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Wednesday, Feb 8, 2012.
Forecast: at least COLD until this Sunday.
Careful on the road, it might be slippery due to icing.
OMG The Hague NETWORK DRINK seems to be for your eye's only.
Cheers!Also some expat media seem to be focussing on ............you......€xpats!
Wow, you sure must have LOTS of friends here CRAWLING all over you, introducing themselves and their companies.
. To skate or not to skate?; still no news on 11 steden skating trip.
In the meantime let's hope NS, Prorail and the rest of the transport companies will work closely together to prevent chaos on the way to/from the event, just in case.
Tuesday, Feb 7, 2012.
ING faces internet problems, no way to get to your savings/money.
Update: all seems ok now.
Dutch 11 steden koorts (=11 cities fever) is growing; Friesland once in so many years skating event to be held? Will the weather permit this event to go through?
Helping hands all over to let the ice grow as fast as possible.
NS and ProRail accuse each other for not acting as should have been done. "It wasn't me."
Feb 6, 2012.
Today quite sunny, enjoy!!
Tip: NS to refund stranded passengers all cabs/car fares over the past weekend.
Better inform your friends.
Reminder: better be on time, less trains.
To newcomers only: no panic, today first Monday of the month, national sirens testing.
Feb 5, 2012.
Tip: NS advises to be on time tomorrow due to busy peak hours or even better: take a train (if any, hahaha) a bit earlier.
Ah, full house, teenagers still fast asleep after arriving home LATE.
No beauty sleep this time.
Better check Schiphol arr/dept site (right column) before you set off to welcome/to say goodbye to Auntie Claire.
Mind the road signs, max speed limit reduced.
NS storingen (problem areas): well, see for yourself.
Still NS refuses to apologize to its passengers, "we are not to blame", according to its spokeswoman.
The body of missing 10-year-old Michael has been found.
Feb 4, 2012.
Non-working NS causes irritation all over.
Warning: today no more intercities to and from Utrecht. Stop trains seem to be ok.
Tip: Although on the news NS predicted otherwise, again NS train traffic is facing problems due to the weather.
ANWB warns cardrivers to avoid using Dutch highways due to icing and some misty weather. If you need to use your car please check the info boards on max speed warnings etc. and take some water, a flashlight and a warm blanket with you, just in case.
Last night food delivery agencies announced to keep their personnel inside, no deliveries, so better be sure before you order your pizza.
Amsterdam public transport is still facing some problems due to icing.
Coldest night in 27 years: minus 23 degrees in Noordoostpolder.
Schiphol advises its passengers to check their websire (right column) to check on cancellations/delays. Last night Dutch Red Cross was helping out stranded transit passengers.
Seems NS site was o.o.o. during yesterday's chaos......no comment.
Feb 3, 2012.
Update: no trains to/from Amsterdam/Utrecht.
KNMI weather warning: snow, careful on the road, slippery due to icing.
ANWB calls to car drivers not to use the Randstad area due to huge traffic jams (approx. 800km).
Utrecht CS seems to be chaotic with many delayed/cancelled trains; oh sigh, what else is new when it snows......
Better do your groceries this morning, later it might be snowing.
NS and Schiphol Airport are facing problems due to the snow, better check their websites (right column).
No traces yet of missing Michael.
And again...off to the beach, dressed warm it really is beautiful out there and makes the head clear. Till soon. x
Feb 2, 2012.
Careful, not all the frozen canals are safe yet. As of this Friday the news predicts some snow.
Dutch Royal couple 10 years married, congrats!
Noordoost polder: No news yet on missing Michael, blue eyes, red jacket, jeans, blue/black bonnet, 2 dog bite scars under/next to his right eye; according to the news he is mentally a bit retarded and left his Grandfather's home yesterday after 4.00 p.m. Any news please call your local police or 0800-6070. Thank you.
Feb 1, 2012.
As of this evening Amber Alert for 10-year-old Michael.
Update: his body has been found.
