The SentinelAmsterdamIntegrity heart humour

culTure

FRANCECAMPING AU NATURELPerSPecTIVeSlIFeSTYleSTrAVelOPINION

reVIewTecHNOlOGYArTFIlM

MuSIcTreNDSrecOMMeNDeDSPOrT

FeATure

vol 5 16 ndash 11 September 2012

bRoUwERIjlsquoT Ij

cONTeNTS 02

The Sentinel Amsterdam does not intentionally include unaccredited photosillustrations that are subject to copyright If you consider your copyright to have been infringed please contact us at sentinelpostgmailcom

03cONTeNTS

In this issue

FeATure P 04

cOlOPHON

The Sentinel Amsterdame-mail sentinelpostgmailcomwebsite wwwthesentineleu

Contributors Valeria Scimia Eva Haan Simon Owusu David King Dirkje Bakker-Pierre and Simon Joseph

The Sentinel Amsterdam does not intentionally include unaccredited photosillustrations that are subject to copyright If you consider your copyright to have been infringed please contact us at sentinelpostgmailcom

Editors ndash Gary Rudland amp Denson PierreDesign realisation and form ndash Andrei Barburas amp No-OfficenlWebmaster ndash wwwsio-bytestumblrcomWebhost ndash Amsterjammincom

France Camping au naturel

culTure P 34

Brouwerij lsquot Ij

PerSPecTIVeS P 42

Natural Revolution

SPOrT P64 SPOrT P 68 MOre

On the volley The Gold Room TrAVel P 22Australiarsquos next virgin

ArT P 30TOOTS 90

cAFeacuteBAr reVIew P 40Cafeacute De Jaren

STAr Beer GuIDe P 50rsquot Ij IPA

recOMMeNDeD P54

SPOTTeD P 56Where is this in AmsterdamFIlM reVIew Room 2c P 57

TreNDS P 58A fashion of (s)ports

TecHNOlOGY P 62TechBit Sio-Bytes

clASSIFIeDS

lsquoCarbon impact would be ameliorated to the maximum possible extentrsquo

lsquoKeep the lid tightly screwed on the anti-depressantsrsquo

lsquoThe Dutch have always been independent thinkersrsquo

lsquoPeople forgot about the benefits supplied by Mother Earth lsquo

04FeATure

lsquoGet the word out about environmentally friendly French

techniques practices and eco-sensitive educationrsquo

FRANCE

05FeATure

By Denson Pierre

Atout France arranged for The Sentinel to join an intimate press trip to the islands and environs of Poitu-Charantes during the height of the political season at the end of August The trip was organised to help get the word out about environmentally friendly French techniques practices and eco-sensitive education using this area known for expansive camp sites beaches and family tourism as a prime example We should all be involved in thinking about sustainable models and greener behaviour since only this can really save us in the medium term Alert levels are set at fragile ecologically politically and of course financially so austerity sense and regeneration are the only buzz terms that should be occupying us

AUNATUREL

lsquoThe fury of nature lashed my under-

standing of it from the comfort of a gorgeous cafeacute-bar overlooking a

tremendous valleyrsquo

06FeATure

spousersquos mother to get back to the house in time for dinner preparation On our eventual return we retired to refresh ourselves in the guest and creative studio extension We switched on the television to see what was up with the world after a couple of days in Aix-en-Provence seeing to it that all the people my then extended family knew were sure to vote against Jean Marie Le Pen and his right-wing bordering on extremist cohorts in the election for the French presidency It was at this time that I recognised names and country references within the French-language concert that made us both turn towards the TV with a start There back in the Netherlands lay the slain body of Pim Fortuyn and as it was translated to me the story of how politics touches us all at all times was told in dramatic detail

Ten years later there is still a simmering discontent in the Dutch air and tomorrow we again head to the polls to vote in a general election in an effort it must be hoped to stop the same peculiarly insane right-wing race and faith hate as before clouding the agendas that should be priorities such as how we are meant to devise models to sustain for any length of time the possibility of creating any sort of quality of life anywhere on the planet The economic crisis is not something brought on or significantly influenced by the easily targeted immigrants and newcomers as there is free and unhindered movement for Dutch and EU citizens to other parts of the world I therefore hope that the entire green agenda will receive the intelligent support of the electorate voting for the parties most attuned to the real concerns of cohesiveness and sustainable models in all aspects and walks of life

As it so happens the last time I was in France was at another fraught pre-election period here in the Netherlands The economy was rather more buoyant travel and hospitality much more affordable and it was also just at the pinnacle of the modern quasi-intellectualisation of retrograde right-wing Dutch politics led by Pim Fortuyn He made it clear back then that he was the Prime Minister elect and only events beyond his elegant and eloquent salesmanship would prevent him from achieving that destiny

On 6 May 2002 I set out from a house in the heights of Luberon (Provence) on one of those pleasant walks to which you can easily become accustomed in rural France on my way to Grambois a commune some 45 minutes walking and steep climbing away Soon after I set out in the company of my then common-law wife who comes from that part of the world we found ourselves being tracked by an ominous weather system I was later able to identify this as part of the mighty Mistral bringing the most awesome thunder and lightning spectacle I have so far experienced close-up The attendant precipitation was tropical in its intensity and lasted for quite some time

We had only just managed to speed walk and climb up to the commune (902m) when the fury of nature lashed my understanding of it from the comfort of a gorgeous cafeacute-bar overlooking a tremendous valley As wonderful the spectacle and as tasty the beers it also meant that we were stranded with no apparent end to the system in sight as it hung over and deposited all that it must have sucked up over the warm Mediterranean Sea over us and a huge swathe of the region We eventually needed to call in a lift from my then

lsquoBack in the Netherlands lay the slain body of Pim Fortuyn and as it was translated to me the story of how politics touches us all at all timesrsquo

lsquoThere is free and unhindered movement for Dutch and EU citizens to other parts of

the worldlsquo

07FeATure

08FeATure

processes involved in bringing this valued condiment to our dinner tables This particular farm is part of a co-operative formed in the 1990s to revive not just the skills involved in harnessing salt in this way but also to protect the flora and fauna unique to this harsh environment For many years following the demise of this labour- and craft-intensive form of salt mining due to the rise of the more easily industrially extracted salt deposits in much larger areas or subterranean mines the tidal flats were left to rot and go wild As if to coincide with the advent of amateur chefs prompted by a new age of celebrity and TV chefs demanding the highest quality of all products to ensure the finest flavours one of the star supplies from this base is bringing the entire industry back to parity economically speaking In so doing it is providing much needed employment for a growing number of some 100 co-operative members between spring and autumn leaving the winter months for the pursuit of other goals such as further education or rotation with other traditional jobs on the island which continue throughout the winter Our own guide Brice Collonier typically I imagine studied Fine Art during his winter breaks

The main stimulator of the local economy in the immediate area is Fluer de Sel (Flower of Salt) This salt is manually scooped from the top layer of saline mixture deposited by the sea and carefully chicaned in the numerous natural earthen evaporation and filtering (shallow) pools It is

The Salt MastersTo Dutch eyes this region of Atlantic coastal France is in parts remarkably similar to the Netherlands Spot heights are no more than 20 metres for hundreds of kilometres around and it includes systems of dykes and other sea barriers as regular and necessary engineering to keep the Atlantic Ocean at bay Our first visit was therefore to a base of all that was economically significant in the region before modern times salt From Nantes Atlantique International Airport (Air France 1 hour 45 minutes from Schiphol) to the salt marshes of Ile de Rersquo takes just over 25 hours in shared driven transport Since the theme of this press trip was ecological soundness all aspects of carbon impact would be ameliorated to the maximum possible extent

No sooner had I become accustomed to the unending kilometres of sunflower maize and assorted vegetable fields and cattle than we arrived on the island and headed straight for the eco-museum and salt marsh farm of Du Marais Salant (httpwwwmarais-salantcom ) This quaint tiny museum provides an appreciable amount of information and instruction on the history and future prospects of the area which once enjoyed great prominence due to the salt farmed on its tidal flats over the past 1100 years The true nature of the work carried out in such an alien environment can only really be understood when you are guided around the earthen water-channelling complex highlighting the

09

lsquoUnending kilometres of sunflower maize and assorted vegetable fields and cattlersquo

lsquoThe area which once enjoyed great prominence due to the salt farmed on its

tidal flats over the past 1100 yearsrsquo

FeATure

10FeATure

A short drive away after we had spent some good time at the camping site we arrived at the place where we would eventually bed down for the night in time to freshen up for the evening meal at the stupendously located Restaurant Atalante (wwwthalasso-ilederecom ) a few minutes walk away I will leave the description and welcome of the hotel where we slept for a subsequent article but I will say that with a near full moon moving across a clear evening sky and a working lighthouse flickering away over to our left seen through huge glass-panelled windows this was an ideal dinner booking and space from which to reacquaint ourselves with French cuisine Earlier in the day we had stopped at La Maree Restaurant for a great lunch but my enthusiasm to get deeper into the stories of the region and the way they tie in with the purpose of our visit meant that it was only as I relaxed after a long day to the muscle relaxing powers and fine light taste of the local organic beer (Rersquo La Blanche) that I realised we were in for another couple of days of natural and interactive wonder here on the all-round stylish French ground

Partners on this tripwwwfranceguidecomnlwwwpoitou-charentes-vacancescomwwwterralannoonlwwwairfrancecom

then heaped to dry out aggregated quality checked and packaged as one of the more sought after and expensive salt types in European cuisine For us (the press group) the most extraordinary thing was this very complex production and preservation method It was clear that many skills needed to be mastered and it came as no surprise when our guide and senior farmer explained that he could indeed be called a master for the manner in which he went about his tasks and the incredibly integrated knowledge of the eco-system he possessed considering that he has been working on the flats for around ten years A taste-enhanced apprenticeship and a great educator I wholeheartedly recommend this side trip as one full of interest not only to youngsters but also leaving adults adoring the beauty of what they were previously unaware

Being that close to the sea and having such nutrient rich air sometimes causes your eyes to water in a breeze and tends to create a build-up of thirst and even appetite Before we entertained thoughts of dinner we would be salved by fresh cool drinking water Next we headed to the eco-camping site of Village Center (wwwvillage-centerfr ) This site carries a coherent message making sure guests understand and learn better practices in energy use and saving As well as instruc-tion on aspects of modern day eco-label camping it has a beautiful beach just over a little rise to the west of the site

11

lsquoThe main stimulator of the local economy in the immediate area is Fluer de Sel

(Flower of Salt)rsquo

lsquoThis site carries a coherent message making sure guests understand and learn better

practices in energy use and savingrsquo

FeATure

12FeATure

FeATure 13

14FeATure

15FeATure

16FeATure

17FeATure

18FeATure

19FeATure

SPOrTclASSIFIeDS 20

cONTeNTS 02

The Sentinel Amsterdam does not intentionally include unaccredited photosillustrations that are subject to copyright If you consider your copyright to have been infringed please contact us at sentinelpostgmailcom

03cONTeNTS

In this issue

FeATure P 04

cOlOPHON

The Sentinel Amsterdame-mail sentinelpostgmailcomwebsite wwwthesentineleu

Contributors Valeria Scimia Eva Haan Simon Owusu David King Dirkje Bakker-Pierre and Simon Joseph

The Sentinel Amsterdam does not intentionally include unaccredited photosillustrations that are subject to copyright If you consider your copyright to have been infringed please contact us at sentinelpostgmailcom

Editors ndash Gary Rudland amp Denson PierreDesign realisation and form ndash Andrei Barburas amp No-OfficenlWebmaster ndash wwwsio-bytestumblrcomWebhost ndash Amsterjammincom

France Camping au naturel

culTure P 34

Brouwerij lsquot Ij

PerSPecTIVeS P 42

Natural Revolution

SPOrT P64 SPOrT P 68 MOre

On the volley The Gold Room TrAVel P 22Australiarsquos next virgin

ArT P 30TOOTS 90

cAFeacuteBAr reVIew P 40Cafeacute De Jaren

STAr Beer GuIDe P 50rsquot Ij IPA

recOMMeNDeD P54

SPOTTeD P 56Where is this in AmsterdamFIlM reVIew Room 2c P 57

TreNDS P 58A fashion of (s)ports

TecHNOlOGY P 62TechBit Sio-Bytes

clASSIFIeDS

lsquoCarbon impact would be ameliorated to the maximum possible extentrsquo

lsquoKeep the lid tightly screwed on the anti-depressantsrsquo

lsquoThe Dutch have always been independent thinkersrsquo

lsquoPeople forgot about the benefits supplied by Mother Earth lsquo

04FeATure

lsquoGet the word out about environmentally friendly French

techniques practices and eco-sensitive educationrsquo

FRANCE

05FeATure

By Denson Pierre

Atout France arranged for The Sentinel to join an intimate press trip to the islands and environs of Poitu-Charantes during the height of the political season at the end of August The trip was organised to help get the word out about environmentally friendly French techniques practices and eco-sensitive education using this area known for expansive camp sites beaches and family tourism as a prime example We should all be involved in thinking about sustainable models and greener behaviour since only this can really save us in the medium term Alert levels are set at fragile ecologically politically and of course financially so austerity sense and regeneration are the only buzz terms that should be occupying us

AUNATUREL

lsquoThe fury of nature lashed my under-

standing of it from the comfort of a gorgeous cafeacute-bar overlooking a

tremendous valleyrsquo

06FeATure

spousersquos mother to get back to the house in time for dinner preparation On our eventual return we retired to refresh ourselves in the guest and creative studio extension We switched on the television to see what was up with the world after a couple of days in Aix-en-Provence seeing to it that all the people my then extended family knew were sure to vote against Jean Marie Le Pen and his right-wing bordering on extremist cohorts in the election for the French presidency It was at this time that I recognised names and country references within the French-language concert that made us both turn towards the TV with a start There back in the Netherlands lay the slain body of Pim Fortuyn and as it was translated to me the story of how politics touches us all at all times was told in dramatic detail

Ten years later there is still a simmering discontent in the Dutch air and tomorrow we again head to the polls to vote in a general election in an effort it must be hoped to stop the same peculiarly insane right-wing race and faith hate as before clouding the agendas that should be priorities such as how we are meant to devise models to sustain for any length of time the possibility of creating any sort of quality of life anywhere on the planet The economic crisis is not something brought on or significantly influenced by the easily targeted immigrants and newcomers as there is free and unhindered movement for Dutch and EU citizens to other parts of the world I therefore hope that the entire green agenda will receive the intelligent support of the electorate voting for the parties most attuned to the real concerns of cohesiveness and sustainable models in all aspects and walks of life

As it so happens the last time I was in France was at another fraught pre-election period here in the Netherlands The economy was rather more buoyant travel and hospitality much more affordable and it was also just at the pinnacle of the modern quasi-intellectualisation of retrograde right-wing Dutch politics led by Pim Fortuyn He made it clear back then that he was the Prime Minister elect and only events beyond his elegant and eloquent salesmanship would prevent him from achieving that destiny

