The Delftians

Welcome to The Delftians

2007-01-20T01:01:00.020-05:00

About the group

We are a social group for expats in Delft and region. Our subscription-free services include social events, networking facilitation, wanted/for sale ads and practical information for expats in and around Delft.

Our activities include pub drinks every 2 weeks, weekly squash meets, and evenings of board games, poker, DVD films, Dutch conversation, cooking, restaurant outtings, our own pub quizzes, cinema outtings, etc.

The group is centred on members' involvement: members organise and host the group's activities for each other, and contribute to blog entries such as 'top-things-about-Holland, etc.

To find out more about the group, check our FAQ section.

You are welcome to join if you are...

- an expat (or closely affiliated to the expat life)
- over 18
- not using the group for non-expat commercial promotion
- not using the group as a dating service: if you find the love of your life through us (as has now happened a couple of times!), that's marvelous, but please do not see the group as an opportunity to score.
- respectful of other members' opinions, cultures, etc.

Should inappropriate behaviour come to our attention, we reserve the right to remove the concerned member from the group.

How to join

E-mail us on delftians@gmail.com, answering the following questions:

STANDARD QUESTIONS

- E-mail address
- First name
- First letter of last name
- Gender
- Nationality
- Native language
- City of residence in NL
- How you have heard from us (e.g. Google, personal recommendation, Facebook, other website, leaflet, etc.)

OPTIONAL QUESTIONS

- Age
- How long lived in NL
- How long planning on staying in NL

PRIVACY: Your contact details shall not be disclosed without your prior permission. Other information (e.g. nationality, age, etc. is only for group statistics).

Events and activities

2006-09-27T03:33:00.007-05:00

INTRO TO THIS SECTION

Events and regular activities promoted or organised by The Delftians.

REGULAR ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES

Babysitting circle
Posted: 27 Oct 2009; Event date: on hold (need volunteer organisor)

Laure-Anne will be the coordinator for the babysitting circle. Details to follow. If you are interested, contact Laure-Anne on delftians@gmail.com.

The idea is that babysitting for another couple gives you points, while receiving babysitting takes points away from you.

Board games
Posted: 27 Oct 2009; Event date: as and when

If you'd like to host a boardgames nights at your home once in a while, come forward (send an e-mail to delftians@gmail.com). Doesn't matter what boardgame - it's all about breaking the ice (and winning, of course!).

Drinks
Posted: 27 Oct 2009; Event date: every other Thursday

This is how the group started. Drinks are every other Thurdsay in Delft, starting around 8pm. If you are a group member, you shall receive an invite a few days before the next drinks.

An evening of Dutch conversation
Posted: 28 Oct 2009; Event date: as and when

Susan and Joe host a night of Dutch conversations. The idea is that only Dutch is spoken (although we regularly lapse). All levels of Dutch proficiency are welcome. Some of the guests are 100% fluent, and others have just arrived. Bring your pocket Dutch/English dictionary in case you get stuck!

Photography outings
Posted: 27 Oct 2009; Event date: as and when

Donna organises outings for enthusiastic amateur photographers (digital or film) to hone their skills. Planned activities include field trips, gallery visits, discussions, encouragement and friendly critique (if desired).

Poker night
Posted: 27 Oct 2009; Location: The Hague, Jens' place; Event date: as and when

Casual poker night - big spenders beware: max losses are around 2 euros! Just a night of relaxed fun and a great way to meet other expats without the pressure of small-talk!

Pub Quiz
Posted: 27 Oct 2009; Location: Delft. Event date: as and when

A trivia quiz in English organised by The Delftians, for The Delftians. Great fun, and lots of drinking. Details of each one are announced to members through Evite.

Restaurant night
Posted: 27 Oct 2009; Location: Delft; Event date: as and when

Members regularly organise restaurant nights. If you want to set one up, let me know when you have booked the restaurants and I'll send an invitation to the group.

If you're going to one, only confirm if you are definitely sure you will come: don't leave the organiser with empty seats and an angry chef!

Squash
Posted: 27 Oct 2009; Location: Squash Delft Sports Centre (http://www.squash-delft.nl/), Sportring 3 - 2616 LK Delft; Event date: as and when

A relaxed evening of squash for amateur players. All levels, including beginners, are welcome. It's more about the chats and beer afterwards anyway. Contact Laure-Anne on delftians@gmail.com if you would like to be added to the squash list.

COORDINATING A DELFTIAN EVENT

(you must be a member of The Delftians) Create a comment and indicate:

Your name;
The activity;
The location;
The suggested date(s);
Any pre-requisites (if applicable);
Cost (if applicable);
Other note-worthy information (if applicable);
Deadline for contacting you (if applicable).

Note I: Your e-mail address will be given to the group

Note II: Please answer when people contact you

Note III: Avoid clashing with other activity - See calendar above.

Frequently Asked Questions

2006-09-05T09:17:00.006-05:00

Intro to this section

Frequently Asked Questions and their answers. Ask any additional questions by click on 0 comments below).

Do you need to live in Delft to join?

No, some members (including myself) do not live in Delft. See our Stats section to see who lives round your way.

What does the group do?

Anything that will help local expats: share local knowledge, build a social network, practise sports, etc. We are always looking for new activity ideas and volunteers to organise them.

Our actitivies are listed in the Activities section. Here is a summary: drinks every 2 weeks, squash, poker, board games, restaurant nights, cooking nights, pub quizzes, etc.

We also have a message broadcast service: members send me an e-mail and I'll pass it on to the group: e.g. looking for a job or apartment, furniture to sell, pet-sitter, etc.

NO SPAMMING: All messages have to go through me, so no trash.

Your entries are welcome in the following sections: recommended expat associations and services, and handy Dutch webpages: public transport, estate hunt, etc.

If you feel you're alone in getting irritated, or marvelling at a particular aspect of our adoptive nation, check out our top 100 things about Holland for a colourful portrait of Holland in the eyes of us expats.

Can anyone join?

Yes, as long as you are an expat (i.e. you have experienced the typical expat hurdles: culture shock, having to find your bearings, friends frequently departing, language barrier, etc.).

How much does it cost?

There is no joining fee, it's free. You just need to pay for your own consumptions (and no one's going to stop you getting a round in!).

When are the drinks?

The drinks are every other Thursday, from around 8pm to whenever.

Where are the drinks?

You shall receive an invitation a couple of days before the drinks confirming the exact location/time.

Our usual haunts are (all in Delft):

de Belvedere Belgian Beer Cafe - Beestenmarkt, 8
't Proeflokaal - Gasthuislaan, 36
Locus Publicus - Brabantse Turfmarkt, 67

If you can't find us, ask the bar staff for the table of 'The Delftians' expat club.

