The festivities kick off on Friday 12 March with a evening full of live Irish music in Irish pubs in The Hague, including The Shillelaigh on Javastraat!

The music starts at 10.00pm in the Shillelaigh featuring Paul O'Brien (folk/trad ) & friends (along with Declan Bonner & Susan Walsh) and includes an Open Session for any visiting trad & folk musicians.

On Saturday 13 March it’s the turn of the annaul Gaelic football tournament at the Westlandse Rugby Club featuring 18 teams from Ireland and the Benelux.

And in the evening the highpoint of the agenda: the party in Paard van Troje with top Irish bands.

More details …

Boat trip along Archipelbuurt

The Haagse Willemsvaart Foundation started running a boat trip along Archipelbuurt (Koninginnegracht) in 2009.

This year a second nine-seater boat will be launched so that more people can enjoy hearing about the history of Willemspark and the Archipel, Scheveningen Woods and Westbroekpark/ Scheveningen.

06 1985 32 80

info@willemsvaart.nl

www.willemsvaart.nl

The trips begin in April and tickets can be purchased at the VVV Tourist Information Office (next to Dudok). Theme trips and other special arrangements are also possible. For example stopping for lunch at De Waterkant on the edge of the Rosarium in Westbroekpark.

Tickets for standard trip:

Children under 2 - free

Children 3 to11 - € 4.50

12 and older - € 9

Boarding points:

Koningskade/Dr. Kuyperstraat

Madurodam/Wittebrug

Prices special arrangements

Monthly Expat Drinks at Dendy

Every last Wednesday of the month, the trendy and stylish Café/Restaurant Dendy, on The Hague’s Denneweg, hosts a drinks event intended for expats and internationals who are looking to expand their social network, have fun in a relaxed and elegant setting and wind down after a busy day with a few drinks and excellent company.

Upcoming Dates for Dendy Expat Drinks 2010:

24 February	25 August
31 March	29 September
28 April	27 October
26 May	24 November
30 June	29 December
28 July

Address:

Dendy Bar-Restaurant

Hooistraat 1 (corner Denneweg)
2514 BM | The Hague

Wijkbus Stap-In / Step-in Community Bus

November 2009 - Wijkbus Stap-In has been providing transport for the elderly and less able in the Archipel&Willemspark, Zeehelden and Duinoord districts for 20 years.

If you would like more information ring 070 352 04 16 or 070 350 40 10.

Streetparty Celebesstraat – 6 September 2009

Weather

Fine: not a lot of sun but dry.

Fine feeling to know the food and drink would remain dry whatever the weather. The council subsidy this time meant we could hire tents.

Party on Saturday

Better than the Sunday, which clashed with other events. Right after the school holidays (6 September) and before the start of the football and field hockey season so no excuses not to be there.

Car-free street = biggest playground ever

Council permit and police cordon tape to close off the street; cooperation from the neighbours to empty the street. The kids had bags of space to play in and plenty of games, toys, go-karts and a bouncy castle rented from Sport-o-theek.

Colourful international gathering

More than 70 adults and children took part, including members of the expat fraternity in the street. The Canadians took care of the BBQ; they had the biggest one in the street!

The party certainly did its bit for better integration: an afternoon and evening full of chatting and fun to promote fellowship and mutual respect.

Conclusion

Let’s do it more often!

35 years on & under the balcony - Balistraat

Wil Korrelboom -

exhibition in the Haagse Kunstkring (HKK)

31 October 2009 – 17 November 2009

In 1999 it was "25 jaar op en onder het balkon Balistraat 6" and now ten years later the HKK is exhibiting his work again: 35 years on & under the balcony at 6 Balistraat. Then it was 500 snapshots of people he wanted to portray; either photographically or in a painting.

The balcony, Wim Korrelboom's balcony, is the constant theme in the series, the sitters the variable factor. The snapshots now number more than 1,000.

