The Winter 2009 Issue contains the following articles:

INTERVIEW
From the Point of View of… Nana Leigh

“For my dissertation, I studied the factors of success, and what the persuasive strategies of the museums’ directors had been. To do this, I studied the rhetoric of the museums; their publications and presentations. What made them convincing? Why did we believe their stories? Between 1935 and 1975, the MoMA, in New York, and the Stedelijk Museum, in Amsterdam, were very influential. The Stedelijk Museum was smaller, but was nonetheless internationally renowned because of its experimental director. The Director of the MoMA was an excellent art historian, who was very aware of the fact that he was writing history and that there was a need to do this. He did this by creating masters, master pieces and master movements – and saw this as part of his contribution to an evolutionary continuum and process; a survival of the fittest. The Stedelijk Museum on the other hand, was run by an artist, who was very focused on other artists and wanted to show the position of art in society. He gave artists all the room they needed to make what they wanted, without giving
the creating of art history any thought. Also his catalogues were works of art, delighting the public by means of metaphors and analogies. ” 

CULTURE
The Koninklijke Schouwburg: 205 Years of Reflecting the Cultural Diversity of The Hague

It is noticeable that The Hague has become more international. As you walk through the city, you hear many different languages and come across many different nationalities – almost all expats, not tourists. You also notice it in the audiences. The Koninklijke Schouwburg is are planning to make use of overhead English-language titles, in order to make Dutch theater more accessible to expats and other foreigners.
This year, the theater is also hosting a variety of international productions, such: La Dispute, by the Comédie Française; Macbeth, by Cheek by Jowl; a performance by Bill Aitchison, Bukowski Waits by Daan Alkemade; Fleeto, with Jordan McCurrach et al; All the Lonely People and Me, by Claire Fleury; as well as Strauss’s Der Zigeunerbaron, Puccini’s Bohème, Verdi’s Aïda – and more. For more information, please visit www.ks.nl and click on International.

TAXES
Buying a House in the Netherlands

Over the last couple of years, owning a home in the Netherlands has proven to be a good investment. Despite the current economic downturn, many expats are still deciding to buy a house. Between 2007 and 2009, the market switched from a seller’s market to a buyer’s market. There are a lot of houses on the market and there is room for negotiation. Furthermore, the short-term interest rate is at a historic low, so that it seems worthwhile to invest in a house.
So how do you, the expat, go about buying a house here? You are in a different country, with different customs, laws and regulations, you do not speak the language (yet) and you want to know which risks you are taking. To help you along, Henk Jansen has set up a nine-step plan which will help you prepare for buying your new house.
Henk Jansen

TAX
Tax Consequences of Your Mortgage

What are the deductible items of a mortgage and what are the benefits and disadvantages of a mortgage? Often we get these questions from expatriates who are working in the Netherlands. In this article, the authors give you a brief overview of the fiscal consequences of a mortgage, focusing on the fiscal benefits and possible deductions of the mortgage related to your principal residence.
Arjan Enneman and Bart van Meijl

LEGAL
Is Your Office in Your Home or Is Your Home in Your Office?

Nowadays, corporate frugality might result in a-not-entirely-unexpected-but-really-not-welcome change in employment contract. Many employees of multinational companies, who previously were awarded expat contracts, are presented with the choice of leaving the company or accepting a local contract. What this means, differs from one company to the other, but most often the first privilege to go, is housing for the family paid for by the company.
Those thus ‘deprived’ of one of the most attractive perks of expat life will suddenly find themselves struggling not only with rather exorbitant housing costs, but also realizing that they are not alone in their search for an affordable dream house, and that there is a jungle of rules and regulations out there.
In the Randstad, the number of small enterprises set up by the trailing spouses of expat employees is on the rise at present; and , last but not least, let’s not forget the lucky few who are made redundant, and who are given a nice golden handshake as they go out the door... Apparently, starting a consultancy firm or an e-business seems more of a first option to many of them, rather than uprooting the whole family and returning to the home country.
In all of the above cases, housing will be the factor that will contribute to making or breaking it in the new situation. Although limited by its scope and the space available, this article aims to provide you with general information in this issue, in order to give you a greater understanding of the legal aspects of housing and tenancy law.
Arthur de Groot

RECOMMENDED READING
Bicycle Mania

For the first time ever, the Dutch bicycle culture is captured in this wonderful book by American photographer and author Shirley Agudo, a long-time resident of Holland. Young, old and even naked cyclists – they’re all here in this humorous and surprising book about a culture gone completely mad about bikes.
Shirley Agudo
www.hollandbooks.nl
www.bicycle-mania.nl

THE NEVER-ENDING STORY: BIKE FISHING (FIETSVISSEN)
Excerpted from the book: Bicycle Mania

