 

She can spot the pattern. I can spot the fabric 

age and type. We feel the weight, look at the 

stitching, the color damage, the edges and 

the measurements, discuss and between us 

we can make the quilts tell their stories. And 

what stories they turn out to be. 

Some clues are easy to recognize, others 

are very subtle, and the obscure messages 

send us running for the textbooks. There were 

distinctive eras of fashionable quilt making— 

from the early 1840s through the 1850s, the 

1880s to 1900, and the Depression quilts of 

the 1930s. Some designs hit us in the eyes the 

minute we see them. The Double Wedding 

Ring and the Dresden Plate are classic patterns 

of the Depression, and they are both 

part of Sherry’s collection in Leiden. Others 

are more elusive and take time. 

Gentleman’s Fancy, Chinese Holidays, Flying 

Dutchman, Henry of the West or Hearts and 

Gizzards? Occasionally we come up with 

several names for the same pattern and try 

to correlate the correct one with the time it 

was made. 

My quilt journey has taken me across 

continents and time zones. I have a Ralli from 

the Sind province of Pakistan, a Kantha dated 

in Bengali from eastern India, a modern New 

Zealand quilt celebrating the end of the Maori 

land wars, an English quilt made in 1890 

by a man called Wilbur Blenkinsopp, and a 

signed and dated 1906 Swiss silk quilt from 

Berne. From the U.S., I have a quilt made by 

a woman born a slave, a patchwork from a 

girl belonging to the Sauk and Fox tribe of 

Oklahoma, and a cross stitch quilt made by 

a lady from Virginia who met Martin Luther 

King, Jr. in person. That same lady, nearing 

the end of her time, gave me a Tree of Life 

quilt made for her great grandmother’s wedding 

in 1884. The maker was the bride’s part 

Iroquois grandmother. I feel privileged to be 

the guardian of such treasures. 

Earlier this year I received an unexpected 

email from a lady living on the west coast of 

the U.S. named Sherry Cook. Both of us were 

members of the American Quilt Study Group 

of Lincoln, Nebraska, and our profiles of collecting 

were remarkably similar, as we started 

around the same time. She collected vastly 

more than I ever did, as I was limited by my 

irregular trips back to the U.S. But surprise, 

surprise, some of her Depression-era quilts, 

made from feed sacks, were being exhibited at 

the Textile Research Centre (TRC) in Leiden. 

Did I want to go and see them? I shared this 

news at the AWC with Chat, Craft and Cake 

(CC&C) members who meet every Tuesday at 

the AWC Clubhouse, and off we went to meet 

the Director, Dr. Gillian Vogelsang-Eastwood, 

and enjoy the exhibition. 

Sherry is in the process of donating a 

substantial number of quilts to the TRC and 

Gillian has plans for a major exhibition in 

2020, coinciding with the 400th anniversary 

of the Mayflower. The TRC already had quilts 

(American and English) but no specialists 

who could identify and catalogue the collection. 

Between us, AWC Member Beverley 

Bennett and I have about 75 years of experience 

in quilting and collecting. We felt we 

could add value to the details sent by Sherry 

and add to the conversation of the others. 

Loren Mealey, not a quilt maker but an expert 

in textile and design in the CC&C group, 

was keen to offer her skills to the TRC too, 

so the three of us volunteered. 

The clues are in the calico, the batting, 

the design, the making, and sometimes in the 

papers of the quilt. It is like a detective story. 

Few quilt makers had the foresight to sign 

and date their work, so we can only make an 

educated best guess. But we read and analyze 

the clues and categorize them by pattern and 

style. Quilts, like clothing, follow fashion. 

Beverley and I fortunately have good visual 

discriminating skills and good memories. 

One of Sherry’s quilts turned up with a 

date of 1940, but no further information. By 

a process of elimination and lots of research, 

we are now satisfied that the quilt date was 

out by 100 years and have assigned the date 

at 1840. It is indigo and white, and possibly 

the most valuable of the entire collection. 

Beverley has used her considerable skill to 

preserve small parts which were falling away 

and we are confident that researchers will be 

able to study it for the next 100 years. 

Each time we go to the TRC, we wonder 

what we will find. There is a quilt made by 

three different pairs of hands and a pre-Civil 

War quilt where a new fabric from the 1980s 

was expertly used in a mend. The modern 

dyes gave it away. Another quilt was made 

using the pages of a Sears Roebuck catalogue 

in the days when a wedding ring cost 

$24.99, and some women made quilts using 

new fabrics but adding blocks from their 

grandmothers sewing boxes, so the making 

spanned decades. Every now and then we 

find initials or a name. One day we wondered 

aloud, “Who was Amy?” 

