Snow Falls in the Netherlands
For the first time in 10 years, the Netherlands is experiencing heavy snowfall with snow storm in the last two days. I strolled for four…
Category: Features
Netherlands: The Land of Reclamation
There’s a saying in the Netherlands: “God created the world, but the Dutch created the Netherlands”. Because of its natural location that is always threatened…
Ode to Haarlem on her 775th Birthday
Hip, hip, hoera! Je bent jarig, mooie meid! (It’s your birthday, beautiful girl!). On November 23, 1245, Haarlem, now the capital city of North Holland,…
Genieten—go enjoy yourself!
Two years ago, I came as a trailing wife (with our then 4-year-old son) to my husband to Suriname. He goes there regularly to teach…
Not Locked or Down: the Dutch Approach to the Pandemic
For the Dutch, lockdown doesn’t mean locked or down. When the first package of measures was announced in the second week of March many thought it was the end of freedom as we know it. However, compared to other countries, the Dutch way has always been keeping basic freedoms
Was Philippine Hero Rizal Inspired by the Dutch novelist Multatuli?
Rizal’s books are mostly relevant because of his convictions and ideas, full of interesting thoughts about a fair and just government, about non-violence, religion, etc.
Message of acceptance at the Amsterdam Pride Canal Parade
This year’s Pride celebrations commemorate 50 years since the Stonewall riots that broke out in New York and paved way to the LGBT movement around…
Finding diamonds in Antwerp
If you’re looking to buy a diamond, Antwerp is the place but I wonder where the diamonds come from. Could they be blood diamonds? I…