As with everything in life, bicycles eventually bite the dust in one way or another. In Amsterdam – and a few other places in the Netherlands – the canals swallow them. Every year, some 12,000 bicycles are dredged from Amsterdam’s more than 100 kilometers (62 miles) of canals.
Author Shirley Agudo had the privilege of going on the one and only bicycle-dredging boat in Amsterdam, owned and operated by the city’s water services organization, Waternet, to photograph the operation for her book, Bicycle Mania. “With two men in a boat – Jan de Jonge and Pascal van Merode – I sailed at dawn from the northern dock where many rusted and dilapidated bikes are transported after being dredged by this skeleton crew. The bikes are then sent to their final resting place at the metal recycling center in nearby Westhaven.”
Shirley Agudo

COLUMN
Funny You Should Ask About …… Going on Retreat

Home – the theme of this issue – is a core need that we constantly seek and protect. But I’d like to talk about the flip side of home – and that is the need to get away.
Most people feel the need to retreat once in a while from the everyday grind – some more than others. I, for one, admit to being a ‘homebody’. I like the sound of my own door shutting behind me, slipping off my shoes in the same spot by that door, and the ultimate climb up the narrow, convoluted Dutch stairs to nestle in for the night – in the comfort of my own bed.
But, every so often (like right now), I have this incredible urge to get away from home… to leave it all behind in a cloud of accumulated dust, and wallow away in some remote, hidden, and hopefully secret place where ‘no one can find me’… sans laptop, and with my mobile phone turned off.
Shirley Agudo

EXPAT LIVING
At Your Service……..

“What service?” one of my expat clients responded when I asked her opinion on the general level of service in Holland, “I have not experienced any service whatsoever.” Shamefully, I have to admit I tend to agree with her. How often have I sat in restaurants, desperately trying to catch the waiter’s eye waiting for the bill or another drink?
Monique Brans

LEISURE
International Film Festival Rotterdam
Special Focus: Forget Africa

The International Film Festival Rotterdam offers a quality selection of worldwide independent, innovative and experimental cinema as well as a series of film-related visual arts exhibitions and live performances. Devoted to actively supporting independent filmmaking from around the globe, IFFR is the essential hub in Holland for discovering film talent and catching premieres, as well as for exploring its competitions, main sections of recent feature films, short films and documentaries, visual arts exhibitions, theme sections and debates.
This year, the International Film Festival Rotterdam has announced that the first major focus of the 39th edition is: ‘Where is Africa?’ This will be the most extensive program devoted to independent African filmmaking at any Western film festival in recent years, and will include new short and feature-length films, live performances, historical films, storyteller’s cinema, debates and a series of commissioned films by non-African filmmakers.
www.filmfestivalrotterdam.com  

DUTCH CULTURE
The Dutch Golden Age: When Great Art Was Almost Ordinary

This Dutch Golden Age of Art, which took place in the 17th century, yielded resounding names that are known throughout the world, such as Rembrandt van Rijn, Frans Hals, Johannes Vermeer, Jan Steen, and Jacob van Ruisdael – and their masterpieces, such as The Nightwatch, Jester with a Lute, The Girl with the Pearl Earring, The Merry Family, or A View of Haarlem.
Yet also so-called ‘lesser names’ are bound to ring a bell. How about Salomon van Ruysdael, Gerard Dou, Nicolaes Maes, and Adriaen van Ostade? Just a simple search on the Internet will yield a list of 260 names of painters born between 1558 and 1671. What makes it all the more amazing is that this Golden Age – and its masters – only lasted a little under a century, from approximately 1610 till 1680.
What were the particular qualities that made these painters so special? What is it that distinguishes a Rembrandt from, say, his neighbor? Why was it that Dutch painting flourished so during these 70 years? Was it coincidence? Economics? A fertile ground?

EVENT
The Ox Makes Way for the Tiger

In 2010, February 13/14 will be the day when the Chinese, at home and abroad, will welcome their new year, and the year of the Ox will make way for the year of the Tiger. It is the longest and most important holiday on the Chinese calendar; spread of 15 days, and ending with the Lantern Festival under a full moon.
Worldwide, there are national events to commemorate this date, with the Netherlands being no exception. On February 13, the Atrium of the City Hall of The Hague will be the place where the activities that mark the start of the Year of the Tiger will be held, while it will also be the starting point for the traditional Parade with the Dragon and Lion Dance. Furthermore, throughout the day, there will be ongoing art performances and a Chinese market open to the public. As an event, this has been a growing one in the Netherlands and last year drew more than 20,000 people to the city centre to witness and experience a sampling of Chinese culture.
Deborah Valentine
www.chinesecultuur.nl

EVENT
Art And Antiques in Naarden-Vesting

From January 28 through 31, 2010, you will once again find the Art & Antique Weekend in the pleasant venue of the Grote Kerk in Naarden. More than 40 leading antique and art dealers from the Netherlands and Belgium will be there to present their collections.
This will be the Art & Antique Weekend’s 13th edition, so that it can rightfully be referred to as a tradition. It owes its success to its distinctive combination of high-quality objects, its exclusive location, and its accessibility. While enjoying its informal atmosphere, visitors can admire the furniture, silver, jewelry, painting, drawings and prints – all of high quality, yet not overpriced. The list of participants, while including established and well-known names, also intentionally contains a number of newcomers. The Weekend’s accessibility is unique in the world of art and antiques and is greatly valued by both its visitors and its participants.
As always, the Art & Antiques Weekend will encompass all of history, running from moving pieces of ancient art, to modern and contemporary art, presented, among others, by Dolf D. van Omme, Martin Seegers Kunstbemiddeling, Galerie Noordeinde, Het Cleyne Huys, Galerie Lilly Zeligman, Kunstkamer HeerenRijk and the Galerie des Beaux Arts.
www.kunstenantiekweekend.nl  