Don't expect too many updates today, off to the beach.
Update: Ha, no kidding and I have to admit it was COLD but beautiful: sunny, blue sky and only one other crazy person like me walking along the shore. Holland is beautiful.
January 31, 2012.
Notice all those Dutch flags with orange banners? Today Queen Beatrix celebrates her 74th birthday. Maybe now you'll understand the fact that April 30th, late Queen Juliana's birthday, has been celected to celebrate her official birthday. Imagine all those festivities and flea markets in this temperature.
€10.000 reward for golden tip. Who has seen this man? Please contact your local police or
dial nr 0900-8844. Thank you.
January 30, 2012.
KNMI warning: careful, icing on roads.
Planning to visit Belgium? Tip: National public transport strike today.
According to judges ruling Dutch The Hague Malieveld Occupy demonstrants are not to be removed.
Srry for the typo's, oh well no one to blame but myself.
January 29, 2012.
Amsterdam today: remembrance ceremony Auschwitz monument.
St Willebrord, Brabant: Drive-in?
January 28, 2012.
Better warn Auntie Claire, predictions are stronger that next week will be COLD.
ASH - S.V. Wassenaar football match this cold afternoon: 2-2.
Chapeau Chess and your team!
January 27, 2012.
Enjoy your trip to Prague dear. x
January 26, 2012.
Utrecht: this afternoon many Dutch highschool teachers on strike will visit Utrecht Jaarbeurs to show their disgust over plans Dutch Minister of Education to cut on vacations in order to increase the teaching hours quota.
Welcome Maldives and Libya!
January 25, 2012.
Stay put, predictions are next week will be cold enough to skate on nature ice.
According to the news soon 0900 service number costs will be cheaper, no more charging per minute.
A1 was closed due to many accidents this morning.
Today start 41th Rotterdam Film Festival 2012 (Jan 25- Feb 5).
Careful: car theft still a problem, esp the newer brands; favourites are: VW, Audi, BMW and Mercedes. Lock your cars and houses properly.
January 24, 2012.
Off with the youngest, precious quality time with both daughters, till soon. x
January 23, 2012.
According to the news 2011 New Years' Eve fireworks caused this year 246 eye problems, bystanders and users alike, from whom 21 suffers permanent damage.
ING internet problems solved. Well, until this afternoon, keep trying.
January 22, 2012.
Hubby didn't show up on time? Probably stuck in Rotterdam, electricity problems, so, not to worry.
ING is facing internet problems.
According to the news Colombian airtraffic is facing some problems due to FARC radar system attack.
Sint Maarten: yesterday Duch 16-year-old-Laura Dekker arrived (aankomst=arrival) at St Maarten after having sailed the world solo but not non-stop. She has many admirers but had some problems with Dutch youth care because of doing this trip at such a young age and missing so many school hours. Because of that she sailed the last couple of weeks with the new-Zealand flag, thus indicating she wants to leave the Netherlands permanently.
January 21, 2012.
Rick and Leslie, tnx for a great party.
No need to wash/dry during the night anymore; according to the news night time electricity over the years now as expensive/more expensive as during the day.
VK.nl photo's: Concordia rescue divers, chapeau for all their effort, still many missing, so sad.
According to the news Amsterdam citizens seem to rate their city quite positive.
How come no mention of increasing problems/irritation among the locals due to by merchandise and tourists (sorry) overcrowded canals? That was on the news as well.....
Amsterdam works hard on creating a better image.
Probably Iamsterdam=only for tourists?
Thank you for signing in, Tue class seems to be full, on Thu there will be an extra group.
Ahhh, must be my famous coffee and those loose running teenagers, cat and rabbit.
Still in search of a cappuccino making secretary, in the meantime, sorry for the typo's.
January 20, 2012.
Tip: if it's bad outside, over the weekend it will be rainy as well, better make the most of your (IKEA?)-home, buy some flowers, light some candles and count your blessings.
