Playgroup is up and going after our short break!

Are you new to The Netherlands or just new to Wassenaar? Join us for lots of free play, songs and maybe a craft or two. Playgroups are a great place for your baby or young child to make friends and learn to play well with others. Also, playgroups are great support for us caregiver too! We look forward to meeting you and your little ones!

National Mom's Night Out

Den Haag happy hour for moms, will be held at the Havana Bar near the Binnenhof and Spui tram stop at 8pm on Thursday the 26th. There is no cost to attend the event other than the price of any drinks or food you order.

https://www.facebook.com/events/386759784711860/

Summer Break!

Summer break is almost here! Our last playgroup before the break will be July 12th and we will break for 4 weeks. We are hoping to have some summer play dates at the beach again this year. If anyone has any suggestions for alternative or additional meeting locations, feel free to email or post on the Facebook page.

Queen's Day (and night) 2012

A little background about Queen's Day...


Queen's Day is a national holiday to celebrate the birthday of Queen Beatrix. Although her true birthday is on January 31st, she celebrates April 30th as this was the birthday of her mother, former Queen Juliana. She chose not to change the date as a tribute to her mother. It is also practical as partying outdoors in January on her actual birthday would not be so much fun! On Queen's Day, the Royal family visits one or more cities in the Netherlands. This year they will visit Rhenen and nearby Veenendaal.



Huge celebrations will take place on Monday the 30th of April as the whole country will turn orange with a bit of red, white and blue thrown in for good measure. If you have not yet experienced Queen's Day, you are in for a treat! There will be many markets, fairs, concerts and children's activities to choose from. Make sure to wear your orange (or red, white and blue if you prefer).

If you just cant wait for Queen's Day, you can take part in the famous "KoninginneNach" which organized in The Hague on the eve of Wednesday, April 29th. It is an evening filled with lots of musical performances and only a bike ride away from Wassenaar. There is something going on for the whole family!


For information on the events in Wassenaar and surrounding areas, please see the links below:

Wassenaar:
http://www.wassenaarseoranjevereniging.nl/frontpage/index.htm
http://www.wassenaar.nl/queen_s_day

Den Haag:
http://www.haagsekoninginnedag.nl/contents/nl/d7.html
http://www.kermisdenhaag.nl/

Leiden:
http://www.expatcentreleiden.nl/news/news_item/t/queen_s_day
(I will  update this link to a better one with more information if I can find one!)

Amsterdam:
http://www.koninginnedagamsterdam.nl/queensday.html

Enjoy the holiday!!

Community Events in February and March

February 10th. 11th and 12th
STREB Extreme Action Dance Company will perform their show "Forces" in Den Haag.
http://www.denhaag.nl/en/residents/to/STREB-Extreme-Action-Company-in-Atrium.htm?utm_source=TripolisDialogue_nieuwsbrief&utm_medium=email&utm_term=&utm_content=&utm_campaign=@denhaag

From February 18th – March 4th (during the Spring half-term holiday), the museums in Leiden will organise a number of fun activities for children:
Volkenkunde (Museum of Ethnology)
Learn how to start a fire, read a compass and listen to a Presentation about a climbing expedition in Nepal.

Rijksmuseum van Oudheden (National Museum of Antiquities)
Make a coaster or picture frame from mosaic, paint a tea glass or sculpt a lantern from clay.

Naturalis
Become a true researcher. Discover the evolution of mankind, research how fossils come into being, puzzle together a real animal skeleton and build your own super dog.

Museum Boerhaave
As tradition has it, Museum Boerhaave is bursting with activity during the holiday. Take part in exciting workshops and treasure hunts!

(Source: http://www.expatcentreleiden.nl/)

February 22nd until March 4thSwanlake "Siegfried and Odette"
A contemporary version of Swanlake
http://www2.lonnekevanleth.nl/?page_id=750

February 19th
Bigtop Circus: Tilt!
http://www.stadspodia.nl/programma/2077/bigtop_circus/tilt_/

February 24 at 2:00pm

Sieboldhuis

During a Manga workshop you can draw your favourite Japanese animation characters such as Pokémon and Yu-Gi-Oh.

March 10th

Percossa: Knock-Out
Four men will drum, stamp, fly, juggle and jump rope their way through this wordless performance. http://www.stadspodia.nl/programma/2096/percossa/knock_out/

March 12th at 7:30pm

Families, Food & Fights Seminar
"Food is the fuel for our kids, but it is also the fuel that ignites many family-time fights. Katherine Fortier will talk about how to create more pleasant, peaceful mealtimes and also how to promote healthy behaviours and attitudes about food and eating. We'll focus on some of the common food-fight issues: coming when called, table manners, sitting still, fussy eaters, trying new foods. We'll also touch on how healthy behaviour patterns can help prevent eating disorders like obesity and anorexia."
http://www.passionateparenting.nl/bookonline

New Expat Store in Wassenaar

Kelly's Expat Shopping has just opened a new store in Wassenaar, near the C1000. Check it out and let us know what you think!

Kelly's Expat Shopping

A Few Community Events in January

January 28th (11:30-17:30)- Chinese New Year Parade and Festival in Den Haag
http://www.denhaag.nl/en/residents/to/Chinese-New-Year-Festival-3.htm?utm_source=TripolisDialogue_nieuwsbrief&utm_medium=email&utm_term=&utm_content=&utm_campaign=@denhaag

Looking for a night out and want to try a new resturant? DiningCity will organise the second national Eetweek from January 23rd to the 29th. During this week you can dine at some of the finest restaurants and dining cafes in the Netherlands for only €10!
http://www.eetweek.nl/

January 30th (19:30-21:45)- Passionate Parenting seminar: Food and Family Fights with Katherine Fortier
http://www.passionateparenting.nl/general/next-events.php