Besides all the photos, there is a selection of his paintings. This is a unique, ongoing portrait of The Hague: an unfinished social record of residents on a balcony: a threatened oasis in a changing city that is becoming more and more crowded and congested. So far it has taken 35 years!

The exhibition will be opened on 31 October by John Sillevis, former senior curator of the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag and now curator of Den Haag Sculptuur 2009.

Haagse Kunstkring
Denneweg 64
Tel: 070 364 75 85

Poet in residence in Archipelbuurt

27 September 2009 – A flag fluttered invitingly on Sunday morning in Malakkastraat, signalling that family Jacobs had a “Dichter aan huis” (Poet in residence) in the person of poetess Anneke Claus (b.1979).

Poetry lovers who had signed up beforehand poured inside.

Photo: A.Gabrielli

The poetess not only recited her own poems as part of the annual Hague Poetry Festival but also explained how they came about and how she was chosen as city poet for Groningen at the beginning of 2009.

Poems from her 2008 collection “Dat was dat” proved to have an unpredictable and somewhat disquieting – and sometimes humerous – twist at the end, which was rather refreshing.

Queen Beatrix re-opens VNG headquarters on Nassaulaan

On 22 September Queen Beatrix re-opened the headquarters of the Association of Netherlands Municipalities (VNG) in the Willemshof on Nassaulaan after its complete renovation and the construction of a new extension at the rear on Schelpkade. In the past he building was used as a royal stables (1845 - 1879) and a church (1863 - 1962), and now houses the VNG (since 1975).

This was the second time Queen Beatrix performed this ceremony. She carried out the first opening as Crown Princess in 1975, when, after having served as the Church of the Oranjes, the building became headquarters of the VNG. The Queen’s mother (Juliana) and grandmother (Wilhelmina) were christened in the Willemskerk. A more distant forebear, King Willem II, originally built it as a royal stables in the neo-Gothic style greatly favoured by him. Willemspark was then a real park providing the royals with a place to horse-back ride and where, later, chique guesthouses were built for the colonials returning from the Dutch East Indies.

The building, which State Secretary Bijleveld described in her speech as providing accommodation for a succession of horses, church-goers and civil servants, is to this day also known as the Willemshof. Mrs Jorritsma, Mayor of Almere and Chairperson of the VNG, talked primarily about its present function as the “House of the Municipalities” and referred to the name jokingly used for it “Vereniging Nooit Genoeg” (the not enough association). A film was shown depicting the various episodes of the building’s history, and the immense extension at the rear on Schelpkade and the completely new atrium behind the original façade created by the architect bureau Claessens Erdmann. A mysterious phantom presented the Queen with a glass ball with which to officially open the completely renovated building: adding yet another page to the rich history of our neighbourhood.

The VNG has published a beautifully illustrated book about the building.

Photo: VNG website

Mallemolen Festival


Photos: Webteam 2009

The second Mallemolen Festival will be held on Sunday 30 August. There will be live music galore from 16.00 till 21.00 and the festivities begin at 13.00 with a snack and drink. The children haven’t been forgotten either; plenty of activities throughout the afternoon.

Programme

The party in Mallemolen starts at 13.00. All restaurants will again have stalls serving snacks and drinks, varying from French, Mediterranean and Japanese/Latin to favourites like bitterballen. The Mochi restaurant in the former premises of Djawa, and fully operational soon, will be taking part for the first time. A bouncy castle, permanently supervised, will mean parents can savour what’s on offer without having to worry about their children. A clown will be on hand to provide plenty of hilarity and a makeup artist will transform the “little darlings’ into whatever they wish.

Musical entertainment will start at 16.00 with Night Fly: six musicians (singer, piano, guitar, drums and saxophone) perform well-known pop songs to sing along and dance to.