Hey, no sun, no dust to be seen, no dirty windows to notice........................
I promise, we do have nice weather AND sun AND warmth,....eventually.......
Wijk aan Zee: stranded cargo ship carries oil.
Yesterday famous Dutch dance choreographer Rudi van Dantzig passed away.
January 19, 2012.
Planning to go to Germany? Careful on the road, as it seems very slippery roads due to icing. Many accidents.
Israeli Prime Minister Nethanyahu to visit today Dutch Queen Beatrix, Dutch PM mr Mark Rutte and he will pay a visist to Dutch Parliament.
Soon two Dutch journalists to appear in German court because of undercover TV interview with convicted former Dutch war criminal Heinrich Boere.
The majority of the Dutch totally agree with you that dog poop is verrry annoying. Still, according to the news not all Dutch municipalities use their dog taxes (€25-€117 per dog) for cleaning-up dog poop. No comment.
January 18, 2012.
Veghel: 10-year-old girl dialed for no reason national/EU 112 alarmnumber 226 (!) times and thus risks a severe punishment.
Reminder: Please explain to your children the importance of National/European alarm nr 1-1-2. Any abuse is not only endangering other people's lives, but police can trace fake calls! Last year a Dutch 13-year-old boy called the number because he couldn't reach his parents. The police arrived and because there was no imminent danger there will be consequences for his doing so.
"Make yourself scarce on social media;" mom rests her case.
Recorded conversation between captain Concordia and Italian coastguard.
Reminder: 144 RED EEN DIER (=dial 144 to rescue an animal) Report 24/7 accidents, maltreatment or neglect regarding animals (right column).
Blind area reminder: Please show this to your children and warn them against the dangers.
(=dode hoek). Too many accidents involving youngsters on bikes.
(Update: the old link has been out-dated, sorry, this is hopefully as effective).
Ok dears, try to read those headlines, you can do it. Chop those words and voilá.
Reminder: You don't need those marketeers to draw your attention to pre-selected news for your €y€s only.
Warning: networking group "Expats in Holland", quote: "to share professional & lifestyle experiences, for Executive and non-Executive expats in the Netherlands" = eager
Dutch mainly non-expat executive members, who are dying to meet you and your potential.
Reminder: expat-radio, expat-tv and we-love-expats-promo = expat prices.
Hey, YOU are our economy boosters, hahahahaha.
OMG, even MORE Expat groups be become friends with: Expats in The Hague, Access, Expats in the Netherlands, IAM Expat, Expats networking group, etc etc.
Wow, you must have LOTS of friends here CRAWLING all over you, introducing themselves and their companies.
. In the meantime my dear Alexises and Sue Ellens: beter stick to useful info/hear-say from your (Dutch) neighbours and true Dutch/expat friends.
Wow, Dutch Minister of Education van Bijsterveldt ventilates resent ideas as if she invented the wheel: More moms to help out at school........ Hey, finally some credit to all those voluntary reading/helping/First-Aid/stay-over/toys-cleaning moms?
She even urges moms to work less; wasn't she aware of the fact that over the years many moms QUIT their jobs to stay home for taking care of their own children and helping out at school?
Tip: give some credit to all those voluntary workers and supply them with a bonus, (maybe this will stimulate even more to do the same) instead of pooring government (read:our) money down the drain on non-working euro consuming projects.
Almost every day now, some sad face in the news predicts a pending euro crisis.
Self-fulfilling prophecy? Enjoy what we have and a little less won't hurt.
Tip: Dutch emergency phone nr 144 to report maltreated/wounded/abused animals.
According to the news 50 criminal youth groups seem to be active in The Hague area.
Well if the city would use some of that "look-how-much-we-love-expats" budget money to help out on this one, maybe this problem would be solved or at least minimized.
No more automatic weekend leave for prisoners. Before they were allowed this luxury after only one and a half year of detention.........As of 2013 the leave has to be reintegration related and to be granted after good behaviour.