On 6 May 2002 I set out from a house in the heights of Luberon (Provence) on one of those pleasant walks to which you can easily become accustomed in rural France on my way to Grambois a commune some 45 minutes walking and steep climbing away Soon after I set out in the company of my then common-law wife who comes from that part of the world we found ourselves being tracked by an ominous weather system I was later able to identify this as part of the mighty Mistral bringing the most awesome thunder and lightning spectacle I have so far experienced close-up The attendant precipitation was tropical in its intensity and lasted for quite some time

We had only just managed to speed walk and climb up to the commune (902m) when the fury of nature lashed my understanding of it from the comfort of a gorgeous cafeacute-bar overlooking a tremendous valley As wonderful the spectacle and as tasty the beers it also meant that we were stranded with no apparent end to the system in sight as it hung over and deposited all that it must have sucked up over the warm Mediterranean Sea over us and a huge swathe of the region We eventually needed to call in a lift from my then

lsquoBack in the Netherlands lay the slain body of Pim Fortuyn and as it was translated to me the story of how politics touches us all at all timesrsquo

lsquoThere is free and unhindered movement for Dutch and EU citizens to other parts of

the worldlsquo

07FeATure

08FeATure

processes involved in bringing this valued condiment to our dinner tables This particular farm is part of a co-operative formed in the 1990s to revive not just the skills involved in harnessing salt in this way but also to protect the flora and fauna unique to this harsh environment For many years following the demise of this labour- and craft-intensive form of salt mining due to the rise of the more easily industrially extracted salt deposits in much larger areas or subterranean mines the tidal flats were left to rot and go wild As if to coincide with the advent of amateur chefs prompted by a new age of celebrity and TV chefs demanding the highest quality of all products to ensure the finest flavours one of the star supplies from this base is bringing the entire industry back to parity economically speaking In so doing it is providing much needed employment for a growing number of some 100 co-operative members between spring and autumn leaving the winter months for the pursuit of other goals such as further education or rotation with other traditional jobs on the island which continue throughout the winter Our own guide Brice Collonier typically I imagine studied Fine Art during his winter breaks

The main stimulator of the local economy in the immediate area is Fluer de Sel (Flower of Salt) This salt is manually scooped from the top layer of saline mixture deposited by the sea and carefully chicaned in the numerous natural earthen evaporation and filtering (shallow) pools It is

The Salt MastersTo Dutch eyes this region of Atlantic coastal France is in parts remarkably similar to the Netherlands Spot heights are no more than 20 metres for hundreds of kilometres around and it includes systems of dykes and other sea barriers as regular and necessary engineering to keep the Atlantic Ocean at bay Our first visit was therefore to a base of all that was economically significant in the region before modern times salt From Nantes Atlantique International Airport (Air France 1 hour 45 minutes from Schiphol) to the salt marshes of Ile de Rersquo takes just over 25 hours in shared driven transport Since the theme of this press trip was ecological soundness all aspects of carbon impact would be ameliorated to the maximum possible extent

No sooner had I become accustomed to the unending kilometres of sunflower maize and assorted vegetable fields and cattle than we arrived on the island and headed straight for the eco-museum and salt marsh farm of Du Marais Salant (httpwwwmarais-salantcom ) This quaint tiny museum provides an appreciable amount of information and instruction on the history and future prospects of the area which once enjoyed great prominence due to the salt farmed on its tidal flats over the past 1100 years The true nature of the work carried out in such an alien environment can only really be understood when you are guided around the earthen water-channelling complex highlighting the

09

lsquoUnending kilometres of sunflower maize and assorted vegetable fields and cattlersquo

lsquoThe area which once enjoyed great prominence due to the salt farmed on its

tidal flats over the past 1100 yearsrsquo

FeATure

10FeATure

A short drive away after we had spent some good time at the camping site we arrived at the place where we would eventually bed down for the night in time to freshen up for the evening meal at the stupendously located Restaurant Atalante (wwwthalasso-ilederecom ) a few minutes walk away I will leave the description and welcome of the hotel where we slept for a subsequent article but I will say that with a near full moon moving across a clear evening sky and a working lighthouse flickering away over to our left seen through huge glass-panelled windows this was an ideal dinner booking and space from which to reacquaint ourselves with French cuisine Earlier in the day we had stopped at La Maree Restaurant for a great lunch but my enthusiasm to get deeper into the stories of the region and the way they tie in with the purpose of our visit meant that it was only as I relaxed after a long day to the muscle relaxing powers and fine light taste of the local organic beer (Rersquo La Blanche) that I realised we were in for another couple of days of natural and interactive wonder here on the all-round stylish French ground

Partners on this tripwwwfranceguidecomnlwwwpoitou-charentes-vacancescomwwwterralannoonlwwwairfrancecom

then heaped to dry out aggregated quality checked and packaged as one of the more sought after and expensive salt types in European cuisine For us (the press group) the most extraordinary thing was this very complex production and preservation method It was clear that many skills needed to be mastered and it came as no surprise when our guide and senior farmer explained that he could indeed be called a master for the manner in which he went about his tasks and the incredibly integrated knowledge of the eco-system he possessed considering that he has been working on the flats for around ten years A taste-enhanced apprenticeship and a great educator I wholeheartedly recommend this side trip as one full of interest not only to youngsters but also leaving adults adoring the beauty of what they were previously unaware

Being that close to the sea and having such nutrient rich air sometimes causes your eyes to water in a breeze and tends to create a build-up of thirst and even appetite Before we entertained thoughts of dinner we would be salved by fresh cool drinking water Next we headed to the eco-camping site of Village Center (wwwvillage-centerfr ) This site carries a coherent message making sure guests understand and learn better practices in energy use and saving As well as instruc-tion on aspects of modern day eco-label camping it has a beautiful beach just over a little rise to the west of the site

11

lsquoThe main stimulator of the local economy in the immediate area is Fluer de Sel

(Flower of Salt)rsquo

lsquoThis site carries a coherent message making sure guests understand and learn better

practices in energy use and savingrsquo

FeATure

12FeATure

FeATure 13

14FeATure

15FeATure

16FeATure

17FeATure

18FeATure

19FeATure

SPOrTclASSIFIeDS 20

03cONTeNTS

In this issue

FeATure P 04

cOlOPHON

The Sentinel Amsterdame-mail sentinelpostgmailcomwebsite wwwthesentineleu

Contributors Valeria Scimia Eva Haan Simon Owusu David King Dirkje Bakker-Pierre and Simon Joseph

The Sentinel Amsterdam does not intentionally include unaccredited photosillustrations that are subject to copyright If you consider your copyright to have been infringed please contact us at sentinelpostgmailcom

Editors ndash Gary Rudland amp Denson PierreDesign realisation and form ndash Andrei Barburas amp No-OfficenlWebmaster ndash wwwsio-bytestumblrcomWebhost ndash Amsterjammincom

France Camping au naturel

culTure P 34

Brouwerij lsquot Ij

PerSPecTIVeS P 42

Natural Revolution

SPOrT P64 SPOrT P 68 MOre

On the volley The Gold Room TrAVel P 22Australiarsquos next virgin

ArT P 30TOOTS 90

cAFeacuteBAr reVIew P 40Cafeacute De Jaren

STAr Beer GuIDe P 50rsquot Ij IPA

recOMMeNDeD P54

SPOTTeD P 56Where is this in AmsterdamFIlM reVIew Room 2c P 57

TreNDS P 58A fashion of (s)ports

TecHNOlOGY P 62TechBit Sio-Bytes

clASSIFIeDS

lsquoCarbon impact would be ameliorated to the maximum possible extentrsquo

lsquoKeep the lid tightly screwed on the anti-depressantsrsquo

lsquoThe Dutch have always been independent thinkersrsquo

lsquoPeople forgot about the benefits supplied by Mother Earth lsquo

04FeATure

lsquoGet the word out about environmentally friendly French

techniques practices and eco-sensitive educationrsquo

FRANCE

05FeATure

By Denson Pierre

Atout France arranged for The Sentinel to join an intimate press trip to the islands and environs of Poitu-Charantes during the height of the political season at the end of August The trip was organised to help get the word out about environmentally friendly French techniques practices and eco-sensitive education using this area known for expansive camp sites beaches and family tourism as a prime example We should all be involved in thinking about sustainable models and greener behaviour since only this can really save us in the medium term Alert levels are set at fragile ecologically politically and of course financially so austerity sense and regeneration are the only buzz terms that should be occupying us

AUNATUREL

lsquoThe fury of nature lashed my under-

standing of it from the comfort of a gorgeous cafeacute-bar overlooking a

tremendous valleyrsquo

06FeATure

spousersquos mother to get back to the house in time for dinner preparation On our eventual return we retired to refresh ourselves in the guest and creative studio extension We switched on the television to see what was up with the world after a couple of days in Aix-en-Provence seeing to it that all the people my then extended family knew were sure to vote against Jean Marie Le Pen and his right-wing bordering on extremist cohorts in the election for the French presidency It was at this time that I recognised names and country references within the French-language concert that made us both turn towards the TV with a start There back in the Netherlands lay the slain body of Pim Fortuyn and as it was translated to me the story of how politics touches us all at all times was told in dramatic detail

Ten years later there is still a simmering discontent in the Dutch air and tomorrow we again head to the polls to vote in a general election in an effort it must be hoped to stop the same peculiarly insane right-wing race and faith hate as before clouding the agendas that should be priorities such as how we are meant to devise models to sustain for any length of time the possibility of creating any sort of quality of life anywhere on the planet The economic crisis is not something brought on or significantly influenced by the easily targeted immigrants and newcomers as there is free and unhindered movement for Dutch and EU citizens to other parts of the world I therefore hope that the entire green agenda will receive the intelligent support of the electorate voting for the parties most attuned to the real concerns of cohesiveness and sustainable models in all aspects and walks of life

As it so happens the last time I was in France was at another fraught pre-election period here in the Netherlands The economy was rather more buoyant travel and hospitality much more affordable and it was also just at the pinnacle of the modern quasi-intellectualisation of retrograde right-wing Dutch politics led by Pim Fortuyn He made it clear back then that he was the Prime Minister elect and only events beyond his elegant and eloquent salesmanship would prevent him from achieving that destiny

On 6 May 2002 I set out from a house in the heights of Luberon (Provence) on one of those pleasant walks to which you can easily become accustomed in rural France on my way to Grambois a commune some 45 minutes walking and steep climbing away Soon after I set out in the company of my then common-law wife who comes from that part of the world we found ourselves being tracked by an ominous weather system I was later able to identify this as part of the mighty Mistral bringing the most awesome thunder and lightning spectacle I have so far experienced close-up The attendant precipitation was tropical in its intensity and lasted for quite some time

We had only just managed to speed walk and climb up to the commune (902m) when the fury of nature lashed my understanding of it from the comfort of a gorgeous cafeacute-bar overlooking a tremendous valley As wonderful the spectacle and as tasty the beers it also meant that we were stranded with no apparent end to the system in sight as it hung over and deposited all that it must have sucked up over the warm Mediterranean Sea over us and a huge swathe of the region We eventually needed to call in a lift from my then

lsquoBack in the Netherlands lay the slain body of Pim Fortuyn and as it was translated to me the story of how politics touches us all at all timesrsquo

lsquoThere is free and unhindered movement for Dutch and EU citizens to other parts of

the worldlsquo

07FeATure

08FeATure

processes involved in bringing this valued condiment to our dinner tables This particular farm is part of a co-operative formed in the 1990s to revive not just the skills involved in harnessing salt in this way but also to protect the flora and fauna unique to this harsh environment For many years following the demise of this labour- and craft-intensive form of salt mining due to the rise of the more easily industrially extracted salt deposits in much larger areas or subterranean mines the tidal flats were left to rot and go wild As if to coincide with the advent of amateur chefs prompted by a new age of celebrity and TV chefs demanding the highest quality of all products to ensure the finest flavours one of the star supplies from this base is bringing the entire industry back to parity economically speaking In so doing it is providing much needed employment for a growing number of some 100 co-operative members between spring and autumn leaving the winter months for the pursuit of other goals such as further education or rotation with other traditional jobs on the island which continue throughout the winter Our own guide Brice Collonier typically I imagine studied Fine Art during his winter breaks

The main stimulator of the local economy in the immediate area is Fluer de Sel (Flower of Salt) This salt is manually scooped from the top layer of saline mixture deposited by the sea and carefully chicaned in the numerous natural earthen evaporation and filtering (shallow) pools It is

The Salt MastersTo Dutch eyes this region of Atlantic coastal France is in parts remarkably similar to the Netherlands Spot heights are no more than 20 metres for hundreds of kilometres around and it includes systems of dykes and other sea barriers as regular and necessary engineering to keep the Atlantic Ocean at bay Our first visit was therefore to a base of all that was economically significant in the region before modern times salt From Nantes Atlantique International Airport (Air France 1 hour 45 minutes from Schiphol) to the salt marshes of Ile de Rersquo takes just over 25 hours in shared driven transport Since the theme of this press trip was ecological soundness all aspects of carbon impact would be ameliorated to the maximum possible extent

No sooner had I become accustomed to the unending kilometres of sunflower maize and assorted vegetable fields and cattle than we arrived on the island and headed straight for the eco-museum and salt marsh farm of Du Marais Salant (httpwwwmarais-salantcom ) This quaint tiny museum provides an appreciable amount of information and instruction on the history and future prospects of the area which once enjoyed great prominence due to the salt farmed on its tidal flats over the past 1100 years The true nature of the work carried out in such an alien environment can only really be understood when you are guided around the earthen water-channelling complex highlighting the

09

lsquoUnending kilometres of sunflower maize and assorted vegetable fields and cattlersquo

lsquoThe area which once enjoyed great prominence due to the salt farmed on its

tidal flats over the past 1100 yearsrsquo

FeATure

10FeATure

A short drive away after we had spent some good time at the camping site we arrived at the place where we would eventually bed down for the night in time to freshen up for the evening meal at the stupendously located Restaurant Atalante (wwwthalasso-ilederecom ) a few minutes walk away I will leave the description and welcome of the hotel where we slept for a subsequent article but I will say that with a near full moon moving across a clear evening sky and a working lighthouse flickering away over to our left seen through huge glass-panelled windows this was an ideal dinner booking and space from which to reacquaint ourselves with French cuisine Earlier in the day we had stopped at La Maree Restaurant for a great lunch but my enthusiasm to get deeper into the stories of the region and the way they tie in with the purpose of our visit meant that it was only as I relaxed after a long day to the muscle relaxing powers and fine light taste of the local organic beer (Rersquo La Blanche) that I realised we were in for another couple of days of natural and interactive wonder here on the all-round stylish French ground

Partners on this tripwwwfranceguidecomnlwwwpoitou-charentes-vacancescomwwwterralannoonlwwwairfrancecom

then heaped to dry out aggregated quality checked and packaged as one of the more sought after and expensive salt types in European cuisine For us (the press group) the most extraordinary thing was this very complex production and preservation method It was clear that many skills needed to be mastered and it came as no surprise when our guide and senior farmer explained that he could indeed be called a master for the manner in which he went about his tasks and the incredibly integrated knowledge of the eco-system he possessed considering that he has been working on the flats for around ten years A taste-enhanced apprenticeship and a great educator I wholeheartedly recommend this side trip as one full of interest not only to youngsters but also leaving adults adoring the beauty of what they were previously unaware