From18.00 onwards, by popular request because of their great success in 2008, it’s the turn of the band Footloose playing unadulterated rock fun. A band that guarantees to raise the roof, get everyone singing along and make it a hell of a party. Their repertoire varies from the Rolling Stones and Golden Earring (the 60s again) to Herman Brood, Robbie Williams and ACDC. Lead singer is Chris Kirch and other members of the band are Appie Mol, guitar and vocals, Sjaak van der Berg, bass guitar, Peter Simons, keyboard and vocals, and Leone Bazuin, drums. More information about the band at www.footloose.tk

No smoking

A new law prohibiting smoking in catering establishments nationwide was introduced on 1 July 2008. In order to make sure that everyone will be able to enjoy the party the proprietors will provide heated terraces for the smoking fraternity.

Frederikstraat - the place to be

Frederikstraat celebrated its reopening with a fantastic street party on Saturday 27 June. Alderman Frits Huffnagel performed the ceremonial opening at 12.00 with a bumper balloon launch.

More photos ...

It was a most genial affair full of activities during which the retailers welcomed their customers (and anyone else who would like to come along) to a completely transformed street. Bands performed on several stages and lovers of herring and ice cream were catered for too. The shopkeepers and cafés displayed their wares from attractive stalls on the street, with plenty of nice places to stop for a drink and a bite to eat.

Activities for the children

Competitions were organized for the children, including a drawing competition with the theme “what will Frederikstraat look like when I grow up?” and a balloon conjurer and a puppet show were also on hand to keep the children entertained.

M vd Zalm

Transformation of Frederikstraat

Access to Frederikstraat has been a nightmare for almost three months. A necessary evil because drains and sewers needed replacing, while the asphalt road surface and the pavements were due for a makeover. The new paving, along with the additional trees and the traditional lampposts, give the street scene an ambiance more fitting to this shopping street, which over the years has become more and more chic. Just as in Mallemolen, the lampposts have been decorated with hanging baskets to brighten things up. Uniform-sized terraces have been installed for the cafés and restaurants, each with its own house style.

Fifty-six retailers have united to form a very active association with six board members. Chairman Borsboom says, “There are no empty premises in our street. The aspiration, at the request of the city council among other things, is to achieve an integration of the area comprising Frederikstraat, Mallemolen and Javastraat with Denneweg (buurtschap 2005).”

More activities are planned for December. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. As of Saturday 27 June Frederikstraat is “the place to be” so come along and savour what is in store for you during the fantastic action-packed street party.

M vd Zalm

Archipel School Summer Party

19 June 14.30 -15.30

Atjehstraat 1

On 19 June all the pupils at the Archipelschool will perform together in the Groot Zelfgemaakt Schoolplein Orkest to mark the end of the school year. The neighbourhood is also involved and invited to attend.

The Major Home-Made Playground Orchestra is a project for all classes in primary school. It involves children playing music on the most bizarre of instruments. From concrete barrels and scaffolding pipes to empty beer bottles, but also on more familiar instruments like saxophone and guitar. And if that isn’t enough, there will be plenty of singing, rapping, clapping and the stamping of feet, too.

The children will first follow workshops to make some of the instruments themselves, and then follow music lessons in individual and mixed groups. Until finally everything and everyone comes together in one grand performance for parents, neighbours and acquaintances.

The children raised funds necessary for this project themselves in a sponsored run on 20 May this year. Invitations will be distributed throughout the neighbourhood in the coming week.

Download poster

Information: Els Olde Bijvank at pe_els@hotmail.com

A peek in the Hilton on Zeestraat

It still takes a lot of imagination to visualize the luxury 5-star hotel to open in the former postal telecommunications building on Zeestraat. Nevertheless The Hague’s Hilton Hotel must be ready on 1 April 2010 and more than 130 construction workers are busy at the site to ensure this deadline is met.

To help the public get a picture of the 195 hotel rooms, including ten luxury penthouses, there are guided tours on Saturday 6 June from 10.00 to 16.00 as part of the annual Dag van de Bouw event.

Social Sofa

Symbolic handing over of social sofa to community

November 2009 - The social sofa is finished and it looks great. It was transported to Bankastraat with a forklift truck on 26 October.