Beware of fake € 77 UGG's deriving from China.
As of today The Netherlands will join 2todrive experiment (=driving lessons may start at the age of 16½, exams at 17) to gain more driving experience accompanied by a coach until turning 18.
Martinair Airlines stops its passengers flights and continues being a freight carrier.
Enjoy, go outside and forget about the computer/your Blackberry/those irritating Tweets and non important What's-ups ect.
Final goodbye's can't make-up for lost years; maybe we need to be able to forgive so one can be freed from pain in the past.
Due to financial crisis (?) Dutch elderly maybe to receive less pension. Maybe the fault lies elsewhere, stop using financial crisis an an excuse.
According to a recent survey: the Dutch seem to have more spare time than the rest of Europe. Try to read the article, it's fun.
According to the news The Netherlands seems to be considered a tax haven for multinaltionals.
I ♥ Survivaldutch.nl.
Seems not only you my dear (former) students are visiting the site; it seems some analists and internet-experts are trying to focuss on how and why nevertheless the typo's (sorry, still no cappuccino-making secretary) the site is visited quite well. Tnx for the compliment, but hey, easy, matter of mutual trust.
Although much safer, most Dutch kids, like yours, not too found of non-cool cycling caps.
= 
ArkeWhy?ArkeFly Comfort Class offered by Kras.nl on long distance flights is NOT what the name pretends to be and in fact very uncomfortable.
"Comfort Class" breakfast consists of one cup of..........water. (no kidding). The rest of the details I will spare you. Better book your flight directly on a more service minded carrier and contact your hotel by email, saves you al lot of energy and trouble.
Dutch Ministry of Justice: Too young for this movie/game? Your youngsters will be stopped/corrected by the cashier. (Pas op de juiste leeftijd=pay attention to the correct age).
Self-fulfilling prophecy? Lately, the Dutch seem to be skeptic over consumers economy and the news is willing to spread the word. Ah, the more we read, the more we fear, the more we fear, etc etc.
EU claim: According to recent judges ruling aircraft technical problems are considered NOT to be force majeur. Any questions, better contact EU claim (info@euclaim.nl).
Thank you.
Reminder: better be aware of your EU passenger rights. Seems airlines aren't too fond of sharing this info with you.
Reminder: Please explain to your children the importance of National/European alarm nr 1-1-2. Any abuse is not only endangering other people's lives, but police can trace fake calls! Recently a Dutch 13-year-old boy called the number because he couldn't reach his parents. The police arrived and because there was no imminent danger there will be consequences for his doing so.
Reminder: expats are an eagerly marketed target group overhere, so better choose your friends with care.
Tip: not too many Dutch around picking up their own tab/non-traveling on company expenses? The place is definitely too expensive unless you're used to dressing up in mink while running on your Prada's after your precious brats.
Reminder: Try to read and understand those abracadabra Dutch headlines, use your brains, chop those sentences with those never-ending words and show them you are capable of much more than shopping, wining & dining, hahahahaha.
I know, I know, you're feeling homesick, wondering why in the world you've stranded overhere of all places and close to a divorce from-hubby-who-dragged-you-all the way to-The @!#$-where-is-the-sun-Netherlands.......................Well, keep smiling. All will pass. Yuk.
Also today Expat and International Community Fair, The Hague City Hall.
Wow, no Dutch moving from the countryside/any other country, to The Hague gets pampered and greeted nor receives those plastic The Hague Hurray-welcome cards/welcome baskets like you. Mind the we-love-expats-booklets and brochures. Ever noticed any cheap stores in all those "buy-here-dine-there" glossy's?
Yes, I know, some are copying me and are getting big bucks for doing so.
Thanks for warning me, but not to worry. Thank you so much for being loyal readers and I cherish our (global) friendship(s).
Reminder GHB party drug on Dutch hard drug list, warn your teenagers and their friends.
(just in case......).
Reminder: better be aware of your EU passenger rights. Seems airlines aren't too fond of sharing this info with you.