Can I bring someone along?

The drinks are for group members. Feel free to bring someone along for a taster, but we like to keep things organised and know how many members we have, etc. so if they like it, we would like them to fully register.

Do I need to respond to the Evite even if I don't come?

You only need to respond to the Evite if you are coming (yes) or thinking of coming (maybe). Otherwise, just ignore the invite.

How will I recognize the group's table?

We tell the staff at the bar who we are. We'll likely be the only large English-speaking group, and we are generaly in small pubs. If you can't find us, ask the bar staff for The Delftians expat group.

What is the group's gender, nationality, etc. mix

The drinks are a multitude of people from different ages, professions, languages, etc. Here is some stats on the group:

Nationality: At the moment, the majority are Americans and Brits.

Age: The majority of us are in our 30's and 40's, but there is increasing trend toward the 20's, as more and more PhD students decide to join us. We also have a fair few people in their 50's and 60's.

Profession: Lots of TU researchers, IT professionals, and expat partners/home-makers. We have quite a few people from the classic expat employers of the region: EPO, Unilever and Shell.

Town of residence: The greatest majority of us live in Delft. A lot of people come from The Hague and Rotterdam. Some come from further off, like Gouda, Leiden, Almere, Utrecht, etc.

How many people typically turn up for the drinks?

On average, around 20 people come to the drinks, but this can vary between 5 on a quiet night and 40 on a bash.

What is the point of the group?

To form a close-knit expat community in Delft, so noone feels disconnected or disoriented. It should help if you want to:

- meet new people, some of which you're bound to become friends with
- get answers to local knowledge questions (expat resources, indispensible Dutch websites, etc.)
- dig in our numbers to organise group activities like picnics, murder mystery, etc. (see activities)
- regularly play squash (see activities)
- broadcast messages to the group (for sale, looking for, announcements, questions, etc.)

Essentially, you shouldn't have to walk through Delft feeling like a stranger, without meeting a couple of familiar faces.

What is the group's language?

It would be handy if you are fluent in English, or you may not feel included in the conversatoin, but all are welcome. Chance is you'll find another native of your mother tongue anyway.

What about privacy and spamming?

PRIVACY: I only use your information for my stats. I never ask for postal address or surnames.

NOT PASSING PERSONAL DETAILS: Unless you are organising an event, I do not give out your contact information. If you are looking for the contact details of another member, I shall ask them to contact you.

NO JUNK MAIL: Broadcast messages go through me, so I won't let junk get through.

How long has The Delftians existed?

The Delftians started on 3 May 2006.

Who is the organiser (my bio)?

I am a French-speaking Belgian, but have spent my late teens and 20's in Northern England. I moved to a small village close to Delft in 2004, where I live with my (Dutch) husband and son. I am an IT consultants and I HATE computers (go figure).

I love facts - the more useless the better, lists, small ugly dogs, good summaries, facts from all cults and religions, French and English history, and painfully cheesy stuff (read David Hasselhof, royal families and garden gnomes).

How did the group start?

My social circle was slow to pick up again after moving to a village. I was living the usual expat frustrations: local etiquette, regulations, language, finding good restaurants, doctors, shops, etc..

I couldn't find expat groups in Delft at the time, so I sent messages to expat mailing lists to see if anybody was interested in setting something up in Delft. 7 people met up for our first drinks on 3 May 2006. We had a great laugh, and it all started from there.

The drinks have continued every 2 weeks, and word of mouth took care of the rest. We now have the blog, over 200 members, a weekly squash night, and other activities, our Top and Worst 100 things about Holland', a mailing list, etc.

I love that some people who have met through the group are now close friends, I love that a couple of pubs know our faces when we walk in, I love that I can't walk in Delft without bumping into a fellow expat, I love that my local knowledge has increased, that I always have someone to call if I want to go and socialise, and most of all, I love that I am meeting a colourful bunch of warm, quirky and interesting people with such diverse personal histories.

Top 100 Dutch things

2006-09-05T02:19:00.001-05:00

Intro to this section

To make sure we stay positive about our adoptive country, I started making a list of POSITIVE things about it. So go on, let's show the world the nice things about living here.

If you want to add an item, click on '0 comment', type your text and save it. Don't forget to leave your name with your comments!

1/ My man

Best thing to come out of any country (Laure-Anne, )

My man is also a wonderful thing about Holland (Geneviève, )

2/ Cycling

I am not what you would call a practising cyclist, but I can see the attraction from a safe distance. Don't try to get me on one, though. Too much chance of rain, flat tyre, panting and sweating. (Laure-Anne, )

A complete lifestyle. Cheap, clean, silent, convenient, efficient, funny, good for health (Vincent, )

Everywhere is accessible by bike (Amanda & Julian, )

3/ Effectiveness

You can say a lot about the Dutch, but they really don't mess when it comes to getting things done. (Laure-Anne, )

4/ Technology

Where else do you have map stations on the street? Chose your destination, press OK, et voilaaaa: you have a free colour map of the route to take, all for free! (Laure-Anne, )

5/ Tall, blond hair, blue eyes

Aaaah, good old batavian, nordic genes. It's like the country's full of supermodels. Oh, and if (like me) you are a short-arsed, brown-haired, brown-eyed, big-boned Walloon, you'll even pass as exotic! (Laure-Anne, )

6/ Petting zoos -AKA kinderboerderijen

They're huge, they're everywhere, they're free + you can go in the enclosure with the animals! I recommend it anyday, with or without the kids! (Laure-Anne, )

7/ Herons

I still get very excited when I see one, and boy, are they a frequent occurrence. (Laure-Anne, )

The herons are fine indeed, but the diving Great Crested Grebes in the canals, frequently with their offspring on their back, are just sublime, taking into account that these birds were almost invisible 30 years ago in city centers!(Leo, ?)