For me, one of the greatest charms of 

the American quilt are the pattern names. 

The lyricism of Jacob’s Ladder, the Rose 

of Sharon, Crown of Thorns, and The Old 

Rugged Cross evoke a simpler time when 

the Bible was the only book in the home. 

And whoever thought of naming a patchwork 

Loren has been left open-mouthed when 

Beverley and I get excited about saw teeth, 

prairie points, feathers, butted edges, nibbed 

corners, quilting in the ditch, husks, lozenges, 

long arms and broken dishes. Standing back, 

we must sound daft, but it all adds to the story. 

We hope that by the time the exhibition 

arrives in 2020, we will have added to the 

collection, filled in the missing years and 

the TRC will have the largest quilt holding 

in Europe. The American quilt is an amazing 

example of women’s social history and we are 

privileged to be part of it at the TRC. 



Announcements 

The Arts Society Lecture 

The Gods of Egypt 

Tanja van der Zon, Art Historian and 

Exhibition Manager at the Rijksmuseum 

van Oudheden in Leiden, will introduce 

us to the fascinating world of the Gods 

of the ancient Egyptians. Where did the 

Gods live and what was their purpose in 

the Netherworld? Myths and stories will 

show their extraordinary existence and 

influence. Nonmember fee is € 13. www. 

theartssocietythehague.org 

Tuesday, January 15 at 8 p.m. 

Doors open at 7:15 p.m. 

Cultural Centrum Warenar 

Kerkstraat 75, Wassenaar 

International Literature Festival 

Writers Unlimited, an annual international 

literature festival connecting over 80 authors, 

poets and musicians from all over the 

world with each other and with audiences, 

will take place from January 17 – 20 on 13 

stages around The Hague. The theme of the 

24th edition is Who Wants to Live Forever?, 

focusing on the future, including the relationship 

between humans and robots, impact 

of technological innovations, and hope 

and fear for the political future. There are 

programs in English as well as Dutch. www. 

writersunlimited.nl 


Rotterdam International Film 

Festival 

The 48th International Film Festival 

Rotterdam (IFFR) takes place from January 

23 – February 3. One of the largest audience 

and industry-driven film festivals in the 

world, IFFR offers a line-up of carefully selected 

fiction and documentary feature films, 

short films and media art from 50 countries. 

This year’s festival will move through a 

plethora of emotion, and will consider how 

our feelings can be evoked, understood or 

manipulated by images in a contemporary 

world. www iffr.com 

Burns’ Night Supper 

The St. Andrew’s Society extends an 

invitation to the AWC to attend their annual 

ceilidh (Scottish country dancing) and dinner 

in honor of Robert Burrns, Scotland’s most 

famous poet. Dinner will include haggis 

(dispatched with a swirling sword), neeps 

(turnips) and tatties (mashed potatoes); 

please note if you’d prefer vegetarian 

haggis when booking your tickets for € 40 

with Marion at maria.janine@ziggo.nl. No 

dancing experience is necessary as you will 

be encouraged to join in with step-by-step 

instructions by a caller―the dance teacher 

who walks everyone through each dance. 

www.standrews.nl 

Friday, January 25 

Door open at 6:30 p.m. 

Prompt start at 7 p.m. 

BSN Leidschenveen 

Vrouw Avenweg 640, Den Haag 

Grab Your Skates 

Winter is here and in addition to the 

chance of skating on natural ice, there are 

several outdoor rinks that have been set 

up around The Hague. The seaside resort 

of Scheveningen offers ice skating in front 

of the Kurhaus through January 20 (www. 

cooleventscheveningen.nl). Although 

Leidsenhage, the large shopping center with 

free parking in Leidschendam, is largely 

under construction, its large rink is once 

again open daily through March 3. This rink 

is occasionally closed for private parties, 

so be sure to check the calendar first (www. 

iceparadise.nl). 

Feel at Home in The Hague Fair 

Whether you are new to The Hague and its 

surrounding area or have lived here for years, 

you shouldn’t miss the biggest international 

community event in the region. There 

will be an International 

Food Court and more than 

150 exhibitors providing 

information on every aspect 

of life in and around The 

Hague as well as shows and 

displays from local schools, 

theater groups, musicians 

and sports teams. Be sure to 

stop by the AWC table. Free 

tickets are offered online: 

www.feelathomeinthehague. 

com/registration 

Sunday, February 3 

11 a.m. – 5 p.m. 