Emergency nr 112 eCall-system (direct warning system, location car, no call-costs) to be implemented in all new cars as of 2015.
Be aware: "Expats in Holland Group Members" for expats consists of many Dutch businesses men/women. Not merely your interests are at stake here.
Bye bye Dutch strippen cards: as of this Nov 3rd indeed they won't be valid any more in Dutch busses, metro's and trams. Sigh, OV-chipcard still not well embraced, but hey,
what can we do?
M=Meld Misdaad Anoniem 0800-7000, (right column=report crime anonymously) starts today campaign to use teenage girls (16-20) network to trace crime offenders.
acancies for Dutch judges trainees available
(zorgen om=fear for).
Reminder: Greek crisis or not, still smiling and according to the news still loads of tourists. Kalimera!
According to KNMI this summer seems to be the worst (=wettest and coldest) since 1906. Don't remind us.
According to ATRA Airlines safety ranking list KLM-AirFrance scores best, followed by
American Airlines, British Airlines and Continental.
Reminder: for new arrivals/those returning:
Stay put, "€xpat-club" in the make! Quote "to mingle and to learn the Dutch way of living", unquote. (tiny detail: €xpat members only). According to the news your annual The Hague-area 2010 spending total has been calculated (approx €2,7 billion).
So of course all of this will be combined with some highly priced promo for your eye's only.
Reminder: Most of your public data and shopping expenses are carefully recorded either via your plastic "hurray"-shopping cards or via other sources.
Ah, how we ♥ expats and your €uro's.
Off to visit our dear and so wanted ASH baby, till soon. xxx
Do your own thing today, hahahaha. Don't expect too many updates today.
Dear Deborah, thank you so much for the update, hope you are ok now, awaiting Irene and recovering from the East Coast earthquake and all. Keep us posted and I will catch up with you asap. Back home merely a few days now and yet so much to do. Hug.
According to the news due to Facebook group pressure teenagers tend to use drugs/aclcoholand and cigarettes.
Hey our teenagers do possess (some) brains of their own.
Tip: seems to be a buyers market due to the financial crisis and all. So, persuade your real estate agent to show you Dutch rental homes in the lower segment and avoid to be ushered to all those top rated rental homes. See any dollar signs in their eyes? That my dear friends is because you are €xpats! You smell like money.
Dear SD readers, thank you so much for your loyalty, being away and all, you're still seem to be visiting my site. Get a life! hahahahaha. Stay tuned, still recovering from a jet-lag and a very uncomfortable plane trip. Ciao dears, till soon. xxx
ArkeFly long distance flights? well.........................better not, unless you're up to low-budget service and "Comfort Class" breakfast service (=consists of one cup of..........water, no kidding).
Congrats to the parents and family of our new ASH baby!
Off to Curaçao, chiao dears, till soon.
You can manage without me, just chop the sentences and practice your Dutch.
Better a few good friends being flat broke than a thousand enemies chasing after your money.
London Opera produced real-life Facebook: old news to you, but still so much fun to watch. Mom rests her case.
According to Standard & Poor's: no more Triple A Status for US economy.
Back to AA+, oh well, good health, dear friends and a close & warm family, that's what really counts. Hey, I'm RICH.
According to Proteq Dier & Zorg, Top 5 most popular Dutch animal names are:
Dogs: Luna, Max, Diesel, Beau and Lady
Cats: Tijger(tje)=Tiger, Luna, Simba, Gizmo and Max.
According to the news: digital snacking latest trend.
Reminder: don't forget your card after pin-pay the new way, many seem to forget and walk away.
Amsterdam Tourist Office aims to spread tourists throughout the year in order to avoid becoming too touristy.
I amsterdam=do visit us on our own time-table, not on yours. No comment.
Australian idea: Adults only on Facebook to protect youngsters from posting non- flattering personal info/creepy adults with sick ideas. Mom rests her case.
Vacation time=burglars paradise.