8/ Windmills

I find it special that there are windmills all over the place, and that the locals don't even bat an eyelid at them. (Laure-Anne, )

9/ Old historical city centres

Delft, Gouda, The Hague, Amsterdam, Utrecht, Leiden, Alkmaar, Groningen, ... You name it, any city in The Netherlands (short of having been bombed in WWII) has a breathtaking city centre. This could be to do with the fact that they were so loaded in the 17th century, which happens to be a centry of very pretty buildings. (Laure-Anne, )

Amsterdam, one of the most beautiful and best cities on earth. Good thing that the Germans only destroyed Rotterdam ... (Vincent, )

10/ Policemen

So smiley and polite and helpful, even catch you doing something you really shouldn't do... One of them actually apologised to me for telling me off (mildly) for a driving licence about 2 years out of date. Makes you wonder, though, is politeness a skill reserved for the police in Holland? Bit like a secret weapon? (Laure-Anne, )

11/ Public transport

Easy and speedy public transport (Geneviève, )

Trains - Coming here from Britain it makes a pleasant change to actually have access to a rail network with clean modern trains, which run on time most of the time, or if not are bizarrely either precisely five, ten or twenty minutes late. If someone can please explain how they manage to ensure that the trains are punctually late I would appreciate it. (Ralph, )

12/ Proximity to water

Be it canal, sea, or lake (Geneviève, )

Water everywhere. Nature is a bit weird here ... well, it's nature under the control of human work. It seems that there not a single piece of land in this country which has been left to a "random" development. Even if it is "natural", it has to conform to some standards, to some form of discipline ... But the result is interesting. Netherlands, really an unusual place. (Vincent, )

Canals are a wonderful thing, offering homes to coots, ducks, and providing the local heron with something to stare at for hours on end, being overwhelmed wth water-lilies and terrace-boats in the summer, and offering young children and wildlife manifold skating opporunities in the winters of yore. More importantly, they offer hours of entertainment - as you watch the tourists try to park their cars by the canal side - and your boss another excuse to be late for work. (Ralph, )

13/ Flowers

Beautiful fresh-cut flowers year-round, and for cheap! (Geneviève, )

14/ Dogs welcome

A small-to-mid-size, well-behaved dog is welcome everywhere (this may be a negative to some, but a positive to me!). (Geneviève, )

15/ Sun light

The way the sun shines here (when it does), it make everything look like a Rembrandt or Vermeer landscape- gorgeous. (Geneviève, ).

The skies in The Netherlands are simply breathtaking. (Laure-Anne, )

16/ Loempia

Loempia stands on every corners of Rotterdam. (Geneviève, )

17/ Bread

The bread- all of it, the delicious full-grain truly brown bread, with a slice of yummy Dutch cheese! (Geneviève, )

18/ Garden gnomes

Wow! Those microscopic gardens packed with tacky garden ornaments. You just have to love them. (Laure-Anne, )

19/ Clearly marked deviations

Their deviation road signs are actually very, very, very clear. Even I don't get lost for days when I follow them, and I am uber-navigationally challenged. (Laure-Anne, )

20/ Safety and crime

I can walk round at night in city centres and I don't feel even slightly threatened. Try doing that in Paris, Brussels or Birmingham... (Laure-Anne, )

21/ English spoken

They all speak SUCH good English. There was this Irish guy organising Dutch conversation classes for expats, and he could not for his life find Dutch people who didn't speak English. I think he stopped after 3 years or so. (Laure-Anne, )

22/ Cows and sheep

I love the cows here: all sorts of colours and patterns. I particularly like the Laekenvelders (with the big stripe). In , they tend to be just black-and-white. Oh, and the black and brown sheep. I hadn't really seen so many of them anywhere else. I even saw a pink goat in a kinderboerderij the other day (Laure-Anne, Belgium)

23/ Culture of tolerance

Culture of tolerance. Bla-bla-bla the Dutch immigration Theo Van Gogh etc.. this is not a perfect place but as a matter of fact, this is certainly one of the most advanced countries in the world on that topic, and for a while - for example, where else were all religions tolerated in the XVII century ?. Where else can you freely smoke your pot if you like it? (Vincent, )

24/ Melting pot

No, not the coffee shop, I mean the international atmosphere. (Vincent, )

25/ The mad entrepreneur spirit

I think that nothing is impossible for people who extended 1/3rd of the country land, taken from the sea ... Crazy Dutch ! If I had a tough and challenging job to outsource, I would be confident to give it to that kind of guys ... (Vincent, )

26/ Quality of life

Just amazing. Everything here seems to be easy, planned, efficient, organized, clean... Working hours, work ethic, home-work commuting, ... This looks like civilisation at its best. (Vincent, )

27/ Food

To me the food in the Netherlands, is one of the great things about this country because it is literally so lethal. Croquettes, Mexicanos, Frites with Frite-saus, sate, and cakes which feature bright pink icing which surely must contravene some health and safety directive, if not good taste. All absolutely fantastic stuff, but then again I am British. (Ralph, )

28/ No ageism

The Nederlands Dans Theater (NDT) is the first to have a company of professional dancers 'over the age of forty'. Unfortunately, this year (2006) this company of veteran dancers was disbanded. However, I think it is amazing that Jiri Kylian had the courage to form a company that showed that it really is a crime to stop people doing what they enjoy doing just because they are viewed as being 'too old'. (Ralph, )

29/ Healthy

Most Dutch people look, well, healthy. Sooo healthy you'd think they're straight out of some Yakult advert. Is it the 2 liters of milk they drink per day? (Laure-Anne, )

When I arrived here, I could not understand how the Dutch looked so healthy on their diet. I presumed it was because they cycled everywhere, or because they were genetically very lucky, or because the winters, which seem to stretch from August to June are so cold and wet that all that food is burned off through shivering. But then someone pointed out the awful truth, the really awful truth. The gyms are alwyas full, apparently. I should mention that I have not been in a gym since I left school and have no intention of setting foot on one, ever again, but from what I have heard, between the hours of 18.00 and 21.00, the young Dutch like nothing better than to waste time on treadmills, aero-cycles and other equally tortuous devices. The poor dears... (Ralph, )

30/ Cleanliness

Streets tend to be really, really clean. (Laure-Anne, )

31/ Decadence

For some reason the Dutch do like to do things that are clearly very unhealthy such as eat the food, smoke, and sunbathe on the four days of the year when you can actually go to the beach without an overcoat. (Ralph, )

32/ Office buildings architecture

Not to anybody's taste, but I really like the hyper modern architecture of newly built office buildings in business centres. Take the World Trading Centre in Amsterdam: the ING and ABN buildings are really, really impressive. I also like (I must be the only one) Rotterdam's dead centre. Each building has a strong identity. (Laure-Anne, )

I am not sure I agree on this at all. To me the architecture in this country is too practical to be exciting. For the most part, the big office blocks are well ... big and blocky, and no amount of Colorcote steel or glass is going to disguise the fact that they are actually terribly functional. Personally, I like modern buildings that are wholly impractical, unmaintainable, and which completely upset the balance of a city's architecture, as long as I don't have to work in one of them. (Ralph, )

33/ Motorway surface coating

Ever driven from Belgium to Holland on a rainy day? You have a 2-meter visibility in Belgium, and as soon as you hit the Dutch road, it's like the waters are parting for your car. Aaaah, the Dutch are even great surface coating designers. (Laure-Anne, )