Den Haag Stadhuis 

Spui 70, Den Haag 

www. 

feelathomeinthehague.com 

Art Fair in Rotterdam 

The 20th edition of Art Rotterdam, an 

international art fair for contemporary 

modern art, takes place from February 7 – 

10 in the Van Nelle Factory, a UNESCO 

World Heritage Site. Built in 1931, this 

factory produced tobacco, coffee and tea 

from until 1995. It is an iconic example of 

the Modern Movement in the Netherlands. 

This is an excellent opportunity to visit this 

unique site in addition to browsing around 

an art fair known for discovering up-andcoming 

talent. Discounted tickets are 

available online: www.artrotterdam.com 

Chinese New Year Festival 

There is a lot to see at the official opening 

of the annual Chinese New Year Festival 

to celebrate the Year of the Pig on >> 54 

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2019 53 

2018 Photo by Richard Mulder

Announcements (cont.) 


Saturday, February 9. In and around The 

Hague Stadhuis (City Hall), the national 

celebration is organized with Chinese 

dragons and lions dancing, performances 

by Chinese and Dutch artists, and an Asian 

market in the Stadhuis starting at 11 a.m. 

www.chineesnieuwjaar-denhaag.nl 

The Arts Society Lecture 

The Art of Turner 

William Turner (1775 – 1851) once said, 

“The only secret I have is damned hard 

work.” He was the classic example of a 

self-made man, experimenting and taking 

landscape painting to a radically new level, 

truly exploring the face of nature and the 

sublime. Lecturer Sarah Stopford majored 

in art history at Harvard and English at 

Cambridge. She has a special interest in 

the connections between literature and 

visual arts. Nonmember fee is € 13. www. 

theartssocietythehague.org 

Tuesday, February 12 at 8 p.m. 

Doors open at 7:15 p.m. 

Cultural Centrum Warenar 

Kerkstraat 75, Wassenaar 

46th ABN AMRO World Tennis 

Tournament 

Over 100,000 spectators are expected at 

this annual indoor tennis tournament from 

February 9 – 17 at the Ahoy Rotterdam. 

The event offers men’s singles, men’s 

doubles and the World Wheelchair Tennis 

Tournament. Ladies’ Day will be on 

Tuesday, February 12 featuring tennis of 

the very highest standards. Tickets for Kids’ 

Day on Wednesday, February 13 can only 

be purchased through the Ahoy Box Office. 

www.abnamrowtt.com 

Blues Festival Delft 

Delft is home to the Netherland’s biggest 

indoor blues event from February 22 – 24. 

More than 70 Dutch and foreign bands perform 

at more than 30 cafés and restaurants 

throughout the city during this free festival. 

If you love Chicago and Texas blues, blues 

rock and acoustic Delta blues, you’ll feel 

right at home. www.delftblues.nl 

Children’s Books Illustrator 

Exhibit 

The House of the Book within the 

Meermanno Museum in The Hague is 

presenting a major exhibition about Quentin 

Blake, the British illustrator of over 300 

children’s books including such Roald 

Dahl classics as Charlie and the Chocolate 

Factory, and Matilda. Through March 3, 

the exhibition will provide an overview 

of the complete oeuvre of the worldfamous 

illustrator, who began illustrating 

children’s books in 1960. Visitors can gain 

an insight into his thought process as he 

explains step-by-step how he uses a text as 

the basis for an illustration. In addition to 

many original drawings, there will also be 

photographs, illustrations and miniatures. 

www.meermanno.nl 



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 

Transformational New 

Neuro Therapy 

available from Anel Smit, an 

experienced, professional 

Counsellor and International 

Coach for children, adults and 

seniors in Dutch, English and 

Afrikaans. 

www.anelsmit.com 

Multi-Level Neuro Processing 

Functional Therapy 

Creative Art Development 

0642463605 

www.icr-coachregister.com 

Coffee & Taxes 

We file your: 

• Dutch income taxes 

• VAT tax 

• Migration forms 

• Benefits/ Toeslagen 

Plus 

financial/ governmental consultancy 

Contact me at: 

marielschouwink@gmail.com 

0625684010 

Private Pilates Lessons in 

Your Own Home 

I am a Certified Pilates 

instructor offering mat 

Pilates—tailored to your 

body’s specific needs. 