The present location of our social sofa is not ideal, so it has been agreed that a more suitable spot will be found once the remodeling of the broad section of Bankstraat has taken place. In the meantime we can all still get a lot of pleasure from it; perhaps even enjoy a few rays of sunshine as well. The mosaic decoration on the sofa reflects the link between the former Dutch East Indies and the street names in Archipelbuurt.

The symbolic handing over to the community takes place on Saturday 14 November at 15.30 next to Café Banka.

Five minutes of fame - our Social Sofa volunteers in the limelightt

Thanks to The Hague EXpats TV, the labour of love to create our beautiful Social Sofa has been captured on film for posterity. Even as the sofa was being worked on it was fulfilling its function: bringing people together.

Australian Lisa, who arrived in the Archipelbuurt just nine months ago, and Jennifer from the UK have certainly made a few more friends in the neighbourhood and have been able to practice their Dutch.

We owe all of these volunteers a huge vote of gratitude for their wonderful work. It will be a joy to behold for many years to come!

The work is finished

26 October 2009 - Sofa is transported to Bankastraat where it replaces the wooden bench next to Cafe Banka.

22 October 2009 - It took 17 days of hard work by a group of dedicated volunteers, but wasn't it worth it!

Relocation



	Photos: Karen Kommer	Designer: Irene Vonck

The metamorphosis

Work has started in earnest

on the Social Sofa

14 October 2009 - As you can see below, thanks to the hard work of the volunteers the A&W Social Sofa is taking shape. And even the kids and expats are getting in on the act!

10 October 2009 – Extra help sought. Work is well underway on mosaicing the social sofa but extra volunteers would be most welcome. Do you have time to lend a hand?

Then pop along to Sumatrastraat 241 (through the entranceway to garage number 263) any weekday between 9.00 and 16.00 (work usually goes on into the evening too).

1 October 2009 - Suitable accommodation has been found and with the help of Irene Vonck, the designer of the theme for the sofa, a group of dedicated volunteers has started its labour of love to produce A&W's Social Sofa.

The Indisch theme is beginning to take shape as the island contours are filled in with the mosaic pieces on sheets of adhesive film, which can be easily flipped in order to glue each island of the Indonesian archipelago to the sofa.

Designer: Irene Vonck /

Photos: Karen Kommer

Getting started

Social sofa in the making

A start has been made on preparations for the “social sofa” mentioned in the previous issue of the community newspaper. The group of interested volunteers has decided on the “indisch” theme for the decoration: palm trees, islands, sun, etc.

We are looking for a studio or workshop that can accommodate a concrete bench weighing 2,000 kg and people working on the mosaic design from all sides, with preferably running water and a w.c. as well as an entrance about 2.35 m wide that can be securely locked.

I you know or perhaps have such a location (a garage for example) available, coordinator Else Ponsen would be most grateful. She can be contacted on 070 350 35 11 or by e-mail at secretariaat@archipelbuurt.nl.

Social sofa for the community: help and workspace sought

There was an appeal in the April issue of the community newspaper about making a mosaic bench for the community: a so-called “Social sofa”. There are already several such sofas in other districts of The Hague. The council is providing financial support.

But your help is needed: who is available to stick some of the 43,000 pieces of mosaic onto the concrete bench on one of the six working days booked for this venture? Who knows of a studio or workshop at ground level where the 2.25-metre-long bench can be worked on, and has an entrance at least 90cm wide?

We also need a theme suitable for the neighbourhood (for example Couperus or “Indisch” district) and someone to make the design (perhaps one of our many locals artists?). And then there is the location of the bench. All suggestions gratefully accepted.

A number of local residents have already reacted very positively to this really nice project. A first meeting is planned for the beginning of June for all those interested in helping. The aim is to decorate and install the sofa in the autumn.