Being that close to the sea and having such nutrient rich air sometimes causes your eyes to water in a breeze and tends to create a build-up of thirst and even appetite Before we entertained thoughts of dinner we would be salved by fresh cool drinking water Next we headed to the eco-camping site of Village Center (wwwvillage-centerfr ) This site carries a coherent message making sure guests understand and learn better practices in energy use and saving As well as instruc-tion on aspects of modern day eco-label camping it has a beautiful beach just over a little rise to the west of the site

11

lsquoThe main stimulator of the local economy in the immediate area is Fluer de Sel

(Flower of Salt)rsquo

lsquoThis site carries a coherent message making sure guests understand and learn better

practices in energy use and savingrsquo

FeATure

12FeATure

FeATure 13

14FeATure

15FeATure

16FeATure

17FeATure

18FeATure

19FeATure

SPOrTclASSIFIeDS 20

04FeATure

lsquoGet the word out about environmentally friendly French

techniques practices and eco-sensitive educationrsquo

FRANCE

05FeATure

By Denson Pierre

Atout France arranged for The Sentinel to join an intimate press trip to the islands and environs of Poitu-Charantes during the height of the political season at the end of August The trip was organised to help get the word out about environmentally friendly French techniques practices and eco-sensitive education using this area known for expansive camp sites beaches and family tourism as a prime example We should all be involved in thinking about sustainable models and greener behaviour since only this can really save us in the medium term Alert levels are set at fragile ecologically politically and of course financially so austerity sense and regeneration are the only buzz terms that should be occupying us

AUNATUREL

lsquoThe fury of nature lashed my under-

standing of it from the comfort of a gorgeous cafeacute-bar overlooking a

tremendous valleyrsquo

06FeATure

spousersquos mother to get back to the house in time for dinner preparation On our eventual return we retired to refresh ourselves in the guest and creative studio extension We switched on the television to see what was up with the world after a couple of days in Aix-en-Provence seeing to it that all the people my then extended family knew were sure to vote against Jean Marie Le Pen and his right-wing bordering on extremist cohorts in the election for the French presidency It was at this time that I recognised names and country references within the French-language concert that made us both turn towards the TV with a start There back in the Netherlands lay the slain body of Pim Fortuyn and as it was translated to me the story of how politics touches us all at all times was told in dramatic detail

Ten years later there is still a simmering discontent in the Dutch air and tomorrow we again head to the polls to vote in a general election in an effort it must be hoped to stop the same peculiarly insane right-wing race and faith hate as before clouding the agendas that should be priorities such as how we are meant to devise models to sustain for any length of time the possibility of creating any sort of quality of life anywhere on the planet The economic crisis is not something brought on or significantly influenced by the easily targeted immigrants and newcomers as there is free and unhindered movement for Dutch and EU citizens to other parts of the world I therefore hope that the entire green agenda will receive the intelligent support of the electorate voting for the parties most attuned to the real concerns of cohesiveness and sustainable models in all aspects and walks of life

As it so happens the last time I was in France was at another fraught pre-election period here in the Netherlands The economy was rather more buoyant travel and hospitality much more affordable and it was also just at the pinnacle of the modern quasi-intellectualisation of retrograde right-wing Dutch politics led by Pim Fortuyn He made it clear back then that he was the Prime Minister elect and only events beyond his elegant and eloquent salesmanship would prevent him from achieving that destiny

On 6 May 2002 I set out from a house in the heights of Luberon (Provence) on one of those pleasant walks to which you can easily become accustomed in rural France on my way to Grambois a commune some 45 minutes walking and steep climbing away Soon after I set out in the company of my then common-law wife who comes from that part of the world we found ourselves being tracked by an ominous weather system I was later able to identify this as part of the mighty Mistral bringing the most awesome thunder and lightning spectacle I have so far experienced close-up The attendant precipitation was tropical in its intensity and lasted for quite some time

We had only just managed to speed walk and climb up to the commune (902m) when the fury of nature lashed my understanding of it from the comfort of a gorgeous cafeacute-bar overlooking a tremendous valley As wonderful the spectacle and as tasty the beers it also meant that we were stranded with no apparent end to the system in sight as it hung over and deposited all that it must have sucked up over the warm Mediterranean Sea over us and a huge swathe of the region We eventually needed to call in a lift from my then

lsquoBack in the Netherlands lay the slain body of Pim Fortuyn and as it was translated to me the story of how politics touches us all at all timesrsquo

lsquoThere is free and unhindered movement for Dutch and EU citizens to other parts of

the worldlsquo

07FeATure

08FeATure

processes involved in bringing this valued condiment to our dinner tables This particular farm is part of a co-operative formed in the 1990s to revive not just the skills involved in harnessing salt in this way but also to protect the flora and fauna unique to this harsh environment For many years following the demise of this labour- and craft-intensive form of salt mining due to the rise of the more easily industrially extracted salt deposits in much larger areas or subterranean mines the tidal flats were left to rot and go wild As if to coincide with the advent of amateur chefs prompted by a new age of celebrity and TV chefs demanding the highest quality of all products to ensure the finest flavours one of the star supplies from this base is bringing the entire industry back to parity economically speaking In so doing it is providing much needed employment for a growing number of some 100 co-operative members between spring and autumn leaving the winter months for the pursuit of other goals such as further education or rotation with other traditional jobs on the island which continue throughout the winter Our own guide Brice Collonier typically I imagine studied Fine Art during his winter breaks

The main stimulator of the local economy in the immediate area is Fluer de Sel (Flower of Salt) This salt is manually scooped from the top layer of saline mixture deposited by the sea and carefully chicaned in the numerous natural earthen evaporation and filtering (shallow) pools It is

The Salt MastersTo Dutch eyes this region of Atlantic coastal France is in parts remarkably similar to the Netherlands Spot heights are no more than 20 metres for hundreds of kilometres around and it includes systems of dykes and other sea barriers as regular and necessary engineering to keep the Atlantic Ocean at bay Our first visit was therefore to a base of all that was economically significant in the region before modern times salt From Nantes Atlantique International Airport (Air France 1 hour 45 minutes from Schiphol) to the salt marshes of Ile de Rersquo takes just over 25 hours in shared driven transport Since the theme of this press trip was ecological soundness all aspects of carbon impact would be ameliorated to the maximum possible extent

No sooner had I become accustomed to the unending kilometres of sunflower maize and assorted vegetable fields and cattle than we arrived on the island and headed straight for the eco-museum and salt marsh farm of Du Marais Salant (httpwwwmarais-salantcom ) This quaint tiny museum provides an appreciable amount of information and instruction on the history and future prospects of the area which once enjoyed great prominence due to the salt farmed on its tidal flats over the past 1100 years The true nature of the work carried out in such an alien environment can only really be understood when you are guided around the earthen water-channelling complex highlighting the

09

lsquoUnending kilometres of sunflower maize and assorted vegetable fields and cattlersquo

lsquoThe area which once enjoyed great prominence due to the salt farmed on its

tidal flats over the past 1100 yearsrsquo

FeATure

10FeATure

A short drive away after we had spent some good time at the camping site we arrived at the place where we would eventually bed down for the night in time to freshen up for the evening meal at the stupendously located Restaurant Atalante (wwwthalasso-ilederecom ) a few minutes walk away I will leave the description and welcome of the hotel where we slept for a subsequent article but I will say that with a near full moon moving across a clear evening sky and a working lighthouse flickering away over to our left seen through huge glass-panelled windows this was an ideal dinner booking and space from which to reacquaint ourselves with French cuisine Earlier in the day we had stopped at La Maree Restaurant for a great lunch but my enthusiasm to get deeper into the stories of the region and the way they tie in with the purpose of our visit meant that it was only as I relaxed after a long day to the muscle relaxing powers and fine light taste of the local organic beer (Rersquo La Blanche) that I realised we were in for another couple of days of natural and interactive wonder here on the all-round stylish French ground

Partners on this tripwwwfranceguidecomnlwwwpoitou-charentes-vacancescomwwwterralannoonlwwwairfrancecom

then heaped to dry out aggregated quality checked and packaged as one of the more sought after and expensive salt types in European cuisine For us (the press group) the most extraordinary thing was this very complex production and preservation method It was clear that many skills needed to be mastered and it came as no surprise when our guide and senior farmer explained that he could indeed be called a master for the manner in which he went about his tasks and the incredibly integrated knowledge of the eco-system he possessed considering that he has been working on the flats for around ten years A taste-enhanced apprenticeship and a great educator I wholeheartedly recommend this side trip as one full of interest not only to youngsters but also leaving adults adoring the beauty of what they were previously unaware

Being that close to the sea and having such nutrient rich air sometimes causes your eyes to water in a breeze and tends to create a build-up of thirst and even appetite Before we entertained thoughts of dinner we would be salved by fresh cool drinking water Next we headed to the eco-camping site of Village Center (wwwvillage-centerfr ) This site carries a coherent message making sure guests understand and learn better practices in energy use and saving As well as instruc-tion on aspects of modern day eco-label camping it has a beautiful beach just over a little rise to the west of the site

11

lsquoThe main stimulator of the local economy in the immediate area is Fluer de Sel

(Flower of Salt)rsquo

lsquoThis site carries a coherent message making sure guests understand and learn better

practices in energy use and savingrsquo

FeATure

12FeATure

FeATure 13

14FeATure

15FeATure

16FeATure

17FeATure

18FeATure

19FeATure

SPOrTclASSIFIeDS 20

05FeATure

By Denson Pierre

Atout France arranged for The Sentinel to join an intimate press trip to the islands and environs of Poitu-Charantes during the height of the political season at the end of August The trip was organised to help get the word out about environmentally friendly French techniques practices and eco-sensitive education using this area known for expansive camp sites beaches and family tourism as a prime example We should all be involved in thinking about sustainable models and greener behaviour since only this can really save us in the medium term Alert levels are set at fragile ecologically politically and of course financially so austerity sense and regeneration are the only buzz terms that should be occupying us

AUNATUREL

lsquoThe fury of nature lashed my under-

standing of it from the comfort of a gorgeous cafeacute-bar overlooking a

tremendous valleyrsquo

06FeATure

spousersquos mother to get back to the house in time for dinner preparation On our eventual return we retired to refresh ourselves in the guest and creative studio extension We switched on the television to see what was up with the world after a couple of days in Aix-en-Provence seeing to it that all the people my then extended family knew were sure to vote against Jean Marie Le Pen and his right-wing bordering on extremist cohorts in the election for the French presidency It was at this time that I recognised names and country references within the French-language concert that made us both turn towards the TV with a start There back in the Netherlands lay the slain body of Pim Fortuyn and as it was translated to me the story of how politics touches us all at all times was told in dramatic detail

Ten years later there is still a simmering discontent in the Dutch air and tomorrow we again head to the polls to vote in a general election in an effort it must be hoped to stop the same peculiarly insane right-wing race and faith hate as before clouding the agendas that should be priorities such as how we are meant to devise models to sustain for any length of time the possibility of creating any sort of quality of life anywhere on the planet The economic crisis is not something brought on or significantly influenced by the easily targeted immigrants and newcomers as there is free and unhindered movement for Dutch and EU citizens to other parts of the world I therefore hope that the entire green agenda will receive the intelligent support of the electorate voting for the parties most attuned to the real concerns of cohesiveness and sustainable models in all aspects and walks of life

As it so happens the last time I was in France was at another fraught pre-election period here in the Netherlands The economy was rather more buoyant travel and hospitality much more affordable and it was also just at the pinnacle of the modern quasi-intellectualisation of retrograde right-wing Dutch politics led by Pim Fortuyn He made it clear back then that he was the Prime Minister elect and only events beyond his elegant and eloquent salesmanship would prevent him from achieving that destiny

On 6 May 2002 I set out from a house in the heights of Luberon (Provence) on one of those pleasant walks to which you can easily become accustomed in rural France on my way to Grambois a commune some 45 minutes walking and steep climbing away Soon after I set out in the company of my then common-law wife who comes from that part of the world we found ourselves being tracked by an ominous weather system I was later able to identify this as part of the mighty Mistral bringing the most awesome thunder and lightning spectacle I have so far experienced close-up The attendant precipitation was tropical in its intensity and lasted for quite some time

We had only just managed to speed walk and climb up to the commune (902m) when the fury of nature lashed my understanding of it from the comfort of a gorgeous cafeacute-bar overlooking a tremendous valley As wonderful the spectacle and as tasty the beers it also meant that we were stranded with no apparent end to the system in sight as it hung over and deposited all that it must have sucked up over the warm Mediterranean Sea over us and a huge swathe of the region We eventually needed to call in a lift from my then

lsquoBack in the Netherlands lay the slain body of Pim Fortuyn and as it was translated to me the story of how politics touches us all at all timesrsquo

lsquoThere is free and unhindered movement for Dutch and EU citizens to other parts of

the worldlsquo

07FeATure

08FeATure

processes involved in bringing this valued condiment to our dinner tables This particular farm is part of a co-operative formed in the 1990s to revive not just the skills involved in harnessing salt in this way but also to protect the flora and fauna unique to this harsh environment For many years following the demise of this labour- and craft-intensive form of salt mining due to the rise of the more easily industrially extracted salt deposits in much larger areas or subterranean mines the tidal flats were left to rot and go wild As if to coincide with the advent of amateur chefs prompted by a new age of celebrity and TV chefs demanding the highest quality of all products to ensure the finest flavours one of the star supplies from this base is bringing the entire industry back to parity economically speaking In so doing it is providing much needed employment for a growing number of some 100 co-operative members between spring and autumn leaving the winter months for the pursuit of other goals such as further education or rotation with other traditional jobs on the island which continue throughout the winter Our own guide Brice Collonier typically I imagine studied Fine Art during his winter breaks

The main stimulator of the local economy in the immediate area is Fluer de Sel (Flower of Salt) This salt is manually scooped from the top layer of saline mixture deposited by the sea and carefully chicaned in the numerous natural earthen evaporation and filtering (shallow) pools It is

The Salt MastersTo Dutch eyes this region of Atlantic coastal France is in parts remarkably similar to the Netherlands Spot heights are no more than 20 metres for hundreds of kilometres around and it includes systems of dykes and other sea barriers as regular and necessary engineering to keep the Atlantic Ocean at bay Our first visit was therefore to a base of all that was economically significant in the region before modern times salt From Nantes Atlantique International Airport (Air France 1 hour 45 minutes from Schiphol) to the salt marshes of Ile de Rersquo takes just over 25 hours in shared driven transport Since the theme of this press trip was ecological soundness all aspects of carbon impact would be ameliorated to the maximum possible extent

