Community Events

Information about 2009 KoninginneNacht Queen's Night, April 29th, Den Haag: To many, the night preceding Queen's Day, is more exciting and inspiring than the actual Queen's Day itself. After sunset the city center will boast a wealth of different open air stages, where music bands covering the whole spectrum of musical taste showcase their talents. The city swings and the moods are bubbly. The dress rehearsal to the Queen's Day events kicks off with the waters shooting up in the Hofvijver being colored orange. During the night, HTM will operate additional busses and trams; in some cases traffic in the center will be rerouted. The NS will have additional trains running throughout the night. Join in the festivities with walks, boat rides, carriage rides and much more. Program available at http://www.haagsekoninginnedag.nl/ENGFlyer2009.pdf

Weekend Tips:
This week I've included tips for Thursday April 30th, Monday May 4th and Tuesday May 5th, as these next two weeks are holidays for the Dutch. Some schools are off for the entire time, but most for 10 days. Its a great time for a holiday!

Let's start with Thursday April 30th, otherwise known as Queen's Day. If this is your first time in the Netherlands for Queen's Day, you are in for a big surprise! Although officially Queen Beatrix's birthday is on January 31st, she celebrates her birthday April 30th as this was the birthday of her mother, former Queen Juliana. It also marks the day Beatrix was inaugurated as Queen of the Netherlands on April 30th, 1980. On Queen's Day, the entire Royal family visits one or more cities in the Netherlands. This year they will be in the Royal city of Apeldoorn, where Juliana was born 100 years ago this year. The late Juliana celebrated her birthday by receiving the Dutch people on the "steps" in front of her Palace Soestdijk, where they offered gifts and flowers in commemoration of her birthday. This year the same will happen forQueen Beatrix in front of Palace Het Loo in Apeldoorn.

Every city in Holland celebrates BIG TIME for Queen's Day! Everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, will be decorated in the National Colour of orange. And if you like a good bargain, then you are in luck! On Queen's Day all of the Netherlands will turn into a giant garage sale! This is the only day of the year where you are allowed to sell items freely on the street, as well as play music, do acts/plays or what ever else tickles your fancy. In Wassenaar you'll have to get up early to find a good spot to sell or perform on the Langstraat. Amsterdam will be very busy, do not even attempt to drive, and leave your younger kids at home. On average, Queen's Day celebrations in Amsterdam bring around one million people into the city, so it will be very busy! There is something to do for everyone, and make sure you wear orange. If you do bring yoursmall children into Amsterdam, you can take them to the Vondelpark where only small kids are allowed to sell and perform. Finally, make sure you check the opening times of supermarkets, as most are only open in the morning.

For those who 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, so make sure you check it out! Check these websites for more information on KoninginneNach, and Queen's Day:

www.utrecht.nl , www.koninginnedagamsterdam.nl ,
www.queensdaymaastricht.nl , www.apeldoorn.nl/koninginnedag , http://www.koninginnenach.nl/2009/index.htm , http://www.haagsekoninginnedag.nl/index2.html .

Please keep in mind that Friday, May 1st is a regular school day for all ASH students, except for our 12 grade full IB students who begin their exams on Monday, May 4th along with any AP students taking an AP exam on Monday and excused from Friday classes.

Over the weekend you should rest, because the celebrations will continue on Monday and Tuesday! Both Monday, May 4th and Tuesday, May 5th are very important days for the Dutch. May 4th is known as Commemoration Day, and at 20:00 the entire country will hold two minutes of silence to commemorate the victims of the Second World War. All over the country people will gather together around the many memorial sites to observe the silence and lay flowers. Wassenaar, The Hague and Leiden will have their memorial sites announced in local newspapers, with the Royal family attending the memorial on the Dam Square in Amsterdam. Remember most stores will be closed at 19:00 on this day.

Following Commemoration Day is Liberation Day, on Tuesday, May 5th. It was on this day in 1945 that German troops surrendered in the Netherlands and the war was over for the Dutch. This was made official at "Hotel de Wereld" in the city of Wageningen, where the Liberation of the Netherlands document was signed. For more information on festivities in Wageningen, http://www.4en5meiwageningen.nl/ [website is in Dutch]. However those who know their history realize that WW2 ended in Europe a few days later on May 8th, 1945! In anycase, Liberation Day is celebrated in the Netherlands with many concerts and, again, the famous "free market" that you will witness on Queen 's Day. Cities organize all kinds of festivities; there is a great one at Museum Square in Amsterdam, followed by an open-air National Concert in front of the "Skinny Bridge" and the Carre Theater. This concert is attended by the queen and broadcast live on TV. Anyone can go as entrance is free, so find a place along the water and enjoy! The concert starts at 21:00 but in order to find a decent place to sit plan on arriving between 19:00-20:00. The Royal Military Band "Johan Willem Friso" will be the main musical attraction of the evening, with appearances made by different guest artists. It is a fun musical celebration, especially when the weather is nice!