To register your participation and for questions and suggestions contact Else Ponsen, who will coordinate the sofa project:

Archipel&Willemspark Residents Association, Celebesstraat 4

secretariaat@archipelbuurt.nl

Monchyplein 2004 – 2009

First lustrum celebrations- 21 June 2009

The wind band Eigen Hulp supplied the musical accompaniment ...

Annelies from Zuivelland supplied the cheese board ... and the residents the conviviality!

More photos ...

Lustrum newspaper

A special lustrum newspaper containing photographs and historical information about the neighbourhood has been published to mark the occasion and is available at the Community Centre ‘t Klokhuis.

On 12 June 2004 the then Deputy Mayor Bruno Bruins Met unveiled the marble fountain with a huge crane to mark the official and festive opening of the Burgemeester de Monchyplein (BM) complex. That was almost five years ago, reason indeed for the BBM Residents Committee to celebrate its first lustrum.

An open-air lunch concert will be held on Sunday 21 June to which all local residents are invited. Immediately after the concert there will be a game of Jeu-de-boules (French bowls) on the playing area near the Post Office, next to the Irene monument. Make a note in your diary.

As usual there will be the annual barbecue, with a special festive touch, for Monchyplein residents in the evening.

Local chamber choir esGROOT

Saturday 27 March 2010

A versatile reportoire of songs by Brahms and Mendelssohn and

both melancholic and swinging Hebrew and South American music.

Nieuwe Badkapel

Nieuwe Parklaan 90

Time: 20.15 uur
(Doors open at 19.30.)

Tickets:
advance tickets €10; €6 children up to 16
tickets at the church €12 & €8

Available from choir members ( ruoff@planet.nl)
By e-mail harry@fossen.nl (e-mail address has Spam security so you need to have JavaScript) with details about number and sort of ticket, name, address & telephone number
By telephone 070 3584606

More information

L O C A L R E S I D E N T P U B L I S H E S B O O K

José Buschman

Karen Kommer & Frits Griffin

Former chairperson (1993 – 1998) and joint founder of

the Louis Couperus Genootschap
José Buschman

The book is entitled Een dandy in de Oriënt. Louis Couperus in Afrika and is the third in the series De Parelduikerreeks produced by publisher Bas Lubberhuizen.

The inspiration for this research into Couperus’ African journey, of which he wrote a series of accounts the Haagsche Post (and was later published in book form: Met Louis Couperus in Afrika, 1921), was the acquisition of a painting with an assignment for Couperus on the back.

Buschman presents numerous unknown biographical facts about the writer and provides a new insight into the authorship of Couperus.

De Parelduikerreeks - part 3
Een dandy in de Oriënt:
Louis Couperus in Afrika
José Buschman

160 pages and richly illustrated
isbn 978 90 5937 140 8
€16.90

Green Lips

the book launch December 14, 2008

and the photo exhibition December 1-31

(text from theAmerican Book Center's ABC Treehut website)

Green Lips (English & Dutch) is the book of Fritz Griffin, resident US author, Karen Kommer native Haagse photographer (both local residents of Archipel & Willemspark), and 28 youthful residents of The Hague, the 'International Capital of Peace and Justice', who give their neglected voices, insightful ideas and heartfelt pleas on the major world issue of our time - Climate Change and its impact on the Nature and their future.

These young people(10-18) have widely varying life experiences, countries and origin and cultural backgrounds,but share living at sea level and one overriding concern - The quality of environment in which they and their potential future children will have to live.Listen to their call.

Photo exhibition 1-31 December: black and white portraits and color photos of the 28 Green Lips youth in their favorite nature location in The Hague that exemplifes their ideas of their future vision for the world are available to view in The ABC Treehut gallery.

Book launch and signing 14 December : the authors will be attending the Green Lips launch.There will be a chance to meet the participants in this important project. Some of the youth will also perform special music for the event.

Because of limited space do let Karen know you are coming before 7 December if you want to attend launch .