No sooner had I become accustomed to the unending kilometres of sunflower maize and assorted vegetable fields and cattle than we arrived on the island and headed straight for the eco-museum and salt marsh farm of Du Marais Salant (httpwwwmarais-salantcom ) This quaint tiny museum provides an appreciable amount of information and instruction on the history and future prospects of the area which once enjoyed great prominence due to the salt farmed on its tidal flats over the past 1100 years The true nature of the work carried out in such an alien environment can only really be understood when you are guided around the earthen water-channelling complex highlighting the

09

lsquoUnending kilometres of sunflower maize and assorted vegetable fields and cattlersquo

lsquoThe area which once enjoyed great prominence due to the salt farmed on its

tidal flats over the past 1100 yearsrsquo

FeATure

10FeATure

A short drive away after we had spent some good time at the camping site we arrived at the place where we would eventually bed down for the night in time to freshen up for the evening meal at the stupendously located Restaurant Atalante (wwwthalasso-ilederecom ) a few minutes walk away I will leave the description and welcome of the hotel where we slept for a subsequent article but I will say that with a near full moon moving across a clear evening sky and a working lighthouse flickering away over to our left seen through huge glass-panelled windows this was an ideal dinner booking and space from which to reacquaint ourselves with French cuisine Earlier in the day we had stopped at La Maree Restaurant for a great lunch but my enthusiasm to get deeper into the stories of the region and the way they tie in with the purpose of our visit meant that it was only as I relaxed after a long day to the muscle relaxing powers and fine light taste of the local organic beer (Rersquo La Blanche) that I realised we were in for another couple of days of natural and interactive wonder here on the all-round stylish French ground

Partners on this tripwwwfranceguidecomnlwwwpoitou-charentes-vacancescomwwwterralannoonlwwwairfrancecom

then heaped to dry out aggregated quality checked and packaged as one of the more sought after and expensive salt types in European cuisine For us (the press group) the most extraordinary thing was this very complex production and preservation method It was clear that many skills needed to be mastered and it came as no surprise when our guide and senior farmer explained that he could indeed be called a master for the manner in which he went about his tasks and the incredibly integrated knowledge of the eco-system he possessed considering that he has been working on the flats for around ten years A taste-enhanced apprenticeship and a great educator I wholeheartedly recommend this side trip as one full of interest not only to youngsters but also leaving adults adoring the beauty of what they were previously unaware

Being that close to the sea and having such nutrient rich air sometimes causes your eyes to water in a breeze and tends to create a build-up of thirst and even appetite Before we entertained thoughts of dinner we would be salved by fresh cool drinking water Next we headed to the eco-camping site of Village Center (wwwvillage-centerfr ) This site carries a coherent message making sure guests understand and learn better practices in energy use and saving As well as instruc-tion on aspects of modern day eco-label camping it has a beautiful beach just over a little rise to the west of the site

11

lsquoThe main stimulator of the local economy in the immediate area is Fluer de Sel

(Flower of Salt)rsquo

lsquoThis site carries a coherent message making sure guests understand and learn better

practices in energy use and savingrsquo

FeATure

12FeATure

FeATure 13

14FeATure

15FeATure

16FeATure

17FeATure

18FeATure

19FeATure

SPOrTclASSIFIeDS 20

lsquoThe fury of nature lashed my under-

standing of it from the comfort of a gorgeous cafeacute-bar overlooking a

tremendous valleyrsquo

06FeATure

spousersquos mother to get back to the house in time for dinner preparation On our eventual return we retired to refresh ourselves in the guest and creative studio extension We switched on the television to see what was up with the world after a couple of days in Aix-en-Provence seeing to it that all the people my then extended family knew were sure to vote against Jean Marie Le Pen and his right-wing bordering on extremist cohorts in the election for the French presidency It was at this time that I recognised names and country references within the French-language concert that made us both turn towards the TV with a start There back in the Netherlands lay the slain body of Pim Fortuyn and as it was translated to me the story of how politics touches us all at all times was told in dramatic detail

Ten years later there is still a simmering discontent in the Dutch air and tomorrow we again head to the polls to vote in a general election in an effort it must be hoped to stop the same peculiarly insane right-wing race and faith hate as before clouding the agendas that should be priorities such as how we are meant to devise models to sustain for any length of time the possibility of creating any sort of quality of life anywhere on the planet The economic crisis is not something brought on or significantly influenced by the easily targeted immigrants and newcomers as there is free and unhindered movement for Dutch and EU citizens to other parts of the world I therefore hope that the entire green agenda will receive the intelligent support of the electorate voting for the parties most attuned to the real concerns of cohesiveness and sustainable models in all aspects and walks of life

As it so happens the last time I was in France was at another fraught pre-election period here in the Netherlands The economy was rather more buoyant travel and hospitality much more affordable and it was also just at the pinnacle of the modern quasi-intellectualisation of retrograde right-wing Dutch politics led by Pim Fortuyn He made it clear back then that he was the Prime Minister elect and only events beyond his elegant and eloquent salesmanship would prevent him from achieving that destiny

On 6 May 2002 I set out from a house in the heights of Luberon (Provence) on one of those pleasant walks to which you can easily become accustomed in rural France on my way to Grambois a commune some 45 minutes walking and steep climbing away Soon after I set out in the company of my then common-law wife who comes from that part of the world we found ourselves being tracked by an ominous weather system I was later able to identify this as part of the mighty Mistral bringing the most awesome thunder and lightning spectacle I have so far experienced close-up The attendant precipitation was tropical in its intensity and lasted for quite some time

We had only just managed to speed walk and climb up to the commune (902m) when the fury of nature lashed my understanding of it from the comfort of a gorgeous cafeacute-bar overlooking a tremendous valley As wonderful the spectacle and as tasty the beers it also meant that we were stranded with no apparent end to the system in sight as it hung over and deposited all that it must have sucked up over the warm Mediterranean Sea over us and a huge swathe of the region We eventually needed to call in a lift from my then

lsquoBack in the Netherlands lay the slain body of Pim Fortuyn and as it was translated to me the story of how politics touches us all at all timesrsquo

lsquoThere is free and unhindered movement for Dutch and EU citizens to other parts of

the worldlsquo

07FeATure

08FeATure

processes involved in bringing this valued condiment to our dinner tables This particular farm is part of a co-operative formed in the 1990s to revive not just the skills involved in harnessing salt in this way but also to protect the flora and fauna unique to this harsh environment For many years following the demise of this labour- and craft-intensive form of salt mining due to the rise of the more easily industrially extracted salt deposits in much larger areas or subterranean mines the tidal flats were left to rot and go wild As if to coincide with the advent of amateur chefs prompted by a new age of celebrity and TV chefs demanding the highest quality of all products to ensure the finest flavours one of the star supplies from this base is bringing the entire industry back to parity economically speaking In so doing it is providing much needed employment for a growing number of some 100 co-operative members between spring and autumn leaving the winter months for the pursuit of other goals such as further education or rotation with other traditional jobs on the island which continue throughout the winter Our own guide Brice Collonier typically I imagine studied Fine Art during his winter breaks

The main stimulator of the local economy in the immediate area is Fluer de Sel (Flower of Salt) This salt is manually scooped from the top layer of saline mixture deposited by the sea and carefully chicaned in the numerous natural earthen evaporation and filtering (shallow) pools It is

The Salt MastersTo Dutch eyes this region of Atlantic coastal France is in parts remarkably similar to the Netherlands Spot heights are no more than 20 metres for hundreds of kilometres around and it includes systems of dykes and other sea barriers as regular and necessary engineering to keep the Atlantic Ocean at bay Our first visit was therefore to a base of all that was economically significant in the region before modern times salt From Nantes Atlantique International Airport (Air France 1 hour 45 minutes from Schiphol) to the salt marshes of Ile de Rersquo takes just over 25 hours in shared driven transport Since the theme of this press trip was ecological soundness all aspects of carbon impact would be ameliorated to the maximum possible extent

No sooner had I become accustomed to the unending kilometres of sunflower maize and assorted vegetable fields and cattle than we arrived on the island and headed straight for the eco-museum and salt marsh farm of Du Marais Salant (httpwwwmarais-salantcom ) This quaint tiny museum provides an appreciable amount of information and instruction on the history and future prospects of the area which once enjoyed great prominence due to the salt farmed on its tidal flats over the past 1100 years The true nature of the work carried out in such an alien environment can only really be understood when you are guided around the earthen water-channelling complex highlighting the

09

lsquoUnending kilometres of sunflower maize and assorted vegetable fields and cattlersquo

lsquoThe area which once enjoyed great prominence due to the salt farmed on its

tidal flats over the past 1100 yearsrsquo

FeATure

10FeATure

A short drive away after we had spent some good time at the camping site we arrived at the place where we would eventually bed down for the night in time to freshen up for the evening meal at the stupendously located Restaurant Atalante (wwwthalasso-ilederecom ) a few minutes walk away I will leave the description and welcome of the hotel where we slept for a subsequent article but I will say that with a near full moon moving across a clear evening sky and a working lighthouse flickering away over to our left seen through huge glass-panelled windows this was an ideal dinner booking and space from which to reacquaint ourselves with French cuisine Earlier in the day we had stopped at La Maree Restaurant for a great lunch but my enthusiasm to get deeper into the stories of the region and the way they tie in with the purpose of our visit meant that it was only as I relaxed after a long day to the muscle relaxing powers and fine light taste of the local organic beer (Rersquo La Blanche) that I realised we were in for another couple of days of natural and interactive wonder here on the all-round stylish French ground

Partners on this tripwwwfranceguidecomnlwwwpoitou-charentes-vacancescomwwwterralannoonlwwwairfrancecom

then heaped to dry out aggregated quality checked and packaged as one of the more sought after and expensive salt types in European cuisine For us (the press group) the most extraordinary thing was this very complex production and preservation method It was clear that many skills needed to be mastered and it came as no surprise when our guide and senior farmer explained that he could indeed be called a master for the manner in which he went about his tasks and the incredibly integrated knowledge of the eco-system he possessed considering that he has been working on the flats for around ten years A taste-enhanced apprenticeship and a great educator I wholeheartedly recommend this side trip as one full of interest not only to youngsters but also leaving adults adoring the beauty of what they were previously unaware

Being that close to the sea and having such nutrient rich air sometimes causes your eyes to water in a breeze and tends to create a build-up of thirst and even appetite Before we entertained thoughts of dinner we would be salved by fresh cool drinking water Next we headed to the eco-camping site of Village Center (wwwvillage-centerfr ) This site carries a coherent message making sure guests understand and learn better practices in energy use and saving As well as instruc-tion on aspects of modern day eco-label camping it has a beautiful beach just over a little rise to the west of the site

11

lsquoThe main stimulator of the local economy in the immediate area is Fluer de Sel

(Flower of Salt)rsquo

lsquoThis site carries a coherent message making sure guests understand and learn better

practices in energy use and savingrsquo

FeATure

12FeATure

FeATure 13

14FeATure

15FeATure

16FeATure

17FeATure

18FeATure

19FeATure

SPOrTclASSIFIeDS 20

spousersquos mother to get back to the house in time for dinner preparation On our eventual return we retired to refresh ourselves in the guest and creative studio extension We switched on the television to see what was up with the world after a couple of days in Aix-en-Provence seeing to it that all the people my then extended family knew were sure to vote against Jean Marie Le Pen and his right-wing bordering on extremist cohorts in the election for the French presidency It was at this time that I recognised names and country references within the French-language concert that made us both turn towards the TV with a start There back in the Netherlands lay the slain body of Pim Fortuyn and as it was translated to me the story of how politics touches us all at all times was told in dramatic detail

Ten years later there is still a simmering discontent in the Dutch air and tomorrow we again head to the polls to vote in a general election in an effort it must be hoped to stop the same peculiarly insane right-wing race and faith hate as before clouding the agendas that should be priorities such as how we are meant to devise models to sustain for any length of time the possibility of creating any sort of quality of life anywhere on the planet The economic crisis is not something brought on or significantly influenced by the easily targeted immigrants and newcomers as there is free and unhindered movement for Dutch and EU citizens to other parts of the world I therefore hope that the entire green agenda will receive the intelligent support of the electorate voting for the parties most attuned to the real concerns of cohesiveness and sustainable models in all aspects and walks of life

As it so happens the last time I was in France was at another fraught pre-election period here in the Netherlands The economy was rather more buoyant travel and hospitality much more affordable and it was also just at the pinnacle of the modern quasi-intellectualisation of retrograde right-wing Dutch politics led by Pim Fortuyn He made it clear back then that he was the Prime Minister elect and only events beyond his elegant and eloquent salesmanship would prevent him from achieving that destiny

On 6 May 2002 I set out from a house in the heights of Luberon (Provence) on one of those pleasant walks to which you can easily become accustomed in rural France on my way to Grambois a commune some 45 minutes walking and steep climbing away Soon after I set out in the company of my then common-law wife who comes from that part of the world we found ourselves being tracked by an ominous weather system I was later able to identify this as part of the mighty Mistral bringing the most awesome thunder and lightning spectacle I have so far experienced close-up The attendant precipitation was tropical in its intensity and lasted for quite some time

We had only just managed to speed walk and climb up to the commune (902m) when the fury of nature lashed my understanding of it from the comfort of a gorgeous cafeacute-bar overlooking a tremendous valley As wonderful the spectacle and as tasty the beers it also meant that we were stranded with no apparent end to the system in sight as it hung over and deposited all that it must have sucked up over the warm Mediterranean Sea over us and a huge swathe of the region We eventually needed to call in a lift from my then

lsquoBack in the Netherlands lay the slain body of Pim Fortuyn and as it was translated to me the story of how politics touches us all at all timesrsquo

lsquoThere is free and unhindered movement for Dutch and EU citizens to other parts of

the worldlsquo

07FeATure

08FeATure

processes involved in bringing this valued condiment to our dinner tables This particular farm is part of a co-operative formed in the 1990s to revive not just the skills involved in harnessing salt in this way but also to protect the flora and fauna unique to this harsh environment For many years following the demise of this labour- and craft-intensive form of salt mining due to the rise of the more easily industrially extracted salt deposits in much larger areas or subterranean mines the tidal flats were left to rot and go wild As if to coincide with the advent of amateur chefs prompted by a new age of celebrity and TV chefs demanding the highest quality of all products to ensure the finest flavours one of the star supplies from this base is bringing the entire industry back to parity economically speaking In so doing it is providing much needed employment for a growing number of some 100 co-operative members between spring and autumn leaving the winter months for the pursuit of other goals such as further education or rotation with other traditional jobs on the island which continue throughout the winter Our own guide Brice Collonier typically I imagine studied Fine Art during his winter breaks

The main stimulator of the local economy in the immediate area is Fluer de Sel (Flower of Salt) This salt is manually scooped from the top layer of saline mixture deposited by the sea and carefully chicaned in the numerous natural earthen evaporation and filtering (shallow) pools It is