30/ Fashion

Anything goes. I heard a story from an expat. about how when she arrived here, she was shocked by how cold and wet it was, so she went out and bought a coat, a second-hand lime-green fake fur (at least I hope it was fake). This is the fantastic thing about this country, you can actually get away with wearing some very bizarre outfits, such as bright-red chinos, ultra-violet white cotton jackets, and snake skin shoes that are so long, you would not be able to reach the bar in an English pub (fortunately they have at-table service in most Dutch bars). All absolutely fantastic stuff, and certainly more interesting than the average high street. (Ralph, )

35/ Little mice with clogs on

They do exist apparently and are clearly a wonderful house-hold pet. Unfortunately, to see them you have to live in a windmill on old Amsterdam, and be prepared to suffer the most enormous hangover. (Ralph, )

36/ School for virtues

A good thing about living in this country is how virtuous it is possible to be. In order to cope with an alien set of manners, poor customer service, and homicidal secretaries, one needs to take a more relaxed attitude to life, and learn the virtues of patience, tolerance and understanding. (Ralph, )

37/ No dubbing

I love that you can see a movie in its original version (i.e. not dubbed). I cannot stand the French habit of systematic dubbing. Am sure that's why most Dutch teenagers reach adulthood perfectly bilingual in Dutch-English. (Laure-Anne, )

38/ Interior design

Most Dutch homes make me blush with our humble deco. Walking into a Dutch home can feel like a furniture show-room, with lots of deliberate arty touches, calculated colour schemes and really tidy. The only drawback: am scared of using the very expensive design furniture in case they sue me for damages. (Laure-Anne, )

39/ 'je' not 'u'

For the French speakers among us, I am talking about the 'tutoiement', about the fact that you can address a complete stranger as 'je', and be on first-name basis with a complete stranger. It's at odds with some Flemish regions where you say 'u' to your parents, and even your pet (am that's a fact!). (Laure-Anne, )

40/ Public toilets

I should preface this by saying that I don't actually spend that much time in public toilets, but this does deserve a mention. Most public toilets on railway stations, and in department stores are pretty similar, all very functional, white tiles, and very clean and tidy, except for the ones at Leiden Centraal station, which are quite tatty. However, the toilets at Den Haag Hollands Spoor, or rather the gentlemen's toilets are a little more civilised featuring an array of grooming products, fresh flowers by the door and complimentary mints. Indeed, this probably represents the very pinacle of civilisation. (Ralph, )

Same at the ladies' in Holland Spoort. Little known fact: the ladies' toilets at Holland Spoor have won the 'Best public toilet in The Netherlands' award a few years running - how's that for trivia? (Laure-Anne, )

41/ Drop

I have not stooped to the level of 'The Dutch I Presume' which includes 'cheese slicers' and 'drop' as examples of Dutch icons. (Ralph, )

Ooops, Ralph, looks like you just have (stooped so low). I find drop (the black, anise-flavored sweets) is really worth a mention. It is typically Dutch, and a good 'inburgeringstest'. I now proudly master the zoete ones. OK, the salty ones still elude me. I guess you need to have lived here for over 5 years to overcome the gagging reflex. (Laure-Anne, )

42/ Nijntje - aka Miffy

Easily the best Dutch export since, like, ever. The Japanese tried to steal the design with Hello Kitty, but there's only one Nijntje. Here's some little facts about her: a/ she's a female; b/ Dirk Bruna wrote the books as bed time stories for his one-year old son, c/ she's supposed to live in the Dutch dunes. I have a glow in the dark knuffel-Nijntje that I take everywhere with me. (Laure-Anne, )

Oh Nijntje! I agree. She's cute, simple, and a fantastic thing to send home to my nephew and cousins. I love how the beach at Hoek van Holland is divided in Nijntje characters! Or at least it used to be. I was tanning in the Nijntje boat section last year! (Geneviève, )

43/ No office cubicles

There's no cubicles anywhere. My building may just be a block, but it's a block where everyone gets an office, not a cubicle, and where every office gets one of its walls made of floor to ceiling windows. There's truly something to be said about a 2.5m by 4m window on the 16th floor. I might have to share this with one more person, but at least I don't get as vitamin D deprived here as I did in Canada! And you know what, being able to close my door when I'm having a bad day, or when I'm having a sensitive phone conversation- really, who thinks a cubicle is a good idea, anyway? Certainly not the Dutch, and I give them kuddos for it! (Geneviève, )

44/ Cookies with the coffee

That free cookie with your coffee deserves its own mention. And I love how there's usually a big basket of them in a meeting room and there's always that one tactless collegue who paws at the little bags to guess the shape and make of the treat inside and throws back the ones that don't pass muster- that's good for making me feel bad I'm not the idiot being picky about cookies in front of the firm's partners! Even better when the idiot is a partner so I can feel superior to them too! (Geneviève, )

45/ Library on the beach

Library on the beach- now that's brilliant. I don't know if they copied it from another place, but the national library system opens up library branches on the main beaches in the summer, as a way to bring the books to the people when and where they are most likely to be reading. You can walk in from the sand in your wet bathing suit and get kids' books, magazines, papers, short novels- all available free of charge to anyone on the beach, and I think that's grand. (Geneviève, )

46/ Long holidays

6 weeks paid vacation. Coming from a country where 2 is the norm, I certainly don't underestimate the value of lenghty paid vacation. It not only avoids having employees use sick days as vacation days, but it keeps everyone much happier. (Geneviève, )

47/ Tulip fields

Tulip fields you see in bloom when passing by train. I like simple pleasures, and sudenly seeing a field of purple, red, yellow, pink, white and orange all of a sudden appear after a bend... wow. No one should ever grow so blasé as to not appreciate the beauty of mass-produced flowers. So pretty it looks fake! (Geneviève, )
Indeed, tulip fields are fabulous. Nothing like flying above Holland in spring time. (Laure-Anne, )

48/ Inner courtyards - aka binnenhofs

Inner courtyards. I happen to live on a second floor apartment which has views in the back on a private courtyard. It's quiet, secluded, and beautiful. There's modern art on display, Christmas lights in the winter, and little kids play safely away from the nastiness that could be downtown Rotterdam. I love that there's so many of these secret gardens in the big cities. Sure, you can't always see them, but knowing there's such pretty things hidden away makes me happy. (Geneviève, )

49/ Snertrein

Not that I've ever been on (much to my dismay), there's a tram in Rotterdam devoted entirely to serving pea soup and showing the sights of Rotterdam. Isn't that the best? Just pay the fair (more than a regular tram ride) and get a bowl of hot pea soup in the winter. It's painted with silly pictures of people surfing green peasoup waves! And in the summer, it apparently turns into an icecream tram! How weirdly appealing. (Geneviève, )

50/ Cinemas

One of the most decadent experiences is to actually visit a traditional cinema. Unlike the multiplexes, some still allow smoking, serve beer and all the traditional snack-foods like bitterballen, and also, for those who are truly idle actually have at-seat service, so you don't even need to queue for popcorn and the like during the interval. This to me is the mark of a civilised society, although I think there might have been a good reason why they actually put a stop to smoking in most cinemas, but I cannot think what it was. (Ralph, ).