Monday to Friday, office 

hours. Women only. Private 

one-on-one or small groups of 

up to three possible. Lessons 

in English. 

The Hague, Wassenaar area 

only. 

Please email christina@gikas. 

nl for more info. 

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. 

imasselinkandreas@gmail. 

com 

www.ingridmasselinkandreas. 

com 

Index of Advertisers 

ACCESS 

page 32 

American Travel 

Center 

page 11 

Aveda Lifestyle 

Salon 

Inside Cover 

Frans Burgers 

Tapijt 

page 13 

FRITSTAXI 

Airport Service 

Inside Back Cover 

Happy Critters 

page 17 

Marcel 

Vermeulen 

Jewelry 

page 9 

Petros Eyewear 

page 9 

Support Fellow AWC Members 

Find links to a large variety of businesses 

owned by AWC Members at www. 

awcthehague.org/site/newcomers/ 

business-links 

Playball Kids 

Sligro 

page 21 

page 19 

VERHEY VAN 

WIJK brilmode 

page 15 

Wassalon 

Weissenbruch 

page 17 

Your Cleaning 

Service 

page 32 

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. 

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Event information, suggestions or comments for eNews? 

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. 


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Proost! Questionnaire 

Answers by Michelle Voorn 

Why are you living in the Netherlands, and 

when did you arrive? 

My initiation to living in the Netherlands 

was in 2000, of course, for love. Stayed 

three years and then moved back to Houston. 

Second round, same said love reason, and 

this time work moved us back. We arrived in 

June of 2018. 

Give us a quick wrap-up of your family. 

My birth family is all over the U.S. and my 

brother is in Mexico City. In the Netherlands, 

my Dutch (well-Texanized) husband Sander 

and I have two Texas-born boys: Aidan (13) 

and Liam (12). 

What do you enjoy most about the AWC? 

Probably like many before me have said, it 

has taken away some of the loneliness of being 

a newcomer and leaving home behind. 

Not to mention, the social activities are so 

varied, from art, to coffee, to royal parades. I 

am having so much fun getting to know new 

lovely women, whom I hope will become 

close friends. 

Where is your favorite place in the 

Netherlands? 

Many don’t know, but I suffer from tinnitus 

(the perception of ringing/noise in the ears). 

Although mine is a loud engine room with 

a mixture of low pitch electrostatic hum, 

24/7… so it’s easy to say THE BEACH, 

Kijkduin or Scheveningen! The sounds of the 

ocean and the waves mask the noise which 

my silly brain has decided to recreate. I guess 

I should feel connected to Van Gogh since 

they now suspect he also suffered from tinnitus. 

Which locations haven’t been ticked off 

your bucket list? 

Maldives, Seychells, Tahiti… oh wait, other 

than lazying around on a beautiful beach? 

Too many to count. But I’d love to go to Asia, 

Japan being one of my top spots in the bucket 

list; China, Thailand. Then closer to this 

side, I am still missing the Nordic countries 

(Denmark, Norway, Sweden). Egypt. The 

Transiberian Express. I better think about 

getting a job to subsidize all these dreams! 

What’s your hobby? 

I’m not going to pretend I don’t like TV, I am 

a Nordic Noir junky… dark mystery/detective 

TV series. I do love the dystopias like 

The Handmaids Tale. I can’t get away from 

Grey’s Anatomy, and the new one A Million 

Little Things. Plus all the cooking shows 

from Netflix, particularly Chef’s Table! 

Cooking! In the last year or two I started focusing 

more on my native Mexican cuisine. 

There is so much variety and depth that the 

world hasn’t gotten to see and experience, so 

I have to start at home. 

Then I love reading! Although the move gave 

me “Fried Brain Syndrome” (FBS), my brain 

and I have had a hard time finishing a book in 

the last few months. I’ll get back into it soon. 

Music, love music as well. And board games. 

Pffff… I have too many and not enough time 

for them all! 

What is your favorite flower? 

Orchids, definitely orchids. 

What is your favorite drink? 

Again, with limiting me to a single favorite 

one… coffee, water, fresh teas (fresh ginger, 

cardamom pods, clove and star anise is 

my current fave), then there’s vodka (Texas 

Tito’s), and wine. And I’ve discovered my 

taste has evolved into a good Scotch or 

Bourbon.

AWC Going Dutch January_February 2019

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