The Salt MastersTo Dutch eyes this region of Atlantic coastal France is in parts remarkably similar to the Netherlands Spot heights are no more than 20 metres for hundreds of kilometres around and it includes systems of dykes and other sea barriers as regular and necessary engineering to keep the Atlantic Ocean at bay Our first visit was therefore to a base of all that was economically significant in the region before modern times salt From Nantes Atlantique International Airport (Air France 1 hour 45 minutes from Schiphol) to the salt marshes of Ile de Rersquo takes just over 25 hours in shared driven transport Since the theme of this press trip was ecological soundness all aspects of carbon impact would be ameliorated to the maximum possible extent

No sooner had I become accustomed to the unending kilometres of sunflower maize and assorted vegetable fields and cattle than we arrived on the island and headed straight for the eco-museum and salt marsh farm of Du Marais Salant (httpwwwmarais-salantcom ) This quaint tiny museum provides an appreciable amount of information and instruction on the history and future prospects of the area which once enjoyed great prominence due to the salt farmed on its tidal flats over the past 1100 years The true nature of the work carried out in such an alien environment can only really be understood when you are guided around the earthen water-channelling complex highlighting the

09

lsquoUnending kilometres of sunflower maize and assorted vegetable fields and cattlersquo

lsquoThe area which once enjoyed great prominence due to the salt farmed on its

tidal flats over the past 1100 yearsrsquo

FeATure

10FeATure

A short drive away after we had spent some good time at the camping site we arrived at the place where we would eventually bed down for the night in time to freshen up for the evening meal at the stupendously located Restaurant Atalante (wwwthalasso-ilederecom ) a few minutes walk away I will leave the description and welcome of the hotel where we slept for a subsequent article but I will say that with a near full moon moving across a clear evening sky and a working lighthouse flickering away over to our left seen through huge glass-panelled windows this was an ideal dinner booking and space from which to reacquaint ourselves with French cuisine Earlier in the day we had stopped at La Maree Restaurant for a great lunch but my enthusiasm to get deeper into the stories of the region and the way they tie in with the purpose of our visit meant that it was only as I relaxed after a long day to the muscle relaxing powers and fine light taste of the local organic beer (Rersquo La Blanche) that I realised we were in for another couple of days of natural and interactive wonder here on the all-round stylish French ground

Partners on this tripwwwfranceguidecomnlwwwpoitou-charentes-vacancescomwwwterralannoonlwwwairfrancecom

then heaped to dry out aggregated quality checked and packaged as one of the more sought after and expensive salt types in European cuisine For us (the press group) the most extraordinary thing was this very complex production and preservation method It was clear that many skills needed to be mastered and it came as no surprise when our guide and senior farmer explained that he could indeed be called a master for the manner in which he went about his tasks and the incredibly integrated knowledge of the eco-system he possessed considering that he has been working on the flats for around ten years A taste-enhanced apprenticeship and a great educator I wholeheartedly recommend this side trip as one full of interest not only to youngsters but also leaving adults adoring the beauty of what they were previously unaware

Being that close to the sea and having such nutrient rich air sometimes causes your eyes to water in a breeze and tends to create a build-up of thirst and even appetite Before we entertained thoughts of dinner we would be salved by fresh cool drinking water Next we headed to the eco-camping site of Village Center (wwwvillage-centerfr ) This site carries a coherent message making sure guests understand and learn better practices in energy use and saving As well as instruc-tion on aspects of modern day eco-label camping it has a beautiful beach just over a little rise to the west of the site

11

lsquoThe main stimulator of the local economy in the immediate area is Fluer de Sel

(Flower of Salt)rsquo

lsquoThis site carries a coherent message making sure guests understand and learn better

practices in energy use and savingrsquo

FeATure

12FeATure

FeATure 13

14FeATure

15FeATure

16FeATure

17FeATure

18FeATure

19FeATure

SPOrTclASSIFIeDS 20

08FeATure

processes involved in bringing this valued condiment to our dinner tables This particular farm is part of a co-operative formed in the 1990s to revive not just the skills involved in harnessing salt in this way but also to protect the flora and fauna unique to this harsh environment For many years following the demise of this labour- and craft-intensive form of salt mining due to the rise of the more easily industrially extracted salt deposits in much larger areas or subterranean mines the tidal flats were left to rot and go wild As if to coincide with the advent of amateur chefs prompted by a new age of celebrity and TV chefs demanding the highest quality of all products to ensure the finest flavours one of the star supplies from this base is bringing the entire industry back to parity economically speaking In so doing it is providing much needed employment for a growing number of some 100 co-operative members between spring and autumn leaving the winter months for the pursuit of other goals such as further education or rotation with other traditional jobs on the island which continue throughout the winter Our own guide Brice Collonier typically I imagine studied Fine Art during his winter breaks

The main stimulator of the local economy in the immediate area is Fluer de Sel (Flower of Salt) This salt is manually scooped from the top layer of saline mixture deposited by the sea and carefully chicaned in the numerous natural earthen evaporation and filtering (shallow) pools It is

The Salt MastersTo Dutch eyes this region of Atlantic coastal France is in parts remarkably similar to the Netherlands Spot heights are no more than 20 metres for hundreds of kilometres around and it includes systems of dykes and other sea barriers as regular and necessary engineering to keep the Atlantic Ocean at bay Our first visit was therefore to a base of all that was economically significant in the region before modern times salt From Nantes Atlantique International Airport (Air France 1 hour 45 minutes from Schiphol) to the salt marshes of Ile de Rersquo takes just over 25 hours in shared driven transport Since the theme of this press trip was ecological soundness all aspects of carbon impact would be ameliorated to the maximum possible extent

No sooner had I become accustomed to the unending kilometres of sunflower maize and assorted vegetable fields and cattle than we arrived on the island and headed straight for the eco-museum and salt marsh farm of Du Marais Salant (httpwwwmarais-salantcom ) This quaint tiny museum provides an appreciable amount of information and instruction on the history and future prospects of the area which once enjoyed great prominence due to the salt farmed on its tidal flats over the past 1100 years The true nature of the work carried out in such an alien environment can only really be understood when you are guided around the earthen water-channelling complex highlighting the

09

lsquoUnending kilometres of sunflower maize and assorted vegetable fields and cattlersquo

lsquoThe area which once enjoyed great prominence due to the salt farmed on its

tidal flats over the past 1100 yearsrsquo

FeATure

10FeATure

A short drive away after we had spent some good time at the camping site we arrived at the place where we would eventually bed down for the night in time to freshen up for the evening meal at the stupendously located Restaurant Atalante (wwwthalasso-ilederecom ) a few minutes walk away I will leave the description and welcome of the hotel where we slept for a subsequent article but I will say that with a near full moon moving across a clear evening sky and a working lighthouse flickering away over to our left seen through huge glass-panelled windows this was an ideal dinner booking and space from which to reacquaint ourselves with French cuisine Earlier in the day we had stopped at La Maree Restaurant for a great lunch but my enthusiasm to get deeper into the stories of the region and the way they tie in with the purpose of our visit meant that it was only as I relaxed after a long day to the muscle relaxing powers and fine light taste of the local organic beer (Rersquo La Blanche) that I realised we were in for another couple of days of natural and interactive wonder here on the all-round stylish French ground

Partners on this tripwwwfranceguidecomnlwwwpoitou-charentes-vacancescomwwwterralannoonlwwwairfrancecom

then heaped to dry out aggregated quality checked and packaged as one of the more sought after and expensive salt types in European cuisine For us (the press group) the most extraordinary thing was this very complex production and preservation method It was clear that many skills needed to be mastered and it came as no surprise when our guide and senior farmer explained that he could indeed be called a master for the manner in which he went about his tasks and the incredibly integrated knowledge of the eco-system he possessed considering that he has been working on the flats for around ten years A taste-enhanced apprenticeship and a great educator I wholeheartedly recommend this side trip as one full of interest not only to youngsters but also leaving adults adoring the beauty of what they were previously unaware

Being that close to the sea and having such nutrient rich air sometimes causes your eyes to water in a breeze and tends to create a build-up of thirst and even appetite Before we entertained thoughts of dinner we would be salved by fresh cool drinking water Next we headed to the eco-camping site of Village Center (wwwvillage-centerfr ) This site carries a coherent message making sure guests understand and learn better practices in energy use and saving As well as instruc-tion on aspects of modern day eco-label camping it has a beautiful beach just over a little rise to the west of the site

11

lsquoThe main stimulator of the local economy in the immediate area is Fluer de Sel

(Flower of Salt)rsquo

lsquoThis site carries a coherent message making sure guests understand and learn better

practices in energy use and savingrsquo

FeATure

12FeATure

FeATure 13

14FeATure

15FeATure

16FeATure

17FeATure

18FeATure

19FeATure

SPOrTclASSIFIeDS 20

processes involved in bringing this valued condiment to our dinner tables This particular farm is part of a co-operative formed in the 1990s to revive not just the skills involved in harnessing salt in this way but also to protect the flora and fauna unique to this harsh environment For many years following the demise of this labour- and craft-intensive form of salt mining due to the rise of the more easily industrially extracted salt deposits in much larger areas or subterranean mines the tidal flats were left to rot and go wild As if to coincide with the advent of amateur chefs prompted by a new age of celebrity and TV chefs demanding the highest quality of all products to ensure the finest flavours one of the star supplies from this base is bringing the entire industry back to parity economically speaking In so doing it is providing much needed employment for a growing number of some 100 co-operative members between spring and autumn leaving the winter months for the pursuit of other goals such as further education or rotation with other traditional jobs on the island which continue throughout the winter Our own guide Brice Collonier typically I imagine studied Fine Art during his winter breaks

The main stimulator of the local economy in the immediate area is Fluer de Sel (Flower of Salt) This salt is manually scooped from the top layer of saline mixture deposited by the sea and carefully chicaned in the numerous natural earthen evaporation and filtering (shallow) pools It is

The Salt MastersTo Dutch eyes this region of Atlantic coastal France is in parts remarkably similar to the Netherlands Spot heights are no more than 20 metres for hundreds of kilometres around and it includes systems of dykes and other sea barriers as regular and necessary engineering to keep the Atlantic Ocean at bay Our first visit was therefore to a base of all that was economically significant in the region before modern times salt From Nantes Atlantique International Airport (Air France 1 hour 45 minutes from Schiphol) to the salt marshes of Ile de Rersquo takes just over 25 hours in shared driven transport Since the theme of this press trip was ecological soundness all aspects of carbon impact would be ameliorated to the maximum possible extent

No sooner had I become accustomed to the unending kilometres of sunflower maize and assorted vegetable fields and cattle than we arrived on the island and headed straight for the eco-museum and salt marsh farm of Du Marais Salant (httpwwwmarais-salantcom ) This quaint tiny museum provides an appreciable amount of information and instruction on the history and future prospects of the area which once enjoyed great prominence due to the salt farmed on its tidal flats over the past 1100 years The true nature of the work carried out in such an alien environment can only really be understood when you are guided around the earthen water-channelling complex highlighting the

09

lsquoUnending kilometres of sunflower maize and assorted vegetable fields and cattlersquo

lsquoThe area which once enjoyed great prominence due to the salt farmed on its

tidal flats over the past 1100 yearsrsquo

FeATure

10FeATure

A short drive away after we had spent some good time at the camping site we arrived at the place where we would eventually bed down for the night in time to freshen up for the evening meal at the stupendously located Restaurant Atalante (wwwthalasso-ilederecom ) a few minutes walk away I will leave the description and welcome of the hotel where we slept for a subsequent article but I will say that with a near full moon moving across a clear evening sky and a working lighthouse flickering away over to our left seen through huge glass-panelled windows this was an ideal dinner booking and space from which to reacquaint ourselves with French cuisine Earlier in the day we had stopped at La Maree Restaurant for a great lunch but my enthusiasm to get deeper into the stories of the region and the way they tie in with the purpose of our visit meant that it was only as I relaxed after a long day to the muscle relaxing powers and fine light taste of the local organic beer (Rersquo La Blanche) that I realised we were in for another couple of days of natural and interactive wonder here on the all-round stylish French ground

Partners on this tripwwwfranceguidecomnlwwwpoitou-charentes-vacancescomwwwterralannoonlwwwairfrancecom

then heaped to dry out aggregated quality checked and packaged as one of the more sought after and expensive salt types in European cuisine For us (the press group) the most extraordinary thing was this very complex production and preservation method It was clear that many skills needed to be mastered and it came as no surprise when our guide and senior farmer explained that he could indeed be called a master for the manner in which he went about his tasks and the incredibly integrated knowledge of the eco-system he possessed considering that he has been working on the flats for around ten years A taste-enhanced apprenticeship and a great educator I wholeheartedly recommend this side trip as one full of interest not only to youngsters but also leaving adults adoring the beauty of what they were previously unaware

Being that close to the sea and having such nutrient rich air sometimes causes your eyes to water in a breeze and tends to create a build-up of thirst and even appetite Before we entertained thoughts of dinner we would be salved by fresh cool drinking water Next we headed to the eco-camping site of Village Center (wwwvillage-centerfr ) This site carries a coherent message making sure guests understand and learn better practices in energy use and saving As well as instruc-tion on aspects of modern day eco-label camping it has a beautiful beach just over a little rise to the west of the site

11

lsquoThe main stimulator of the local economy in the immediate area is Fluer de Sel

(Flower of Salt)rsquo

lsquoThis site carries a coherent message making sure guests understand and learn better

practices in energy use and savingrsquo

FeATure

12FeATure

FeATure 13

14FeATure

15FeATure

16FeATure

17FeATure

18FeATure

19FeATure

SPOrTclASSIFIeDS 20

10FeATure

A short drive away after we had spent some good time at the camping site we arrived at the place where we would eventually bed down for the night in time to freshen up for the evening meal at the stupendously located Restaurant Atalante (wwwthalasso-ilederecom ) a few minutes walk away I will leave the description and welcome of the hotel where we slept for a subsequent article but I will say that with a near full moon moving across a clear evening sky and a working lighthouse flickering away over to our left seen through huge glass-panelled windows this was an ideal dinner booking and space from which to reacquaint ourselves with French cuisine Earlier in the day we had stopped at La Maree Restaurant for a great lunch but my enthusiasm to get deeper into the stories of the region and the way they tie in with the purpose of our visit meant that it was only as I relaxed after a long day to the muscle relaxing powers and fine light taste of the local organic beer (Rersquo La Blanche) that I realised we were in for another couple of days of natural and interactive wonder here on the all-round stylish French ground

Partners on this tripwwwfranceguidecomnlwwwpoitou-charentes-vacancescomwwwterralannoonlwwwairfrancecom

then heaped to dry out aggregated quality checked and packaged as one of the more sought after and expensive salt types in European cuisine For us (the press group) the most extraordinary thing was this very complex production and preservation method It was clear that many skills needed to be mastered and it came as no surprise when our guide and senior farmer explained that he could indeed be called a master for the manner in which he went about his tasks and the incredibly integrated knowledge of the eco-system he possessed considering that he has been working on the flats for around ten years A taste-enhanced apprenticeship and a great educator I wholeheartedly recommend this side trip as one full of interest not only to youngsters but also leaving adults adoring the beauty of what they were previously unaware