I agree. I love Dutch cinemas. Well, the ones I have been to anyway. The Lumen in Delft is great, so is the Apollo. I love that the seats are really big, that the room is not packed (well that could be down to my choice of movies), and you have an interval in between for loo break and beer refills, and that your beer gets served in a GLASS glass, and not in some paper beaker. (Laure-Anne, ).

51/ Getting a mortgage

It's so easy to get a mortgage in Holland and even for 110%. You just go to the Hypotheek Advisor and choose the cheapest product, like in a supermarket. (Oscar, ).

52/ Sinterklaas surprises

Here's how it works: around 5 December, you invite some friends around. Each has to buy a present for another person at the party (picked previously at random). You are supposed to wrap the present in something creative that you made yourself, and write a poem about the present's recipient (preferably in Dutch for an extra challenge. Shouldn't be difficult, everything ends with 'en'). The combination of tacky presents, terrible DIY and bad poetry just makes me shiver with anticipation. Laure-Anne ().

53/ Plenty of places to take the children for free

e.g. garden centres with play areas: you can sit and have a cup of coffee and the kids have great fun in the play area. (Dawn, )

54/ Poffertjes and stroopwafels

No comment, just very very very good. (Jeremy, )

55/ Calvinism

I have been converted by their enlightened Calvinism. (Anees, /)

56/ No aristocracy

Might sound British, but it's definitely a very good thing about Holland (Anees, /).

57/ Queen on her bike

The Queen of Holland rides her bike to the supermarket. Well, Albert Heijn, but still (Anees, /)

58/ Birthday cakes

The cakes people give out for their birthdays. (Brian, )

59/ Urban planning

The routing of bike paths is different here, winding through parks and green spaces instead of simply sticking to roadways. Somehow they even get permission from owners of expensive homes to allow paths that "intrude" right behind their private and expensive properties. For the country with the highest population density in all of Europe, it's amazing how long I can commute and not even realize I'm in a city. (Nikki, )

60/ Happy campers

Their love for camping in the outdoors seems disproportionate to what I've seen in other countries. Camping doesn't seem to be just for the poor. I've met some highly educated professionals camping in the French Alps and a former coworker here says it's their hobby to take the caravan and the fiets and go off for the weekend. (Nikki, )

61/ Appreciation for nature

Quite a few Dutch have told me the best stress management is to "get out in nature," a phrase people from other cultures have never told me so frequently. I suppose reclaiming the land and water management and their great landscape art could also be seen as an appreciation for nature too. (Nikki, )

62/ Post-natal care
Maybe epidurals are not common here, but at least you are given options of giving birth at home, at the hospital or a birthing center. Kraamzorg (at home baby and new mother nursing services which include light housecleaning and babysitting of sibblings) after the birth is a real perk. (Lucie, )

Recommended expat clubs/services/activities

2006-08-15T15:26:00.005-05:00

INTRO TO THIS SECTION

This section contains international activities and associations recommended by our members.

To add an entry (you need to be a member of the Delftians), click on 0 comments below. Enter the name of the expat resource, a description of what it does and their website and/or contact details. Don't forget to mention your name and native country.

INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Access The Hague

If you need help, support or advice with expat-related issue, that's a great starting point. They have access to a network of professional counsellors, listings of expat-related courses and worshops, a job board, etc.

Website: http://www.access-nl.org/

Delft MaMa: parenthood support for internationals

Delft maternity and motherhood assistance, including pre-natal courses in English. Provide information and support on pregnancy, childbirth and raising children in Delft.

Website: http://www.delftmama.nl/

Delft.com

Official site from Delft City in English. Information on administration, tourist attractions, events, city map, accommodation, restaurants, etc.

Main website: http://www.delft.nl/webEN/index.jsp
Internationals section: http://www.delft.nl/webEN/content.jsp?objectid=36623

DOC English story-telling

Story telling workshop for English-speaking children. Organised by American Adele Sanders. Parents to read stories and organise craft activities.

Telephone: +31 (0)15 213 24 68

Address: Kruisstraat 71, 2611ML Delft

Expatica

Expatica is THE information source for expats. Very professional presentation and with jobs and housing ads, on-line dating, business directory, info on employment/housing/education/health regulations. The classifieds section is great for bargains on electronics and furniture as us expats tend to have to pack up and leave at the drop of a hat, so aren't always fussed about the price!

Website: http://www.expatica.com/

Le Forum

Discussion forum for French-speaking expats in The Netherlands (in French). The forum has sections on health, legislation, meet-ups, etc. Really nice, informal atmosphere. Le Forum is a very effective way to locate other native French speakers in your area.

Website: http://www.leforum.nl/

Salsa in English in Delft

Post date: 19 Sep 2006; Event date: permanent

Salsa Ventura has classes in Delft. The English class is on Tuesday nights.

Website: http://www.salsaventura.nl/lesrooster.php?cur=308

The Hague on-line

Listings of expat resources The Hague and region, including very complete listing of expat clubs. Also info on tourist attractions in The Hague, with a section for kid-friendly outtings. The Hague On-Line also offers expat-focused classifieds.

Website: http://www.thehagueonline.com/

Anglo American Theatre Group

Amateur theater group based in The Hague and Wassenaar.

Website: http://www.aatg.nl/

British Society

The oldest English-speaking expat network in The Netherlands. Huge organisation, so regular activities abound (e.g. bridge, movie nights, book clubs, squash, tennis, cooking, yoga, badmington, cricket, golf, sailing, etc.). Mostly concentrated around Amsterdam. You do not need to be British to join.
Website: http://www.britishsocietyofamsterdam.org/

Delft Photography Group

The Delft Photography Group aims to create an informal, dedicated environment for enthusiastic amateur photographers (digital or film) to hone their skills and to meet up with like-minded people. The group was founded by Donna, a Canadian national. Planned activities include field trips gallery visits, discussions, encouragement and friendly critique (if desired), as well as occasional social outings.

The emphasis is on enjoyment, by way of combining a relaxed social atmosphere with the nitty-gritty of getting out and shooting.