Whatever you decide to to, we hope that you will commemorate and celebrate our Dutch heritage with us!

Have a great weekend!
- Bernie Eek-Yarnell beek@ash.nl

Blood Donors Needed! Blood supply in the Netherlands is dependent on the goodwill and commitment of donors. Unfortunately the number of donors, and hence blood supply, is low. Sanquin Blood Bank is actively encouraging current and new donors to come give blood, as they need your help! The process is easy, does not require much time and has no financial commitment. A half hour every other month can help save lives and as Expats we are all eligible to help. To get started, you can fill in the online form at: www.sanquin.nl/sanquin-eng/sqn_donor_eng.nsf?OpenDatabase.. You can also go to your nearest Blood bank and request an initial screening appointment. The initial appointment will consist of a brief medical history, medications discussion and a blood test. For more information go to www.sanquin.nl You can help save lives! Please consider this donation. Thank you.
- Anja Hammega, School Nurse

The English Theatre STET Online Survey: Many theatre organizations reach out to the international community. Frequently information does not reach the target audience, resulting in low attendance risking cut backs in international theatre. The English Theatre STET - whose mission is to produce and promote English-language theatre productions in The Hague and surrounding communities, has commissioned a short online survey to find our how to connect to you more effectively with performance information. To fill out the 10 questions please click on:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=DzUYnK8gJJT_2bHXZNsLa8Yw_3d_3d . For more information on the current Museum Theatre Season please visit our website. www.TheEnglishTheatre.nl Thank you for your time. The English Theatre STET hopes to continue to provide youwith accessible and great theatre performances.
- External Relations Office

Japanese Garden in Clingendael Park Public Reopening, Thursday, April 30th: The Municipality of The Hague has always taken great care of the Japanese Garden because of its uniqueness and tremendous historical value. The garden was placed on the list of national historical monuments in 2001. Due to its fragility, the garden can be visited only during a short period of the year. The garden is open daily from 9:00 to 20:00 hrs until Sunday, June 14th. Admission is free. Information, a map of the garden and a walking route through the garden are available at the entrance to the garden and can also be seen at "ttp://www.denhaag.nl/Pics/dsb/Ststr/clingendael/Japanse%20tuin%20Engels.pdf You can also use this website to request permission to take wedding photos in the Japanese Garden.
Liberation Day Celebrations, Tuesday, May 5th, The Hague: The Hague city center will hold a festival celebrating Liberation Day, with numerous free events taking place from 13:00-21:00 in and around the Spuiplein. There will be two outdoor stages on the Spuiplein with fabulous entertainment by national and international performers. The South African band 'Sion & Calling Up Soweto' will be playing at 16:00, followed by the International band 'Fire' playing a mixture of pop, rock and fusion at 19:10. For real funk fans, Jamal Thomas, the drummer from the legendary Maceo Parker band, will be performing tracks from his debut album with an 11-piece funk band at 18:20. Simultaneously, the Theater aan het Spui will host an indoor programme with debates, lectures, neighbourhood culture, music, dance, literature and poetry. Theprogramme is complete with a market, an exposition and a huge sports field. Visit www.5meifestival.nl/ for the complete programme..

DFAS Lecture: The Mysterious World of Salvador Dali by Valerie Woodgate, Tuesday, May 5th, 20:00, Wassenaar: Probably the most well-known and popular artist of the 20th century, Dali was a self-publicist filling gossip columns with accounts of his eccentricities for over 60 years. His paintings of the invisible world of the unconscious mind were considered shocking even among a group of extremists like the Surrealists, and after joining them he quickly became their most exotic and well-known member. Lecturer Valerie Woodgate has wide experience lecturing and guiding in major galleries, churches and cathedrals as well as the Tate Britain and Tate Modern. She is on the teaching team at Dulwich Picture Gallery and is a script writer for the Living Paintings Trust. Doors open at 19:15. De Warenaar Kerkstraat 75, 2242 HE Wassenaar. Parking space is available. Entrance (non-members): € 10. www.dfas.nl.