Being that close to the sea and having such nutrient rich air sometimes causes your eyes to water in a breeze and tends to create a build-up of thirst and even appetite Before we entertained thoughts of dinner we would be salved by fresh cool drinking water Next we headed to the eco-camping site of Village Center (wwwvillage-centerfr ) This site carries a coherent message making sure guests understand and learn better practices in energy use and saving As well as instruc-tion on aspects of modern day eco-label camping it has a beautiful beach just over a little rise to the west of the site

11

lsquoThe main stimulator of the local economy in the immediate area is Fluer de Sel

(Flower of Salt)rsquo

lsquoThis site carries a coherent message making sure guests understand and learn better

practices in energy use and savingrsquo

FeATure

12FeATure

FeATure 13

14FeATure

15FeATure

16FeATure

17FeATure

18FeATure

19FeATure

SPOrTclASSIFIeDS 20

A short drive away after we had spent some good time at the camping site we arrived at the place where we would eventually bed down for the night in time to freshen up for the evening meal at the stupendously located Restaurant Atalante (wwwthalasso-ilederecom ) a few minutes walk away I will leave the description and welcome of the hotel where we slept for a subsequent article but I will say that with a near full moon moving across a clear evening sky and a working lighthouse flickering away over to our left seen through huge glass-panelled windows this was an ideal dinner booking and space from which to reacquaint ourselves with French cuisine Earlier in the day we had stopped at La Maree Restaurant for a great lunch but my enthusiasm to get deeper into the stories of the region and the way they tie in with the purpose of our visit meant that it was only as I relaxed after a long day to the muscle relaxing powers and fine light taste of the local organic beer (Rersquo La Blanche) that I realised we were in for another couple of days of natural and interactive wonder here on the all-round stylish French ground

Partners on this tripwwwfranceguidecomnlwwwpoitou-charentes-vacancescomwwwterralannoonlwwwairfrancecom

then heaped to dry out aggregated quality checked and packaged as one of the more sought after and expensive salt types in European cuisine For us (the press group) the most extraordinary thing was this very complex production and preservation method It was clear that many skills needed to be mastered and it came as no surprise when our guide and senior farmer explained that he could indeed be called a master for the manner in which he went about his tasks and the incredibly integrated knowledge of the eco-system he possessed considering that he has been working on the flats for around ten years A taste-enhanced apprenticeship and a great educator I wholeheartedly recommend this side trip as one full of interest not only to youngsters but also leaving adults adoring the beauty of what they were previously unaware

Being that close to the sea and having such nutrient rich air sometimes causes your eyes to water in a breeze and tends to create a build-up of thirst and even appetite Before we entertained thoughts of dinner we would be salved by fresh cool drinking water Next we headed to the eco-camping site of Village Center (wwwvillage-centerfr ) This site carries a coherent message making sure guests understand and learn better practices in energy use and saving As well as instruc-tion on aspects of modern day eco-label camping it has a beautiful beach just over a little rise to the west of the site

11

lsquoThe main stimulator of the local economy in the immediate area is Fluer de Sel

(Flower of Salt)rsquo

lsquoThis site carries a coherent message making sure guests understand and learn better

practices in energy use and savingrsquo

FeATure

12FeATure

FeATure 13

14FeATure

15FeATure

16FeATure

17FeATure

18FeATure

19FeATure

SPOrTclASSIFIeDS 20

12FeATure

FeATure 13

14FeATure

15FeATure

16FeATure

17FeATure

18FeATure

19FeATure

SPOrTclASSIFIeDS 20

FeATure 13

14FeATure

15FeATure

16FeATure

17FeATure

18FeATure

19FeATure

SPOrTclASSIFIeDS 20

14FeATure

15FeATure

16FeATure

17FeATure

18FeATure

19FeATure

SPOrTclASSIFIeDS 20

15FeATure

16FeATure

17FeATure

18FeATure

19FeATure

SPOrTclASSIFIeDS 20

16FeATure

17FeATure

18FeATure

19FeATure

SPOrTclASSIFIeDS 20

17FeATure

18FeATure

19FeATure

SPOrTclASSIFIeDS 20

18FeATure

19FeATure

SPOrTclASSIFIeDS 20

19FeATure

SPOrTclASSIFIeDS 20

SPOrTclASSIFIeDS 20

MechelenAuthentic and full of surprises Thatrsquos Mechelen Hospitable and honourable Thatrsquos the people of Mechelen Come and experience the cityrsquos urban charms for yourself

clASSIFIeDS 21

22

Australiarsquosnextvirgin

TrAVel

23TrAVel

lsquoI never gave up on my dream and that is what has finally brought me to the Land of Ozrsquo

lsquoWhat if I donrsquot make any friends What if I am bitten by a poisonous spider and die or lose half a handrsquo

expecting the clouds to open up like heavenly doors and greet my arrival with constant sunshine and warmth Things did not quite work out like that however What is in fact waiting for me are stormy winds and cold rain Does that ruin my mood Not at all I would not have cared if it was snowing (it is winter here after all) I had made it to Oz and that was all that mattered This was the moment I knew I had made the right decision coming here and I could not have been happier

Sydney is such an interesting city to explore There is the business district with long streets filled with skyscrapers everywhere you look Oxford Street with cool shops and bars plenty of museums and galleries Kings Cross for crazy partiers and so on But there is also the more natural side with all the beautiful beaches and parks The first time I go to Bondi Beach I sit there for hours mesmerised by the beauty Little did I know that this was only the beginning of what Australia has to offer In the meantime I have also been outside of Sydney with some nice Estonians I met on the way who own a car to Palm Beach and other spots in the region It seems that everywhere I look there is a view that I am used to seeing only on postcards

My first few weeks here have been quite eventful I must say I arrived with no plan really thinking that I would figure things out as I go It was never my idea to stay in Sydney too long but to travel around and not settle down anywhere too quickly Also having spent a couple of days there I knew that although it is a great city to visit I would not want to live there too busy for my taste

Consequently I have found my way to Melbourne After just one day here I can already say I feel much more at home It is also a big city but is more spread out and feels more relaxed I have decided that this is where I am going to stay for a couple of months to try out the whole finding a job and a place to live side of Australia

This much I can say ndash I have travelled and moved between countries more than once in the past and this is the first place where the locals have made me feel really welcome in their country even people you have just met offer to help if they can All these smiling and positive people are what help you most when you are dealing with a big change like this I find them truly inspiring

It all started when I saw a picture of a friend celebrating Christmas on a beautiful beach in Australia with the biggest smile ever on her face Tired of snow constant cold weather and haunted by winter depression (I was still living in Estonia at the time) I made the decision there and then that next year same time I would be the one posting the happy pictures Now five years later I am here OK it took a bit longer than expected but I never gave up on my dream and that is what has finally brought me to the Land of Oz

After three weeks back home in Estonia and some tearful goodbyes I head off to Amsterdam to collect my luggage I spend another 24 hours cruising the city that has become my second home and before I know it I am making my way to Schiphol airportMy destination is Sydney via Singapore altogether 19 hours of flying After check-in I grab a quick bite to eat find my gate and take a seat in the waiting area At this point I am calm as ever still not totally getting my head around what is happening The first 12-hour flight to Singapore goes quite quickly thanks to the extensive movie collection on board The second 7-hour stint to Sydney actually feels longer but that is mainly due to the emotional parade that kicks in halfway there First comes fear in the form of a lot of lsquowhat ifsrsquo What if I canrsquot find a job and have to ask my parents to buy me a ticket home after two months What if I donrsquot make any friends What if I am bitten by a poisonous spider and die or lose half a hand

After about half an hour of what ifs I laugh to myself and realise I am driving myself crazy and it is time to stop with the negativity Hope and positivity return I begin to feel butterflies in my stomach when I look at the screen and it says 40 minutes to landing Forty minutes until my big adventure and new life on the other side of the world truly begins It is not even possible to explain the excitement I feel at this point This is it I am about to arrive in the country I have dreamed about coming to for years The big ear to ear smile is there for a good reason and there is no trace of worry

Having come from rainy Amsterdam truth be told I was

By Eva Haan

24

lsquoI was expecting the clouds to open up like heavenly doors and greet my arrival with constant sunshine and warmthrsquo

TrAVel

05FeATure 25

lsquoSydney is such an interesting city to explorersquo

TrAVel

26

lsquoIt seems that everywhere I look there is a view that I am used to seeing only on postcardsrsquo

TrAVel

05FeATure 27

lsquoThis is the first place where the locals have made me feel really welcome in their countryrsquo

TrAVel

clASSIFIeDS 28

For complete and world class tours of Prague

Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night

These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists

Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable

ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 251 620 008Mail jcernosekcentrumcz

wwwyourtuliptourcom

JC Tours

clASSIFIeDSclASSIFIeDS 29

23TrAVel

lsquoI never gave up on my dream and that is what has finally brought me to the Land of Ozrsquo

lsquoWhat if I donrsquot make any friends What if I am bitten by a poisonous spider and die or lose half a handrsquo

expecting the clouds to open up like heavenly doors and greet my arrival with constant sunshine and warmth Things did not quite work out like that however What is in fact waiting for me are stormy winds and cold rain Does that ruin my mood Not at all I would not have cared if it was snowing (it is winter here after all) I had made it to Oz and that was all that mattered This was the moment I knew I had made the right decision coming here and I could not have been happier

Sydney is such an interesting city to explore There is the business district with long streets filled with skyscrapers everywhere you look Oxford Street with cool shops and bars plenty of museums and galleries Kings Cross for crazy partiers and so on But there is also the more natural side with all the beautiful beaches and parks The first time I go to Bondi Beach I sit there for hours mesmerised by the beauty Little did I know that this was only the beginning of what Australia has to offer In the meantime I have also been outside of Sydney with some nice Estonians I met on the way who own a car to Palm Beach and other spots in the region It seems that everywhere I look there is a view that I am used to seeing only on postcards

My first few weeks here have been quite eventful I must say I arrived with no plan really thinking that I would figure things out as I go It was never my idea to stay in Sydney too long but to travel around and not settle down anywhere too quickly Also having spent a couple of days there I knew that although it is a great city to visit I would not want to live there too busy for my taste

Consequently I have found my way to Melbourne After just one day here I can already say I feel much more at home It is also a big city but is more spread out and feels more relaxed I have decided that this is where I am going to stay for a couple of months to try out the whole finding a job and a place to live side of Australia

This much I can say ndash I have travelled and moved between countries more than once in the past and this is the first place where the locals have made me feel really welcome in their country even people you have just met offer to help if they can All these smiling and positive people are what help you most when you are dealing with a big change like this I find them truly inspiring

It all started when I saw a picture of a friend celebrating Christmas on a beautiful beach in Australia with the biggest smile ever on her face Tired of snow constant cold weather and haunted by winter depression (I was still living in Estonia at the time) I made the decision there and then that next year same time I would be the one posting the happy pictures Now five years later I am here OK it took a bit longer than expected but I never gave up on my dream and that is what has finally brought me to the Land of Oz

After three weeks back home in Estonia and some tearful goodbyes I head off to Amsterdam to collect my luggage I spend another 24 hours cruising the city that has become my second home and before I know it I am making my way to Schiphol airportMy destination is Sydney via Singapore altogether 19 hours of flying After check-in I grab a quick bite to eat find my gate and take a seat in the waiting area At this point I am calm as ever still not totally getting my head around what is happening The first 12-hour flight to Singapore goes quite quickly thanks to the extensive movie collection on board The second 7-hour stint to Sydney actually feels longer but that is mainly due to the emotional parade that kicks in halfway there First comes fear in the form of a lot of lsquowhat ifsrsquo What if I canrsquot find a job and have to ask my parents to buy me a ticket home after two months What if I donrsquot make any friends What if I am bitten by a poisonous spider and die or lose half a hand

After about half an hour of what ifs I laugh to myself and realise I am driving myself crazy and it is time to stop with the negativity Hope and positivity return I begin to feel butterflies in my stomach when I look at the screen and it says 40 minutes to landing Forty minutes until my big adventure and new life on the other side of the world truly begins It is not even possible to explain the excitement I feel at this point This is it I am about to arrive in the country I have dreamed about coming to for years The big ear to ear smile is there for a good reason and there is no trace of worry

Having come from rainy Amsterdam truth be told I was

By Eva Haan

24

lsquoI was expecting the clouds to open up like heavenly doors and greet my arrival with constant sunshine and warmthrsquo

TrAVel

05FeATure 25

lsquoSydney is such an interesting city to explorersquo

TrAVel

26

lsquoIt seems that everywhere I look there is a view that I am used to seeing only on postcardsrsquo

TrAVel

05FeATure 27

lsquoThis is the first place where the locals have made me feel really welcome in their countryrsquo

TrAVel

clASSIFIeDS 28

For complete and world class tours of Prague

Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night

These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists

Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable

ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 251 620 008Mail jcernosekcentrumcz

wwwyourtuliptourcom

JC Tours

clASSIFIeDSclASSIFIeDS 29

24

lsquoI was expecting the clouds to open up like heavenly doors and greet my arrival with constant sunshine and warmthrsquo

TrAVel

05FeATure 25

lsquoSydney is such an interesting city to explorersquo

TrAVel

26

lsquoIt seems that everywhere I look there is a view that I am used to seeing only on postcardsrsquo

TrAVel

05FeATure 27

lsquoThis is the first place where the locals have made me feel really welcome in their countryrsquo

TrAVel

clASSIFIeDS 28

For complete and world class tours of Prague

Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night

These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists

Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable

ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 251 620 008Mail jcernosekcentrumcz

wwwyourtuliptourcom

JC Tours

clASSIFIeDSclASSIFIeDS 29

05FeATure 25

lsquoSydney is such an interesting city to explorersquo

TrAVel

26

lsquoIt seems that everywhere I look there is a view that I am used to seeing only on postcardsrsquo

TrAVel

05FeATure 27

lsquoThis is the first place where the locals have made me feel really welcome in their countryrsquo

TrAVel

clASSIFIeDS 28

For complete and world class tours of Prague

Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night

These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists

Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable

ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 251 620 008Mail jcernosekcentrumcz

wwwyourtuliptourcom

JC Tours

clASSIFIeDSclASSIFIeDS 29

26

lsquoIt seems that everywhere I look there is a view that I am used to seeing only on postcardsrsquo

TrAVel

05FeATure 27

lsquoThis is the first place where the locals have made me feel really welcome in their countryrsquo

TrAVel

clASSIFIeDS 28

For complete and world class tours of Prague

Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night

These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists

Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable

ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 251 620 008Mail jcernosekcentrumcz

wwwyourtuliptourcom

JC Tours

clASSIFIeDSclASSIFIeDS 29

05FeATure 27

lsquoThis is the first place where the locals have made me feel really welcome in their countryrsquo

TrAVel

clASSIFIeDS 28

For complete and world class tours of Prague

Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night

These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists

Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable

ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 251 620 008Mail jcernosekcentrumcz

wwwyourtuliptourcom

JC Tours

clASSIFIeDSclASSIFIeDS 29

clASSIFIeDS 28

For complete and world class tours of Prague

Packages includebull Hidden and playful Prague (for families with young children)bull Literary Praguebull Prague Architecture through the agesbull Religion and the citybull The old city at night