Be alert, according to the police potential empty house-targets seem to be pre-checked by burglars by posting your (door)way with tiny "obstructions" like chewing gum/branches etc. Cleaned-up doorway=owners @ home!
The Hague ready to make expats and their €uro's feel welcome.
Huge article in yesterday's Dutch local newspaper regarding meet and greet with in The Hague area residing expats and Dutch locals (=mostly businessmen). No comment.
According to AD.nl only 210 out of the total of 1500 Dutch public swimming pools seem to be carrying the implemented Clean & Safe - degree. No money available for proper training pool lifeguards/first aiders.
Imagine all this rain and Summer Break and overcrowded swimming pools......No comment.
In the meantime coastal competition among Dutch beach bar & restaurants: who is the best, the hottest, the friendliest, the easiest to be reached..... well for now forget about Scheveningen. Perfect example on how to kill a former beautiful location, by building
and rebuilding and pumping more and more money into the place aiming to expand future tourism figures. Imagine the place if indeed that cruise terminal plan will succeed to exist. Bye bye, clean waters, bye bye sound of the sea and gulls, hello busses and all-inclusive passengers on their daytrip visit to.......other cities.
Expecting Auntie Claire from Brussels? Huge delay because of a suicide; better check NS info site. These incidents occur more often than you can imagine; the impact on the engine driver and passengers is immense, two weeks ago our youngest experienced a similar incident. Awful. So, if you know anyone who's on the border of doing so, please call Dutch suicide emergency nr 0900-1130113/(www.113online.nl).
Dear all, wherever you and your families are, enjoy your Summer Break and stay well.
For those of you returning: till soon, for those starting from scratch at your various new posts, please don't forget us and keep up visiting my site. xxx
For those returning........................Stay put, "€xpat-club" in the make!
Quote "to mingle and to learn the Dutch way of living", unquote.
(tiny detail: €xpat members only).
Losing weight by drinking a lot of water? According to Trouw News not quite true. Sigh.
The good news is: 3 hours of sun daily (if any) will lower your chances of getting cancer; the bad news is: too much sun (if any) may cause skin cancer.
Ouchhhhhhhhhh, know the feeling? Show this to your husband and he will, finally, show some mercy if you need to undergo a check-up. (The good news is check-ups may prevail 50% of the cases).
According to the news the Netherlands spends approx an annual €30 million promoting tourists to come and visit this tiny country. Hey, donate us a mere 1%, no, even 0,5% will do, Survival Dutch works global, readers all over the place and still growing!
Suspecting child maltreatment/abuse?
Here's some useful info, www.watkanikdoen.nl, dial the nr and someone will help you.
Nijntje collection soon to be seen in Amsterdam Rijksmuseum. If there is any Dutch book to give/read to your young kids, this is a must have!
Dutch beers? Ah, in Dutch bars they seem to double the supermarket prices, so better reflect seriously where you will be drinking that ice and ice cold one.................................
(duurder dan=more expensive than).
Warning: as it seems some The Hague cab drivers are pulling you a leg.
Better stick to those with:
- a blue TX label
- a blue nr plate
- a (running) km/price calculator
- a visible drivers license
Seems these FDA anti smoking warnings are working. Great.
Reminder especially to newcomers:
Beware of all that sudden we-love-expats-so-we-will-help-you-around stuff.
Bottom line: you are cordially invited to boost our economy with your euro's. So use your brains and common sense in between unpacking and trying to adjust here.
My, have you ever noticed any cheap stores in those "especially for expats"-booklets?
Also those plastic "Hurray"-shopping cards "designed exclusively for the expat community
of The Hague to help you to feel at home here as soon as possible" you received/are
about to receive, reveal apart from your nac-info your family's spending pattern.
Better ask your neighbours/friends where to shop/dine etc.
As always, hearsay tips work the best.
Good news: no need to fear paying taxes anymore on your 2nd home in France.
The property tax will has been withdrawn.