Website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/delftphotography

British Society

I.D.E.A. Panto

International Drama Group of English-speaking Associates: amateur theatre group based in Dordrecht (south of Rotterdam).

Website: http://www.idea-panto.nl/

Legal aliens

Social meet-ups and message board covering The Hague, Delft, Leiden, Rotterdam and Amsterdam. This dynamic group has an array of activities for expats in many city centres in the Ranstad.

Website: http://uk.groups.yahoo.com/group/legal_aliens

Leiden expats

Message-board based group aimed at Leiden-based expats.

Website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Leidenexpats/

Living with a Dutchie

LWAD organises informal, social drinks once a month in each of the following cities:

Amsterdam
Breda
Eindoven
Gouda
Rotterdam
South Limburg

Aimed only at expats who have moved to Holland to live with their Dutch partner. Beware: only the expat half of the couple is invited to the drinks!

Website: livingwithaDutchie.nl.

Rotterdam people

Message-board based group aimed at Rotterdam-based internationals. Activities include drinks every two weeks in Rotterdam and the possibility to organise your own events.

Website: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/ROTTERDAM_PEOPLE

EXPAT-OWNED SERVICES

Canis bonus dog training

Dog training and behaviour therapy in English and French by Laure-Anne Visele, university-trained zoologist. Customer- and dog-friendly, with scientific methods. Serves Delft, The Hague and nearby.

Website: http://canisbonus.com/

Tonia dog walking

Dog walking in Deflt by Greek- and English-speaker.

Contact: +31 6 47 60 07 44

EXPAT BLOGS AND WEBSITES

American Vlaai

Website set up by an American expat in The Netherlands. Full of useful links and resources, and mainly: insightful views and articles on culture shock and how to deal with it.

Website: http://www.americanvlaai.com/

Exiled

Expat weblog by Egor Kloos, our very own expat hybrid: half-Dutch half-Irish. He organises events and meet-ups for anybody who wants to see and do more in Rotterdam.

Website: http://dutchcelt.nl/rant/exiled.html

The Holland Ring

An expat the other way round! Blog by a Dutch lady who's moved to the US. The site aims at increasing knowledge of The Netherlands in a really palatable way. It has a really cool 'Did you know' section, recipes for Dutch meals, explanations for traditions, quick summary of country's history, etc.

Blog: http://www.thehollandring.com/

Itsnotpossible.nl

A scathing account of our Dutch hosts' less endearing habits. Warning: quite a bit of swearing. You might want to re-read our top 100 things about NL to cheer yourself up after this one. Not a It's got quite a negative slant, but most observations were uncannily familiar to me. Brace yourselves: This blog joins the ranks of the NOT AT ALL happy customers, and it will revive your urges to educate a whole nation on the basic principles of service. Not for the fans of positive thinking.

http://hollandlife.blogspot.com/

Something to say about life in The Netherlands

The hilarious and touching saga of an American couple in the low lands.

http://hollandlife.blogspot.com/

Breathing and the Buteyko method

Explore your own breathing for a different approach to regaining health. Courses and lectures are held in a fitness centre near Voorburg (outskirts of The Hague). The lectures are given in English by a fellow expat.

Address: Buteyko Practice, P.o. Box 1040, 2260 BA Leidschendam

Website: http://www.buteykopractice.com/

E-mail: Orna@ButeykoPractice.com

Local cafes, restaurants, shops

2006-08-15T15:04:00.000-05:00

INTRODUCTION TO THIS SECTION

Local restaurants, cafes, shops and services that our members would recommend.

If you go to one of these restaurants/shops, please tell them how you've heard from them, the author might get a discount!

To add a recommendation (only for Delftians members), click on '0 comments' below and add the required information.

RECOMMENDED RESTAURANTS
Required information

Please complete the following information in your restaurant recommendation.

Price: rough average per head per main course, excluding drinks.

Style: e.g. Pizzeria, Ethiopian, Fusion, Concept, etc.

Service: e.g. friendly, good English, quick service, keen to accommodate special requests, etc.

Veggie-friendliness: veggie courses clearly marked? Just same courses without meat, or actual effort made to replace meat with something exciting? Large selection?

Non-smoker-friendliness: Some of our members are allergic to smoke, or absolutely cannot be in a smoking environment. Information requested: how smoke-free is the non-smoking zone? Is there a non-smoking zone?

Food presentation: e.g bit of a blob on a plate but nice taste

Decor/Venue: e.g Thai deco, or cafe-type, or cafetaria-like

Note: Anything note-worthy that was not mentioned before.

Address + telephone: Self-explanatory

Review author: Your first name, Your native country

Abessinië

Price: about 15 euros a head
Style: Ethiopian

Service: Very friendly, sometimes a bit slow

Veggie-friendliness: Absolutely. Eventhough their menu is a bit mixed up - they present veggie meals in the normal section and fish meals in the veggie section ...

Non Smoker-friendliness: ?

Food presentation: The food is presented on a giant Ethiopian pancake, you eat with your fingers, generous portions - beware it might not look like much food but it is extremely filling

Decor/venue: A small place with Ethiopian decor. Simple but sweet.

Address: Kromstraat 21, Delft. Tel: 015 - 213 52 60

Review author: Aline ()

de Kurk

Style: French/Dutch/International

Price: about 20 euros a head

Service: OK

Veggie-friendliness: ?

Non Smoker-friendliness: Not very

Food presentation: Very good. Good portions

Decor/venue: Attached to a bar

Address: Kromstraat 20, Delft. Tel: 015-214 14 74

Review author: Laura ()

Malee

Style: Thai

Price: About 15 euros a head

Service: Smiley enough, but not much English (or Dutch...) spoken

Veggie-friendliness: Very much so (but WARN them!)

Non Smoker-friendliness: ?

Food presentation: Several small courses

Decor/venue: Quite a smal, narrow room, thai theme

Note: There is only 1 meal to chose from: the plat-du-jour. Let them know you're a veggie on time! They'll get the tofu out then.

Address: Voldersgracht 29, Delft. Tel: 015-221 07 81

Review author: Laure-Anne ()

Mariage (le)

Style: Concept

Price: About 30 euros a head

Service: Very polite, knowledgeable and helpful

Veggie-friendliness: Not so much

Non Smoker-friendliness: ?

Food presentation: Very nouvelle-cuisine

Decor/venue: Modern, design

Special notes:
1/ You get 2 half-portions of 2 different dishes for each course, all on the same plate. Great idea.
2/ Watch out for the pricey drinks (soft and alcoholic). Can add quite a sting to the bill.
Address: Hippolytusbuurt 8, Delft. Tel: 015-212 28 05

Review author: Laure-Anne ()

Pasta Company

Style: Italian/modern mix

Price: 3 course meal for 12.50 or a la carte meals for around 15-20 euros per person.
Pre-book and sit down to eat before 6pm and get a 20% discount

Service: Friendly and helpful, excellent english - understandably slower when busy

Veggie-friendliness: Good selection.