These are detailed tours designed for visitors who wish to explore with great detail and not suitable for simply sight-seeing tourists

Day segments and ratesPR 0800-1230hrs AG 1330-1630hrs UE 1730-2130hrsAll sessions are priced at u 25 per single adult Group size upper limit = 8 Accompanied children under the age of five are gratis and school aged children pay 25 Family package rates are negotiable

ContactJaroslav Cernosek+420 251 620 008Mail jcernosekcentrumcz

wwwyourtuliptourcom

JC Tours

clASSIFIeDSclASSIFIeDS 29

clASSIFIeDSclASSIFIeDS 29

30ART

wwwexpotoots90be

TOOTS 90 EXPOLife of toots thielemans at 90

31ArT

32ArT

33ArT

34culTure

lsquoThere should surely be another association formed around beer with Heineken having arguably the worldrsquos best known brandrsquo

Brouwerij lsquot Ij

lsquoCasper Petersen set up a craft brewery in a former bath house at the foot of windmill De Gooyerrsquo

05FeATure

Brouwerij lsquot Ij

35culTure

tourists but the most interesting aspect is that it is now an institution by and for Amsterdammers Having not visited for some four summers on recent trips to furnish this article I saw a number of people I still recognised from 17 years ago when I first began my own quality beer research

The quality of the beers brewed by Brouwerij lsquot Ij has always been distinctive and of a high standard if not necessarily surpassing some of the master brews for which the Flemish reserve the very top drawer of the beer connoisseurrsquos chest This establishment can be counted among Amsterdamrsquos great pleasures There is nothing nicer than a gentle cycle or a trip on a small pleasure craft (the brewery is bordered on one side by a navigable canal) to a historic and beautiful windmill to sample some full-flavoured and robust beers especially when you know it is all produced locally (OK some ingredients are imported from Flanders) The staff and owners are truly invested in the ambiance and hospitality of this tradition The brilliantly experienced and persistent Bart and Patrick (of cafeacutes Zouk Proust Katoen and DePijp fame) took up the reins as new owners some four years ago They have managed to keep the placersquos spirit alive as well as growing the business and its capacity in a pleasant way to the point where Brouwerij lsquot Ij beers can now be found on tap in more than 50 cafes throughout the city and in bottled form in a growing number of off licences Capacity is due to take another leap in 2013 when production space will expand considerably through the acquisition of additional premises nearby

Brouwerij lsquot Ij offers a full array of beers to suit just about any taste and in conclusion I must say that I feel lucky to be an Amsterdammer with a local brewery that carries such a fine contemporary story I now leave it up to you to make your own way there and experience the preferred vibe (gezellig) tastes and pricing structure of our village city

Anyone over the age of 25 and born outside the Netherlands is likely to indelibly associate the image of this country with windmills For the more urbane visitors or new arrivals there should surely be another association formed around beer with Heineken having arguably the worldrsquos best known brand

Both of these positions are fine but do not represent the truth about Amsterdamrsquos skyline where just two windmills remain standing (De Gooyer and De Otter) or the quality of beer Amsterdammers are able to choose from In fact I am left wondering why such a clearly over-standardised scientifically processed star pupil like Heineken lager can be so popular around the world Or indeed with Dutch casual drinkers given the ridiculous bordering on monopolistic ownership and control the multinational exerts along with its stranglehold on licensed premises throughout the country

The Dutch have always been independent thinkers and a rather creative bunch when it comes to food and drink production They are less well known for things like modern craft brewing since the successful craft brewers over the hundreds of years they have demonstrated their aptitude for beer making are now tremendously successful and huge brands which long ago opted for standardisation and profit over taste

The original spirit of independence did however lead to alternative thinking in 1985 when Casper Petersen set up a craft brewery in a former bath house at the foot of windmill De Gooyer Over the years the brewery and its exclusively own-brand tasting room have become an institution for beer and history lovers alike The clientele is forever topped-up by

By Denson Pierre

36culTure

37culTure

38culTure

05FeATure 39

lsquoThis establishment can be counted among Amsterdamrsquos great pleasuresrsquo

lsquoCapacity is due to take another leap in 2013 when production space will expand considerablyrsquo

culTure

40culTure

05FeATure 41

lsquoBrouwerij lsquot Ij offers a full array of beers to suit just about any tastersquo

culTure

42

TheNatural Revolution

PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoSince the very beginning of time we have used nature to feed and cure ourselvesrsquo

43PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoEnthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge with each other increasing the potential for successful discoveries concerning crops and growing methodsrsquo

By Valeria Scimia

Nature has always been manrsquos friend even if humans have not greatly appreciated the gifts she offers and we are not always such good friends in return Since the very beginning of time we have used nature to feed and cure ourselves With industri-alisation people forgot about the benefits supplied by Mother Earth and switched their attention to what humans could invent sell and possess For many years we have been busy with television media and everything that could entertain us and make us lsquoricherrsquo forgetting about what we already had and always have had

44

lsquoSometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generationsrsquo

lsquoIt doesnrsquot have to start big ndash not everyone is into farming or making soaprsquo

PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoSo if our bodies naturally prefer clean air clean water organic food and so on we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of livingrsquo

lsquoWe are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countriesrsquo

And we should indeed remember how our grandparents lived appreciating what we have today with a little more consideration for what we will end up losing if we donrsquot change some things about our environment and lifestyle It doesnrsquot have to start big ndash not everyone is into farming or making soap ndash but there are thousands of ways to reconnect with nature and live in a more ecologically sound way The Netherlands is the perfect example of a country that refused to be smoked out by car fumes Most of the popula-tion travels by bicycle even over reasonably long distances or uses (efficient) public transport The air quality is there-fore much better here than in places where a three-person family owns and uses three cars daily Allergies which are becoming more and more prevalent within industrialised populations seem to be related to pollution This doesnrsquot surprise me greatly since I am from Rome whose famously busy streets are always filled with motor vehicles I always had respiratory problems while living there but they have all disappeared since I moved to the Netherlands

So if our bodies naturally prefer clean air clean water organic food and so on we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of living We can start by making our own lip balm or using cooking oils (yes) in place of creams and oils that are perfumed and mixed with unnatural agents If we cook meals and bake cakes from scratch to feed our children and ourselves we will soon start to notice the benefits of a healthy natural life on our bodies minds and wallets

If you prefer to start big and have a natural ability there are many communities already busy online and elsewhere The Netherlands has seen street garden invasions by Guerrilla Gardeners knitted street lights and bridges by Guerrilla Knitters farmers are growing all around the world and sharing information about apartment-based greenhouses and herb gardens so you donrsquot need to own a garden or a balcony to join the Natural Revolution There are many ways many trends ecological and creative solutions as alternatives to what we have today I say letrsquos take this crisis as an opportunity to cut down on useless expenses and rediscover our abilities to use what nature has given us

Lately however due to the evident economic crisis all over the western world there has been a global tendency towards redis-covering nature and the basic ways of humans before the era of industrialisation More and more people are becoming inter-ested in farming for example especially organic farming and are searching for new ecological ways to feed ourselves The internet is an excellent aid to these new communities with enthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge with each other increasing the potential for successful discoveries concerning crops and growing methods

People are starting to build their own machines to make them cheaper and last longer than those available for purchase Other examples include rediscovering the benefits of healthy food or homemade cures and beauty products Some years ago for example the soap-making community spiked People male and female all over the world started making their own natural soaps Fragrant and beautifully packaged they immediately became a hype Think of the shop Lush a little firm that started making its own natural and eco-friendly body products Within a few years it had expanded worldwide and now provides a great example of how nature can be good for us A few years ago I started following a blog that taught people how to make homemade beauty solutions explaining a lot of useful things of which I am sure my grandmother was very well aware Sometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generations I asked my elders about this some of whom had survived the great wars and they all think that at the end of the Second World War there was a kind of renaissance lsquola dolce vitarsquo as we called it in Italy when many possibilities and new hopes arose They were tricked into becoming part of a society that could only work with a healthy economy So we forgot about certain skills because we thought we no longer needed them But the illusion did not last long or more accurately it was doomed from the very beginning We are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countries No-one seems to have a solution and hope is being lost But to my surprise some people are reacting positively re-approaching nature and the basic ways of living forgetting what was important a few years ago and focusing on what is important today (and always)

45PerSPecTIVeS

clASSIFIeDS 46

31ArT

32ArT

33ArT

34culTure

lsquoThere should surely be another association formed around beer with Heineken having arguably the worldrsquos best known brandrsquo

Brouwerij lsquot Ij

lsquoCasper Petersen set up a craft brewery in a former bath house at the foot of windmill De Gooyerrsquo

05FeATure

Brouwerij lsquot Ij

35culTure

tourists but the most interesting aspect is that it is now an institution by and for Amsterdammers Having not visited for some four summers on recent trips to furnish this article I saw a number of people I still recognised from 17 years ago when I first began my own quality beer research

The quality of the beers brewed by Brouwerij lsquot Ij has always been distinctive and of a high standard if not necessarily surpassing some of the master brews for which the Flemish reserve the very top drawer of the beer connoisseurrsquos chest This establishment can be counted among Amsterdamrsquos great pleasures There is nothing nicer than a gentle cycle or a trip on a small pleasure craft (the brewery is bordered on one side by a navigable canal) to a historic and beautiful windmill to sample some full-flavoured and robust beers especially when you know it is all produced locally (OK some ingredients are imported from Flanders) The staff and owners are truly invested in the ambiance and hospitality of this tradition The brilliantly experienced and persistent Bart and Patrick (of cafeacutes Zouk Proust Katoen and DePijp fame) took up the reins as new owners some four years ago They have managed to keep the placersquos spirit alive as well as growing the business and its capacity in a pleasant way to the point where Brouwerij lsquot Ij beers can now be found on tap in more than 50 cafes throughout the city and in bottled form in a growing number of off licences Capacity is due to take another leap in 2013 when production space will expand considerably through the acquisition of additional premises nearby

Brouwerij lsquot Ij offers a full array of beers to suit just about any taste and in conclusion I must say that I feel lucky to be an Amsterdammer with a local brewery that carries such a fine contemporary story I now leave it up to you to make your own way there and experience the preferred vibe (gezellig) tastes and pricing structure of our village city

Anyone over the age of 25 and born outside the Netherlands is likely to indelibly associate the image of this country with windmills For the more urbane visitors or new arrivals there should surely be another association formed around beer with Heineken having arguably the worldrsquos best known brand

Both of these positions are fine but do not represent the truth about Amsterdamrsquos skyline where just two windmills remain standing (De Gooyer and De Otter) or the quality of beer Amsterdammers are able to choose from In fact I am left wondering why such a clearly over-standardised scientifically processed star pupil like Heineken lager can be so popular around the world Or indeed with Dutch casual drinkers given the ridiculous bordering on monopolistic ownership and control the multinational exerts along with its stranglehold on licensed premises throughout the country

The Dutch have always been independent thinkers and a rather creative bunch when it comes to food and drink production They are less well known for things like modern craft brewing since the successful craft brewers over the hundreds of years they have demonstrated their aptitude for beer making are now tremendously successful and huge brands which long ago opted for standardisation and profit over taste

The original spirit of independence did however lead to alternative thinking in 1985 when Casper Petersen set up a craft brewery in a former bath house at the foot of windmill De Gooyer Over the years the brewery and its exclusively own-brand tasting room have become an institution for beer and history lovers alike The clientele is forever topped-up by

By Denson Pierre

36culTure

37culTure

38culTure

05FeATure 39

lsquoThis establishment can be counted among Amsterdamrsquos great pleasuresrsquo

lsquoCapacity is due to take another leap in 2013 when production space will expand considerablyrsquo

culTure

40culTure

05FeATure 41

lsquoBrouwerij lsquot Ij offers a full array of beers to suit just about any tastersquo

culTure

42

TheNatural Revolution

PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoSince the very beginning of time we have used nature to feed and cure ourselvesrsquo

43PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoEnthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge with each other increasing the potential for successful discoveries concerning crops and growing methodsrsquo

By Valeria Scimia

Nature has always been manrsquos friend even if humans have not greatly appreciated the gifts she offers and we are not always such good friends in return Since the very beginning of time we have used nature to feed and cure ourselves With industri-alisation people forgot about the benefits supplied by Mother Earth and switched their attention to what humans could invent sell and possess For many years we have been busy with television media and everything that could entertain us and make us lsquoricherrsquo forgetting about what we already had and always have had

44

lsquoSometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generationsrsquo

lsquoIt doesnrsquot have to start big ndash not everyone is into farming or making soaprsquo

PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoSo if our bodies naturally prefer clean air clean water organic food and so on we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of livingrsquo

lsquoWe are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countriesrsquo

And we should indeed remember how our grandparents lived appreciating what we have today with a little more consideration for what we will end up losing if we donrsquot change some things about our environment and lifestyle It doesnrsquot have to start big ndash not everyone is into farming or making soap ndash but there are thousands of ways to reconnect with nature and live in a more ecologically sound way The Netherlands is the perfect example of a country that refused to be smoked out by car fumes Most of the popula-tion travels by bicycle even over reasonably long distances or uses (efficient) public transport The air quality is there-fore much better here than in places where a three-person family owns and uses three cars daily Allergies which are becoming more and more prevalent within industrialised populations seem to be related to pollution This doesnrsquot surprise me greatly since I am from Rome whose famously busy streets are always filled with motor vehicles I always had respiratory problems while living there but they have all disappeared since I moved to the Netherlands

So if our bodies naturally prefer clean air clean water organic food and so on we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of living We can start by making our own lip balm or using cooking oils (yes) in place of creams and oils that are perfumed and mixed with unnatural agents If we cook meals and bake cakes from scratch to feed our children and ourselves we will soon start to notice the benefits of a healthy natural life on our bodies minds and wallets

If you prefer to start big and have a natural ability there are many communities already busy online and elsewhere The Netherlands has seen street garden invasions by Guerrilla Gardeners knitted street lights and bridges by Guerrilla Knitters farmers are growing all around the world and sharing information about apartment-based greenhouses and herb gardens so you donrsquot need to own a garden or a balcony to join the Natural Revolution There are many ways many trends ecological and creative solutions as alternatives to what we have today I say letrsquos take this crisis as an opportunity to cut down on useless expenses and rediscover our abilities to use what nature has given us

Lately however due to the evident economic crisis all over the western world there has been a global tendency towards redis-covering nature and the basic ways of humans before the era of industrialisation More and more people are becoming inter-ested in farming for example especially organic farming and are searching for new ecological ways to feed ourselves The internet is an excellent aid to these new communities with enthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge with each other increasing the potential for successful discoveries concerning crops and growing methods