The book is published by De Witte Uitgeverij, costs €24.50 and can be ordered online.

P R E S S R E L E A S E

GREEN LIPS is a unique English and Dutch book, in which
28 young residents of The Hague (between 10 and 18 years old)
from different countries tell about their favorite ‘green’ spot in
this international city. They speak out on climate change, nature
and the future, giving us their remarkably insightful ideas,
solutions and heartfelt pleas on these subjects. The book contains
beautiful black and white portraits, and color photos of the
28 young people, taken at their favorite ‘green’ spot in The Hague
by Karen, Fritz’s essay Green Lips Speaking Convivial Truths and
his special painting illustrations, with quotes by Al Gore from
An Inconvenient Truth.
Richard Louv, author of the American bestseller Last Child in
the Woods, has written the foreword to GREEN LIPS. Also Peter
Smit, Alderman of The Hague for Nature and the Environment,
has contributed to this book.

Details:

location: upstairs at the American Book Center, Lange Poten 23
time: 16:00 to 18:00
cost: free
host: Karen Kommer
email: karen.kommer@wanadoo.nl
website: www.griffinkommer.com
telephone: 070 360 45 46

Murphy's Law Jazz Nights

Dr. Kuyperstraat 7

www.murphysjazz.nl

Every monday evening at 9 pm there is live jazz in Murphy's. It starts with a concert and ends in a great jamsession.

Check out the musicians.

Stroom

Hogewal 1-9, The Hague

T +31 70 3658985
F +31 70 3617962
info@stroom.nl

www.stroom.nl

Stroom Den Haag (an independent foundation founded in 1989) is an active center for visual arts and architecture. Stroom has an active policy for artists from The Hague and also initiates a large number of (international) activities in the fields of visual arts, art in public space, architecture and design, in the broadest sense of the word.

Stroom organizes exhibitions, manifestations and lectures, produces publications, has a library on its premises and develops special projects in the field of art in public space and architecture.

The name Stroom was chosen because it stands for energy and movement.

Programme

22 Nov - 17 Jan
Thom Vink 'Moth House'
In the series of exhibitions by artists like Mark Handforth, Calin Dan and Toby Paterson. The power and originality of their work is of great value for everyone interested in the urban environment.

22 Nov - 10 Jan
Ondertussen: Dorota Walentynowicz
Two pinhole photographs and a video work give an impression of the installation 'Plato machine'.

24 Oct - 03 Jan
Radical Autonomy
Exhibition at Le Grand Café in Saint Nazaire (France), guest curated by Arno van Roosmalen (director Stroom Den Haag).

25 Mar - 31 Dec
Foodprint Program
About food for the city, taking place over the course of two years.

31 Jan - 28 Mar
Upcycling: Up to You
Architect Yona Friedman, designer Thomas Lommée and artist Navid Nuur.

Activities for expats at the Carlton Ambassador
Sophialaan2 (corner of Zeestraat)
www.carlton.nl

Every first Thursday of the month

Expat Evening in Bar-Bistro Rubens

Every last Friday of the month

Jazz & Cocktails

OTHER ACTIVITIES

Guided tour through Willemspark & 'Indische' Archipel

Contact:

't Gilde Den Haag
Riviervismarkt 2
2513 AM The Hague
Open week days 9:30 - 12:30
070 356 12 81
gildedenhaag@hetnet.nl
www.gildedenhaag.nl

The story of The Hague

historic city walk

www.thestoryofthehague.nl

The 2.5 hour programme concludes here with a drink.

When: Every Sunday at 13.30 h.

Where: The Hague Historical Museum, Korte Vijverberg 7, The Hague.
Price: € 17.50 including a visit to the Hague Historical Museum, Panorama Mesdag and a drink.

Reservations:

VVV (Tourist Information Office), Hofweg 1, The Hague.

VVV Scheveningen (Gevers Deynootstraat 1134.

Telephone Bookings: 070-3385800
Book Online at: www.denhaag.com