InPlayers International Drama Group Presents Liquid Love, Thursday, May 7th & Friday, May 8th, 20:30, Saturday May 9th at 14:00, 20:30, CREA Theatre, Amsterdam: In a dystopian view of our society, where internet shopping and online dating have taken great flight, perfection is pursued as a means to happiness. But in the search for mastery in all spheres of life what becomes more elusive and fluid than ever is the thing we want the most. "A play about love being lost in the search for perfection,” says the author and director Teresa Merilainen. “The polished, shiny image of the characters is bit by bit broken to pieces, revealing the anguish, inner unease and terror that surrounds the human soul – as long as we are not able to connect deeply to one another.” Turfdraagsterspad 17 - 1012 XTAmsterdam. Admission: 13 Euros, Concession 10 Euros. Reservations number: +31 (0)20 525 1400.

Visit with Jane Goodall, Friday, May 8th, 18:45, Burger Zoo, Arnhem: Come catch this special visit from Jane Goodall herself, where she will speak about living with chimpanzees, recent discoveries and work she has done, along with the conservation program at the Jane Goodall Institute. The reading/discussion will take place in English, at the zoo auditorium, from 18:45 - 22:30. Entry fee of 15 Euros for everyone. All are welcome, but registration/pre-payment is required. Go to http://www.janegoodall..nl/bestelformulierlezing%20burgers.htm to register, and for more information [website is in Dutch].

Spring Art and Antiques Auction Preview, Saturday, May 9th - Monday, May 11th, 10:00-17:00, VendueHuis der Notarissen, The Hague: Come take this opportunity to view artwork, silver, jewelry and many other collectibles on display. Our team of experts will be delighted to answer any of your questions for the items to be auctioned. Auction days are Wednesday, May 13th - Friday, May 15th. Nobelstraat 5, 2513 BC s'Gravenhage. www.venduehuis.com

Country Fair at Westkustruiters! Sunday, May 10th, 12:00 noon onwards, Wassenaar: Dutch products for sale, Pony rides, drinks and an Authentieke Rommelmarkt (street bazaar)! Westkustruiters Oostdorperweg 197, Wassenaar( near the golf course).

ASH World Music Students Perform on Millennium Day, Saturday May 9th, Wassenaar: Wassenaar is celebrating its status as a Millennium City on Saturday, May 9, beginning at 10:30. ASH world music students will be performing a Chinese lion dance, beginning at 10:30 at the Lange Kerkdam end of the Langstraat. The lion will lead spectators up the Langstraat to the square by Luciano's, where ASH students will play west African drums (around 10:50). Wassenaar dignitaries will make an opening speech, after which ASH dancers will perform an Irish and Indian dance. The ASH Jazz band will perform from about 11:20-12 noon. Festivities end around 16:00. Come out and support our ASH students, and celebrate this day of awareness.
- Jennifer Walden, Middle and High School Music Teacher

ASH Used Book Sale, Tuesday, May 12th, and Wednesday, May 13th, 08:00-16:00, Small Gym: Donations of gently used books, audiobooks, DVDs or CDs can be dropped off at either the Middle School or High School Libraries. Anyone interested in volunteering, please contact Melissa Rider at ez.riders@yahoo.com or 070.785.3164.

ASH Tennis Camp Starting Monday, June 22nd, right after school ends: Our 17th season begins week of June 22nd. Newsletter now available for information and sign-up at http://fc.ash.nl/~scaycedo/. The camp offers daily two hours lessons daily for two-weeks. Each lesson is full of intensive, fun-filled, age appropriate activities to learn all the essential skills to play the game. Places fill quickly and are given on a first come, first served basis. Contact S. Caycedo at scaycedo@ash.nl to sign-up.
- Simón Caycedo, Physical Education Teacher

Queens day break!

Hello Everyone,I just wanted to remind everybody that there will be NO PLAYGROUP this week.

Enjoy the Queen's Day Festivities and don't forget to wear Orange or Red, White and Blue.

The following week, May 7th Ivetri Jewelry will be at Playgroup. And on May 14th Barefoot Books will join us. May 28th is Usbourne Books.

Also, if you are planning for the summer Playgroup will be closed July 23 - August 13. We will be open again August 20th. See y'all on the 7th.-Nina

Activities in the Neighborhood

Hello Group,

A couple of announcements of things going on in the neighborhood. These are NOT Toddler activities just some things you maybe interested in. Here are the titles and the information follows.