Non-smoker friendliness: Usually have a non-smoking section but not always when they are busy

Food presentation: Really decent sized meals and excellent value for money

Decor/venue: Nice modern setting and outdoor seating when the weather is nice.

Address: Vrouwjuttenland 11, Delft. http://www.pastacompany.nl/ Tel: 015 - 214 6633

Review author: Renee ()

Pijpenla

Style: French/Dutch

Price: About 22 euros a head

Service: Very polite, knowledgeable and helpful

Veggie-friendliness: Not so much

Non Smoker-friendliness: ?

Food presentation: Carefully presented

Decor/venue: Plush medieval pub atmosphere

Address: Hippolytusbuurt 10, Delft. Tel: 015-212 28 05 (co-managed by Le Mariage owners)

Review author: Laure-Anne ()

Prinsenkelder

Price: about 25 euros a head

Style: French/Fusion

Service: Excellent

Veggie-friendliness: ?

Non Smoker-friendliness: ?

Food presentation: Excellent, fantastic

Decor/venue: In cellar, has garden for nice weather

Address: Schoolstraat 11, Delft. Tel: 015 - 212 18 60

Review author: Laura ()

Redjeki

Style: Indonesian

Price: About 18 euros a head

Service: Really friendly, polite and helpful

Veggie-friendliness: Yes! Really nice stuff to replace meat

Non smoker-friendliness:?

Food presentation: Lots of separate little dishes for every one to share

Decor/Venue: Two reasonably large dining rooms, Indonesian theme

Address: Choorstraat 50-56, Delft. Tel: 015-212 50 22

Review author: Laure-Anne ()

Roti 4 U

Style: Surinamese/Hindustani/Javanese

Price: about 8 euros a head

Service : Quite friendly. Well they would be. We go there all the time!

Veggie-friendliness: They serve Saytan for the veggies. Yam.

Non smoker-friendliness: ?

Food presentation : Unpretentious. Very generous portions.

Decor/venue: Small, unpretentious, functional.

Address: Molslaan 39, Delft. Tel: 015-212 93 90

Review author: Laure-Anne ()

de Ruif

Style: Officially eetcafe, but the cuisine is more high-quality Fusion/traditional

Price: 25 to 20 euros a head

Service: Accommodating, flexible, polite, fast and English spoken.

Veggie-friendliness: Very little choice on official menu, but chef quite flexible.

Non-smoker-friendliness: No non-smoking area.

Food presentation: Researched, definitely not a blob on a plate

Decor/Venue: Medieval decoration/building. 2 seating areas around a wide bar + a lovely garden terrace outside along the canal. Situated alongside the New Church: very pittoresque location.

Address: 22-24 Kerkstraat (Delft). Tel: 015 214 2206. Site: http://www.ruif.nl/.

Review author: Laure-Anne ()

San Marco

Style: Italian

Price: about 12 euros a head

Service: Very quick, quite friendly. Gets very busy, though, so potential wait for a table.

Veggie-friendliness: Very ready to accommodate by making same but without meat, but not such large vegetarian selection on the menu

Non smoker-friendliness: Large 1/2 open-roof 'garden' ensures no smoke in the room, but don't know about winter

Food presentation: Authentic, fresh ingredients

Decor/venue: Deceptively large restaurant. Small medieval house, with narrow dining area opens up to large dining area at the back, with an openable roof for those nice days.

Address: Brabantseturfmarkt 23, Delft. Tel: 015-213 16 29

Review author: Laure-Anne ()

de V

Style: French/Dutch/Fusion

Price: about 16 euros a head

Service: OK

Veggie-friendliness : Good selection

Non smoker-friendliness:?

Food presentation : Original recipes, nicely presented

Decor/venue: very large cafe type atmosphere

Address: Voorstraat 9, Delft. Tel: 015-214 09 16

Review author: Laure-Anne ()

Vlaanderen

Style: Fusion

Price: about 20 euros a head

Service: Quite friendly

Veggie-friendliness : Not so much

Non smoker-friendliness: ?

Food presentation: Original ingredient mix, nicely presented

Decor/venue: Cafe-type atmosphere

Special note: Nice design terrace-garden in the back

Address: Beestenmarkt 16, Delft. Tel: 015-213 33 11

Review author: Laure-Anne ()

RECOMMENDED BARS AND CAFES
Required information

Please complete the following information in your bar/cafe recommendation.

Style: e.g. modern, trendy

Service: self-explanatory
Non-smoker-friendliness: Some of our members are allergic to smoke. Information requested: how smoke-free is the non-smoking zone? Is there a non-smoking zone?
Decor/Venue: e.g design, trendy
Note: Anything note-worthy that was not mentioned before.
Review author: Your first name, your native country

de Be-Bop Jazzcafe

Style: Deep dive, in the good sense of the word. Dark and cosy.

Service: OK, speak reasonable English. Can take a while to get served if very busy.

Non-smoker-friendliness: Can get quite smokey. Fantastic garden seating area in the back of the pub. Can even sit there with a light drizzle (protected by the canopy of the old trees).

Notes: Nice selection of foreign beers. Live music at times. The garden is a must-see.

Address: 13 Kromstraat (Delft).

Review author: Laure-Anne ().

de Doerak

Style: Local corner pub atmosphere

Service: The pub owner speaks perfect English. She is helpful, friendly, quick and ... pretty! The perfect combination.

Non-smoker-friendliness: Can get smokey as it's a small pub, but doors tend to be open so still quite airy atmosphere, unless really crowded. Seating is available outside weather permitting.

Decor/Venue: Very small pub. Nostalgic deco. Large front bay-window makes for a very light and airy atmosphere. Lovely view on the canal.

Note:
Nice selection of foreign beers.
The staff's familiar and friendly welcome will make you feel like a local after a couple of visits.
Just a couple of street aways from tourist-trodden market pubs, but it makes for a completely different, cosier atmosphere.

Address: Delft, 17 Vrouwjuttenland. Site: http://www.cafedoerak.nl.

Review author: Laure-Anne ().

de Ruif

Style: Very old bricks: medieval, even.

Service: The staff behind the bar are cooperative, friendly and efficient. They all speak quite good English.

Non-smoker-friendliness: No non-smoking area.

Decor/Venue: 2 seating areas around a long and wide bar, so can seat quite a few people, really. Medieval decoration/building.