COOKING
The Art of Dutch Cooking: From Kate’s Mustard Soup to Little Omelets of Mother Nature

Elsewhere in this issue, we took a look at the Golden Age of Dutch art. Though some of you might find it hard to believe, there is another Dutch art that also has its golden moments: cooking. To celebrate this, we have chosen a wonderful book for reviewing: Dutch Culinary Art, 400 Years of Festive Cooking. What a feast of recognition it was, once we were in the mood for the Golden Age, to open the book and find Vermeer’s The Milk Maid in there, and one of Jan Steen’s cozy family scenes!
Dutch Culinary Art takes us on a trip through the history of Dutch cooking, starting by stating that 57 BC – the year of the arrival of the Romans – constituted the end of Dutch culinary prehistory; though, of course, no recipes remain from this time to prove this point. Nonetheless, no sooner had printing been invented, or the first Dutch cookbook appeared, in approximately 1514. It is fascinating to read the path that cooking followed: a surprisingly similar one to that of today. It went from – in short – a predilection for vegetables, to spicy foods, to Italian salads, to exotic dishes. And here we are, thinking that five centuries ago, it was all about pork, cabbage and potatoes.
In fact, most expats probably still think that it is all about pork, cabbage and potatoes now, too. And it is, in fact – that is to say, there are still plenty of traditional Dutch recipes that involve all three of these, or any combination thereof, but there is also so much more. Be sure to purchase this book and find new ways to delight your palate!

EXPAT LIVING
What Are Your Expectations?

What are your expectations, when hiring someone from overseas? Or as the person who has to make the arrangements for the transfer of a colleague from an international branch of your company? Do you know what the expectations are of those who are coming? What about your own expectations, professionally and personally? Do they match those of your supervisor for instance? What exactly is expected of you, if you are the person who is assigned to managing the relocation? The person who has been recruited from abroad, is here to fill a gap – in knowledge, expertise perhaps – but now what? For Joost Zoetemeyer, Senior Consultant at Segment Relocation and Expat Services, the success of relocating, from all perspectives, is all about the ‘management of expectations’. It sounds like a rather daunting task – to manage expectations – but it is clear from what Joost says, and what Segment Relocation and Expat Services have been doing for many years, that it is at the core of the way they do business, and it boils down to a very simple, and straightforward, principle.
Deborah Valentine

LEISURE
Fryslan Fuels a Frozen Escape

An old saying has it that an abundance of holly berries predicts a harsh winter. This autumn we have seen plenty. In the hopes that finally another Elfstedentocht (Eleven City Ice-Skating Tour) will lift this winter beyond the mere freezing, our tour takes us up North to where the action might just happen. And even if it doesn’t, we won’t mind putting our skates in the boot and taking a whole different kind of city tour. But first things first. Our destination is Friesland; a farmers’ province hidden behind the IJsselmeer and largely overshadowed by Groningen.
Flocks of geese fly over and buzzards chase each other in the sky. If you have time, spend it driving around the country roads, stopping once in a while to take it all in before you’re back out on the Afsluitdijk. While Friesland still remains largely unexplored by tourism, it makes the relatively long drive up all the more worthwhile.
Suzanne Schreve
Planetarium, www.planetarium-friesland.nl/engels.html
Sauna Hotstones, www.saunahotstones.nl
Bed & Breakfast ’t Landschaphof, www.landschapshof.nl
Elfstedentocht, www.elfstedentouristinformation.nl/en

EVENT
Made in Holland: Inventions and Innovations

Kunsthal - Rotterdam 19 December 2009 up to 21 March 2010

In cooperation with the National Archives and Delft University of Technology, Kunsthal Rotterdam will be presenting a versatile family exhibition on Dutch inventions and innovations. By means of inventive designs and models, very diverse film material, patents and refined drawings, it will become clear why and how the Dutch invent and innovate. In a surprising way, the exhibition will show all sorts of problems have been solved over the centuries, as well as how new products are tested and how small designs can change a society. Visitors young and old alike are encouraged not only to test models and improve products, but also to come up with their own innovative plans.
www.kunsthal.nl

FINANCE
Is There a Future for the World of Financial Advice?

These past few years, the financial world in the Netherlands has been shaken by a series of scandals. First there was the Dexia affair (investing in shares with borrowed money), followed by usurious insurance policies (high hidden costs in life insurance policies), and then the credit crisis. Finally, as if that wasn’t enough, DSB bank collapsed this fall after being exposed for providing its (prospective) clients with dubious advice. It is no wonder that people doubt whether reliable advisors (still) exist. This article will outline a number of new developments and insights in the area of financial advice.
Peter Hans Teutenberg
www.teutenberg.nl