1. MMN Spring Bazaar.
2. PTA Spring New Book Fair at ASH
3. Courses offered by Passionate Parenting
4. Second Hand Books for the Read to Grow Charity
5. on line expat shopping

1. MMN Spring Bazaar.
Make sure you keep this Monday Morning open! MMN's Spring Bazaar and Art Show will take place at the ABF (8:30 - Noon).
There will be over 20 vendors selling unique Dutch items. You will find paintings, etchings, hand sewn goods, mosaics, specialty boxes, photographs and antiques. Holland Handicrafts in Delft and Peter the Potter will bring a special selection too!
Now is your chance to get that special something to remind you of your time here in Holland. Many of the items can also make great gifts to bring home to family and friends.
Cash only please.
We will have coffee and treats waiting. So, do come join us and bring a friend!

2. PTA Spring New Book Fair at ASH
Make plans to come to The American School of The Hague next Tuesday and Wednesday to get some fantastic books at our PTA Spring New Book Fair. We have thousands to choose from and at great prices. All proceeds benefit student activities at the school.
We have a great selection of fiction for all ages as well as non-fiction, craft books, and travel guides for many popular destinations.

The Book Fair is open on Tuesday March 31st from 8 am to 4 pm and on Wednesday April 1st from 8 am to 3 pm.

3. Courses offered by Passionate Parenting

Dear friends, families, mums & dads

This is a friendly reminder about the next two events AND the discount deal.

1) Nutrition Seminar, Monday April 6th

“Top Ten Tips for Turning Round Your Child’s Diet” How many times have you raised your hands in despair over an untouched dinner or a rejected lunch, courtesy of your toddler/child? How many times have you vowed to change your child’s diet for the better, only to find yourself dishing out once again the frozen pizza and plain pasta? And how many times have you tried to keep your child away from sweets and treats, in vain? If you’re stuck in a toddler/child diet rut, or if you’re doing well and want to know more, here’s your chance to find out the truth about your child’s food. Natural Nutritionist, Vardit Kohn, will take you through the Top Ten Points to focus on, will sort out the wheat from the chaff, will answer your questions, alleviate your anxieties and leave you with practical steps to implement the next day. The Nutritionist is at your service. Have a look at her website… www.forgoodness-sake.com

Some of you have asked about the nutrition talk– “Ten Top Tips for Turning Around your child’s Diet”. A common question is: “What is a Natural Nutritionist?”…Well, I had to ask Vardit herself… it is different from a dietician, who deals with the different components of food (fats, carbs, proteins). She looks at food as it is. She considers herself a “Food Coach”. That means she helps people with a personalized diet, tailored to give them maximum health, vitality, strength, potential. It is different for everyone. She attempts to inspire and guide parents to fuel their children’s (and their own) bodies with the right fuel to make it run like a Ferarri and not a Ford.

2) “Expat Life & Global Nomad Families: What is the impact on your Kids?”

Monday April 27th, 7:30pm.
by psychologist Graciela C. de Mussini.

A mother and someone who has moved to 3 different countries herself, Graciela will offer a great lecture touching on important and practical issues facing your children such as the “trauma” of leaving a country, cross-cultural childhoods, the grieving process experienced by individuals as they lose friends and familiarity, and critically important: issues of self-esteem and identity. De Mussini will talk parents through the transition process & let parents know what they can do to help their “third culture kids” adjust, recognise the disadvantages while making the most of the wonderful advantages of their international and cosmopolitan lives.
To register: please mail me (Soul Robertson) at passionateparenting@gmail.com or visit the website www.passionateparenting.nl . Friendly phone calls welcome: 064 185 7773.

3) Discount:
Normal cost per workshop is €25 per person pre-paid, or €30 in cash as you walk in the door.
Many of you have signed up for 3 events – Cost = €75 pre-paid into our bank account
If you sign up for 4 events you qualify for a 20% discount – Cost €80 pre-paid!! That is €20 per seminar, but it must be pre-paid into our bank account.