Notes:
Nice selection of foreign beers.
Situated alongside the New Church, really pittoresque location.
Garden-terrace along the canal an absolute treat. They even have their own terrace-boat moored outside the terrace.

Address: Delft, 22-24 Kerkstraat. Site: http://www.ruif.nl/

Review author: Laure-Anne ()

RECOMMENDED SHOPS AND SERVICES
Required information

Please complete the following information in your shop/service recommendation:

What: e.g. Cooking utensils shop

Why you like it: e.g. Very knowledgeable staff and fantastic goods quality.

Note (optional): anything note-worthy that you haven't mentioned yet

Address: Self explanatory. Add tel. number and website if you have it. If you've been recently, that stuff's on the receipt.

Review author: Your first name and country of origin

Dutch shops opening hours

Shops in The Netherlands tend to close excruciatingly early (about 6pm), but each city has its weekly late-night shopping day (until about 9pm). Here's for the ones I know:

Amsterdam: Thursday
Delft: Friday
Den Haag: Thursday
Rijswijk: Thursday
Rotterdam: Friday

Delftse Hout (petting zoo)

What: kinderboerderij (petting zoo) with really nice play area

Why I like it:
Free entrance.
Really nice, large enclosures for the animals and very close interaction with the animals is allowed for the kids.
Kids love the play areas which are large and imaginative.
They also have pigs and donkeys (most kinderboerderijen only sheep and goats).

Note: Open from 10am to 4.30pm.

Address: Korftlaan 3, Delftse Hout, Delft (in Delft's wood). Tel: 015-214 02 63. http://home.deds.nl/~kinderboerderijdelft/

Author: Laure-Anne ()

Natuurwinkel (ethical mini-market)

What: Ethical shopping (organic, veggie stuff, etc.)

Why I like it: Good choice of veggie goods. Quite a large surface. They also do cafe food in opening hours.

Address: Vrouwjuttenland 33-35, Delft. Site: http://www.denatuurwinkel.com

Author: Laure-Anne ()

Trumpy (baby-sitting)

What: Baby-sitting service

Why we like it:
Run by women students.
They're all over 18 and most speak adequate English.
Been using them for 3 years, very happy with them (Laura).

Notes:
For week-end and evening baby-sitting: 5,68 / hour for the first child; then 1,50 / hour for every additional child.
Not sure how far away from Wateringen they go.

Address: In Wateringen. Contact: Sabrina Thoen Tel: 0174 22 50 30. Site: www.trumpy.nl

Authors: Monika () and Laura ()

Recommended Dutch websites

2006-08-15T14:46:00.000-05:00

INTRODUCTION TO THIS SECTION

Essential Dutch websites. The websites every local knows and making your life soooo much easier.

Flags indicate whether the site is in Dutch and/or English.

Recommend websites by clicking on '0 comments' below and indicating the following information:

Website name
Language: e.g. Available in Dutch, English, French, etc.
What it's about:
Why you like it:
Internet address:
Review author: Your first name, Your native country

RECOMMENDATIONS

Alternative Arts Productions AAPA

Written in Dutch and English. Non-profit on-line group for people interested in alternative art. Includes independent reviews of alternative works in music, cinema and photography. The group is used as a launchpad to art initiatives. The idea is to help creative projects through collaboration and promotion and reviews.

http://www.aapa.nl/

Dictionary (Dutch-English-Dutch): Travlang

On-line Dutch-English (and English-Dutch) dictionary. Invaluable if you have, like me, struggled to find that fast, free, on-line, single-term translation service.

http://dictionaries.travlang.com/DutchEnglish/

Creches and day care listing: Kiddo

(in Dutch) Listings of daycare centres and creches organised per town.

http://kiddo.net/kiddo/kiddosite.php

(Lucie, )

Estate sales/rentals: Funda

(in Dutch) Listings of estate for sale or rent. Really complete, clear information on estate on offer. Very complete search criteria can be entered, searches can be saved. Funda is one of the standard advertising platforms for estate agents, so a great central place to look for estate in The Netherlands.

http://www.funda.nl

(Oscar, )

Kids outings: Uit met kinderen

(in Dutch) Lists recommended days-out with the kids in The Netherlands. Very user-friendly searches (click on a map of Holland to zoom to your region only) and very large selection of activities are promoted. You can also recommend activities on the site yourself.

http://www.uitmetkinderen.nl/

(Dawn, )

Movies timetables: Belbios and Cinema.nl

(in Dutch) Belbios: Listings of movies showing at all movie houses and cinemas in Holland. Very flexible search criteria, complete information and good user interface.

http://www.belbios.nl

(Laure-Anne, )

(in Dutch) Cinema.nl: You could also try cinema.nl for really complete movie summaries, etc.

http://www.cinema.nl

(Oscar, )

Pets: dierenplaats.nl

(in Dutch) Very complete on-line information resource for anything to do with owning a pet in the Netherlands. It has a sections on pensions, local vets, animals up for adoption, etc. It also has links to scientific research on animal welfare, animal protection organisations, animal-related attractions (e.g. zoos and safaries) in The Netherlands, etc.

http://www.dierenplaats.nl/

(Laure-Anne, )

On-line market (sim. to e-Bay): Marktplaats

(in Dutch) Buy or sell anything from second-hand sofas to musical instruments. Bit like a local Dutch version of e-Bay.

http://www.marktplaats.nl

(Laure-Anne, )

Public transport travel planner: 9292

(in Dutch) Public transport routes and timetables. User-friendly interfaces, and very complete information.

http://www.9292ov.nl/

(Laure-Anne, )

Restaurant reviews: IENS

(also in English) Very complete reviews, contact details and price listings for all participating restaurants in Holland. Very advanced search criteria are possible. User-friendly interface.

http://www.iens.nl/

(Laura, )

Traffic information: traffic net

(in Dutch) Graphic display of routes in The Netherlands (red = very busy, etc.). Very regularly updated.

http://www.trafficnet.nl/traffic.asp

(Laure-Anne, )

Vegetarian in Netherlands: Vegatopia

(only in Dutch) Resource page for veggies in The Netherlands. Shows recipes, restaurants!, a forum, news, etc. All veggie-oriented.

http://www.vegatopia.com/

(Laure-Anne, )

Weather forecast

(in English) 3-day weather forecast for Amsterdam.

http://www.weather-forecast.com/locations/Amsterdam.1to3.shtml

(Laure-Anne, )

Yellow Pages

(in English too) Yellow pages for shops and businesses in The Netherlands. Link below for English version.

http://http://yellowpages.goudengids.nl/displayhome.ds/

(Laure-Anne, )