Please take advantage of this offer immediately, as retrospective discounts won’t apply after April 6th. I have added the seminar list below so you can see what is in the pipeline, our registration, website and bank account details. Hope to see you soon, Soul

Every Day Life Topics
March 16th 7:30pm Discipline & Defiance: Dealing with Disobedience
April 6th 7:30pm Top Ten Tips for Turning around Your Child’s Diet
May 11th 9:30am Raising Confident Children
June 8th 9:30am Dialogic Reading – for pre-schoolers

Expat Life Related Topics
March 10th 7:30pm Raising Bilingual Children
March 23rd 7:30pm Intensive Language Planning Workshop
April 27th 7:30pm Expat Kids & Global Nomad Families
May 25th 7:30pm Your Will be Done – Death and Family Testaments in NL
June 15th 9:30am Raising Bilingual Children

ABN Amro – Den Haag
Passionate Parenting
60 69 62 263

To register: please mail me (Soul Robertson) at passionateparenting@gmail.com or visit the website www.passionateparenting.nl . Friendly phone calls welcome: 064 185 7773.

Hope to see you again soon,
Soul
-- Soul Robertsonpassionateparenting@gmail.comwww.passionateparenting.nl064 185 7773 orSaskia Rijnen064 236 78364. Second Hand Books for the Read to Grow Charity


Dear Parents/ Guardians and Children,
This year, we will again be collecting second-hand books for the Read to Grow charity which distributes these books to schools in developing countries throughout the world. Linked to UNESCO’s World Book Day on 23rd April each year, books are gathered by participating schools in the Netherlands and collected by Read to Grow volunteers.
Books can be:

· in English or French
· fiction or non-fiction
· for any age including adult (although books for children and teenagers are especially welcome)
· and must be in good condition!

For more information please go to www.readtogrow.nl
To support this initiative please bring books to the Junior School Diamanthorst Media Centre by Friday 3rd April.
Last year the Senior School collected 2,586 books, more than any other school in the Netherlands and won the prestigious Read to Grow prize.

Thank you so much for your generous donations last year and please help us to support this excellent project once again.

5. on line expat shopping

Kelly’s Expat Shopping, Online Shopping Now Open!! Your British & American food supplier.We offer most of our products online including fresh and frozen, we deliver in The Hague and surroundings.Please visit our website on www.kellys-expat-shopping.nl for more information.Easter is coming up and we have a great selection of Easter eggs available in different sizes..Cadbury, Nestle, Maltesers, Thornton, Baileys,E.Shaw, Beech, Kinnerton kids eggs and more!Kelly’s, Piet Heinstraat 105, 2518CE, The Hague (located in Zeeheldenkwartier, behind Peace Palace)

Up Coming Events

Hello Ladies and Gentleman,Sorry I've been taking a communication break but I'm back for the night. Here are all the upcoming stuff.

TODDLERSMums Night Out - New Sisaket Thai Restaurant for Thursday 2nd April at 8pm. The address is 23 Stationsweg, Leiden and the table is booked under Nina! If you plan to attend please sign up at Toddlers or reply to Wassenaarmtg@yahoo.com And if you have friends that would be interested in joining up please bring them along.

Easter Party - April 2 We will have a special craft, special food, and chocolate easter egg hunt. The craft will be a basket for the egg hunt so please visit the craft table.

Old Coffees - April 2

Deanne Jewelry - April 2

Would anybody else like to add anything for April 2nd?

April 30th - Queen's Day NO PLAYGROUP

Fun things that are NOT TODDLERS
Mothering Sunday at the St. James Church“Dutch Memories" Spring Bazaar & Art Show - Monday, March 30th from 8:30 – 12:00 noon at the ABF Clubhouse (upstairs) (Next to the soccer fields by The American School of The Hague). There will be works from approximately 20 different artists and vendors will be there to view and purchase (cash only please). This is great time to get that special something that reminds you of your time spent here in Holland.

Spring is in the Air! And in Holland, that means the opening of the famous "Keukenhof"! It opens this Thursday, March 19th, 08:00, and keep its doors open until Thursday, May 21st. http://www.keukenhof.nl/ The history of the Keukenhof began sixty years ago, when a group of bulb cultivators decided to promote and show their flowers. Today, the Keukenhof is one of the most visited places in the Netherlands! Also, keep in mind that we did experience a rather cold winter, therefore most outdoor flowers such as the tulips are not yet in fullbloom. However the Keukenhof green houses are always filled with amazing flower expositions.

On a nice day you can bike to the Keukenhof from Wassenaar, or take a bus directly to the Keukenhof from Leiden Centraal Station. Try to avoid the very busy days such as Easter Sunday and Monday or the weekend of the Flower Parade, Saturday April 25th. Do keep that Saturday reserved for watching the parade, with more info to follow!

A combined trip to the Keukenhof and visit to Panorama Tulip Land in Voorhout will give you an excellent day out that people of ALL ages enjoy! http://tulipland.nl/?lang=en

We hope you are enjoying spring