People are starting to build their own machines to make them cheaper and last longer than those available for purchase Other examples include rediscovering the benefits of healthy food or homemade cures and beauty products Some years ago for example the soap-making community spiked People male and female all over the world started making their own natural soaps Fragrant and beautifully packaged they immediately became a hype Think of the shop Lush a little firm that started making its own natural and eco-friendly body products Within a few years it had expanded worldwide and now provides a great example of how nature can be good for us A few years ago I started following a blog that taught people how to make homemade beauty solutions explaining a lot of useful things of which I am sure my grandmother was very well aware Sometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generations I asked my elders about this some of whom had survived the great wars and they all think that at the end of the Second World War there was a kind of renaissance lsquola dolce vitarsquo as we called it in Italy when many possibilities and new hopes arose They were tricked into becoming part of a society that could only work with a healthy economy So we forgot about certain skills because we thought we no longer needed them But the illusion did not last long or more accurately it was doomed from the very beginning We are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countries No-one seems to have a solution and hope is being lost But to my surprise some people are reacting positively re-approaching nature and the basic ways of living forgetting what was important a few years ago and focusing on what is important today (and always)

45PerSPecTIVeS

clASSIFIeDS 46

32ArT

33ArT

34culTure

lsquoThere should surely be another association formed around beer with Heineken having arguably the worldrsquos best known brandrsquo

Brouwerij lsquot Ij

lsquoCasper Petersen set up a craft brewery in a former bath house at the foot of windmill De Gooyerrsquo

05FeATure

Brouwerij lsquot Ij

35culTure

tourists but the most interesting aspect is that it is now an institution by and for Amsterdammers Having not visited for some four summers on recent trips to furnish this article I saw a number of people I still recognised from 17 years ago when I first began my own quality beer research

The quality of the beers brewed by Brouwerij lsquot Ij has always been distinctive and of a high standard if not necessarily surpassing some of the master brews for which the Flemish reserve the very top drawer of the beer connoisseurrsquos chest This establishment can be counted among Amsterdamrsquos great pleasures There is nothing nicer than a gentle cycle or a trip on a small pleasure craft (the brewery is bordered on one side by a navigable canal) to a historic and beautiful windmill to sample some full-flavoured and robust beers especially when you know it is all produced locally (OK some ingredients are imported from Flanders) The staff and owners are truly invested in the ambiance and hospitality of this tradition The brilliantly experienced and persistent Bart and Patrick (of cafeacutes Zouk Proust Katoen and DePijp fame) took up the reins as new owners some four years ago They have managed to keep the placersquos spirit alive as well as growing the business and its capacity in a pleasant way to the point where Brouwerij lsquot Ij beers can now be found on tap in more than 50 cafes throughout the city and in bottled form in a growing number of off licences Capacity is due to take another leap in 2013 when production space will expand considerably through the acquisition of additional premises nearby

Brouwerij lsquot Ij offers a full array of beers to suit just about any taste and in conclusion I must say that I feel lucky to be an Amsterdammer with a local brewery that carries such a fine contemporary story I now leave it up to you to make your own way there and experience the preferred vibe (gezellig) tastes and pricing structure of our village city

Anyone over the age of 25 and born outside the Netherlands is likely to indelibly associate the image of this country with windmills For the more urbane visitors or new arrivals there should surely be another association formed around beer with Heineken having arguably the worldrsquos best known brand

Both of these positions are fine but do not represent the truth about Amsterdamrsquos skyline where just two windmills remain standing (De Gooyer and De Otter) or the quality of beer Amsterdammers are able to choose from In fact I am left wondering why such a clearly over-standardised scientifically processed star pupil like Heineken lager can be so popular around the world Or indeed with Dutch casual drinkers given the ridiculous bordering on monopolistic ownership and control the multinational exerts along with its stranglehold on licensed premises throughout the country

The Dutch have always been independent thinkers and a rather creative bunch when it comes to food and drink production They are less well known for things like modern craft brewing since the successful craft brewers over the hundreds of years they have demonstrated their aptitude for beer making are now tremendously successful and huge brands which long ago opted for standardisation and profit over taste

The original spirit of independence did however lead to alternative thinking in 1985 when Casper Petersen set up a craft brewery in a former bath house at the foot of windmill De Gooyer Over the years the brewery and its exclusively own-brand tasting room have become an institution for beer and history lovers alike The clientele is forever topped-up by

By Denson Pierre

36culTure

37culTure

38culTure

05FeATure 39

lsquoThis establishment can be counted among Amsterdamrsquos great pleasuresrsquo

lsquoCapacity is due to take another leap in 2013 when production space will expand considerablyrsquo

culTure

40culTure

05FeATure 41

lsquoBrouwerij lsquot Ij offers a full array of beers to suit just about any tastersquo

culTure

42

TheNatural Revolution

PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoSince the very beginning of time we have used nature to feed and cure ourselvesrsquo

43PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoEnthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge with each other increasing the potential for successful discoveries concerning crops and growing methodsrsquo

By Valeria Scimia

Nature has always been manrsquos friend even if humans have not greatly appreciated the gifts she offers and we are not always such good friends in return Since the very beginning of time we have used nature to feed and cure ourselves With industri-alisation people forgot about the benefits supplied by Mother Earth and switched their attention to what humans could invent sell and possess For many years we have been busy with television media and everything that could entertain us and make us lsquoricherrsquo forgetting about what we already had and always have had

44

lsquoSometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generationsrsquo

lsquoIt doesnrsquot have to start big ndash not everyone is into farming or making soaprsquo

PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoSo if our bodies naturally prefer clean air clean water organic food and so on we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of livingrsquo

lsquoWe are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countriesrsquo

And we should indeed remember how our grandparents lived appreciating what we have today with a little more consideration for what we will end up losing if we donrsquot change some things about our environment and lifestyle It doesnrsquot have to start big ndash not everyone is into farming or making soap ndash but there are thousands of ways to reconnect with nature and live in a more ecologically sound way The Netherlands is the perfect example of a country that refused to be smoked out by car fumes Most of the popula-tion travels by bicycle even over reasonably long distances or uses (efficient) public transport The air quality is there-fore much better here than in places where a three-person family owns and uses three cars daily Allergies which are becoming more and more prevalent within industrialised populations seem to be related to pollution This doesnrsquot surprise me greatly since I am from Rome whose famously busy streets are always filled with motor vehicles I always had respiratory problems while living there but they have all disappeared since I moved to the Netherlands

So if our bodies naturally prefer clean air clean water organic food and so on we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of living We can start by making our own lip balm or using cooking oils (yes) in place of creams and oils that are perfumed and mixed with unnatural agents If we cook meals and bake cakes from scratch to feed our children and ourselves we will soon start to notice the benefits of a healthy natural life on our bodies minds and wallets

If you prefer to start big and have a natural ability there are many communities already busy online and elsewhere The Netherlands has seen street garden invasions by Guerrilla Gardeners knitted street lights and bridges by Guerrilla Knitters farmers are growing all around the world and sharing information about apartment-based greenhouses and herb gardens so you donrsquot need to own a garden or a balcony to join the Natural Revolution There are many ways many trends ecological and creative solutions as alternatives to what we have today I say letrsquos take this crisis as an opportunity to cut down on useless expenses and rediscover our abilities to use what nature has given us

Lately however due to the evident economic crisis all over the western world there has been a global tendency towards redis-covering nature and the basic ways of humans before the era of industrialisation More and more people are becoming inter-ested in farming for example especially organic farming and are searching for new ecological ways to feed ourselves The internet is an excellent aid to these new communities with enthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge with each other increasing the potential for successful discoveries concerning crops and growing methods

People are starting to build their own machines to make them cheaper and last longer than those available for purchase Other examples include rediscovering the benefits of healthy food or homemade cures and beauty products Some years ago for example the soap-making community spiked People male and female all over the world started making their own natural soaps Fragrant and beautifully packaged they immediately became a hype Think of the shop Lush a little firm that started making its own natural and eco-friendly body products Within a few years it had expanded worldwide and now provides a great example of how nature can be good for us A few years ago I started following a blog that taught people how to make homemade beauty solutions explaining a lot of useful things of which I am sure my grandmother was very well aware Sometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generations I asked my elders about this some of whom had survived the great wars and they all think that at the end of the Second World War there was a kind of renaissance lsquola dolce vitarsquo as we called it in Italy when many possibilities and new hopes arose They were tricked into becoming part of a society that could only work with a healthy economy So we forgot about certain skills because we thought we no longer needed them But the illusion did not last long or more accurately it was doomed from the very beginning We are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countries No-one seems to have a solution and hope is being lost But to my surprise some people are reacting positively re-approaching nature and the basic ways of living forgetting what was important a few years ago and focusing on what is important today (and always)

45PerSPecTIVeS

clASSIFIeDS 46

33ArT

34culTure

lsquoThere should surely be another association formed around beer with Heineken having arguably the worldrsquos best known brandrsquo

Brouwerij lsquot Ij

lsquoCasper Petersen set up a craft brewery in a former bath house at the foot of windmill De Gooyerrsquo

05FeATure

Brouwerij lsquot Ij

35culTure

tourists but the most interesting aspect is that it is now an institution by and for Amsterdammers Having not visited for some four summers on recent trips to furnish this article I saw a number of people I still recognised from 17 years ago when I first began my own quality beer research

The quality of the beers brewed by Brouwerij lsquot Ij has always been distinctive and of a high standard if not necessarily surpassing some of the master brews for which the Flemish reserve the very top drawer of the beer connoisseurrsquos chest This establishment can be counted among Amsterdamrsquos great pleasures There is nothing nicer than a gentle cycle or a trip on a small pleasure craft (the brewery is bordered on one side by a navigable canal) to a historic and beautiful windmill to sample some full-flavoured and robust beers especially when you know it is all produced locally (OK some ingredients are imported from Flanders) The staff and owners are truly invested in the ambiance and hospitality of this tradition The brilliantly experienced and persistent Bart and Patrick (of cafeacutes Zouk Proust Katoen and DePijp fame) took up the reins as new owners some four years ago They have managed to keep the placersquos spirit alive as well as growing the business and its capacity in a pleasant way to the point where Brouwerij lsquot Ij beers can now be found on tap in more than 50 cafes throughout the city and in bottled form in a growing number of off licences Capacity is due to take another leap in 2013 when production space will expand considerably through the acquisition of additional premises nearby

Brouwerij lsquot Ij offers a full array of beers to suit just about any taste and in conclusion I must say that I feel lucky to be an Amsterdammer with a local brewery that carries such a fine contemporary story I now leave it up to you to make your own way there and experience the preferred vibe (gezellig) tastes and pricing structure of our village city

Anyone over the age of 25 and born outside the Netherlands is likely to indelibly associate the image of this country with windmills For the more urbane visitors or new arrivals there should surely be another association formed around beer with Heineken having arguably the worldrsquos best known brand

Both of these positions are fine but do not represent the truth about Amsterdamrsquos skyline where just two windmills remain standing (De Gooyer and De Otter) or the quality of beer Amsterdammers are able to choose from In fact I am left wondering why such a clearly over-standardised scientifically processed star pupil like Heineken lager can be so popular around the world Or indeed with Dutch casual drinkers given the ridiculous bordering on monopolistic ownership and control the multinational exerts along with its stranglehold on licensed premises throughout the country

The Dutch have always been independent thinkers and a rather creative bunch when it comes to food and drink production They are less well known for things like modern craft brewing since the successful craft brewers over the hundreds of years they have demonstrated their aptitude for beer making are now tremendously successful and huge brands which long ago opted for standardisation and profit over taste

The original spirit of independence did however lead to alternative thinking in 1985 when Casper Petersen set up a craft brewery in a former bath house at the foot of windmill De Gooyer Over the years the brewery and its exclusively own-brand tasting room have become an institution for beer and history lovers alike The clientele is forever topped-up by

By Denson Pierre

36culTure

37culTure

38culTure

05FeATure 39

lsquoThis establishment can be counted among Amsterdamrsquos great pleasuresrsquo

lsquoCapacity is due to take another leap in 2013 when production space will expand considerablyrsquo

culTure

40culTure

05FeATure 41

lsquoBrouwerij lsquot Ij offers a full array of beers to suit just about any tastersquo

culTure

42

TheNatural Revolution

PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoSince the very beginning of time we have used nature to feed and cure ourselvesrsquo

43PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoEnthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge with each other increasing the potential for successful discoveries concerning crops and growing methodsrsquo

By Valeria Scimia

Nature has always been manrsquos friend even if humans have not greatly appreciated the gifts she offers and we are not always such good friends in return Since the very beginning of time we have used nature to feed and cure ourselves With industri-alisation people forgot about the benefits supplied by Mother Earth and switched their attention to what humans could invent sell and possess For many years we have been busy with television media and everything that could entertain us and make us lsquoricherrsquo forgetting about what we already had and always have had

44

lsquoSometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generationsrsquo

lsquoIt doesnrsquot have to start big ndash not everyone is into farming or making soaprsquo

PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoSo if our bodies naturally prefer clean air clean water organic food and so on we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of livingrsquo

lsquoWe are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countriesrsquo

And we should indeed remember how our grandparents lived appreciating what we have today with a little more consideration for what we will end up losing if we donrsquot change some things about our environment and lifestyle It doesnrsquot have to start big ndash not everyone is into farming or making soap ndash but there are thousands of ways to reconnect with nature and live in a more ecologically sound way The Netherlands is the perfect example of a country that refused to be smoked out by car fumes Most of the popula-tion travels by bicycle even over reasonably long distances or uses (efficient) public transport The air quality is there-fore much better here than in places where a three-person family owns and uses three cars daily Allergies which are becoming more and more prevalent within industrialised populations seem to be related to pollution This doesnrsquot surprise me greatly since I am from Rome whose famously busy streets are always filled with motor vehicles I always had respiratory problems while living there but they have all disappeared since I moved to the Netherlands

So if our bodies naturally prefer clean air clean water organic food and so on we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of living We can start by making our own lip balm or using cooking oils (yes) in place of creams and oils that are perfumed and mixed with unnatural agents If we cook meals and bake cakes from scratch to feed our children and ourselves we will soon start to notice the benefits of a healthy natural life on our bodies minds and wallets

If you prefer to start big and have a natural ability there are many communities already busy online and elsewhere The Netherlands has seen street garden invasions by Guerrilla Gardeners knitted street lights and bridges by Guerrilla Knitters farmers are growing all around the world and sharing information about apartment-based greenhouses and herb gardens so you donrsquot need to own a garden or a balcony to join the Natural Revolution There are many ways many trends ecological and creative solutions as alternatives to what we have today I say letrsquos take this crisis as an opportunity to cut down on useless expenses and rediscover our abilities to use what nature has given us

Lately however due to the evident economic crisis all over the western world there has been a global tendency towards redis-covering nature and the basic ways of humans before the era of industrialisation More and more people are becoming inter-ested in farming for example especially organic farming and are searching for new ecological ways to feed ourselves The internet is an excellent aid to these new communities with enthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge with each other increasing the potential for successful discoveries concerning crops and growing methods

People are starting to build their own machines to make them cheaper and last longer than those available for purchase Other examples include rediscovering the benefits of healthy food or homemade cures and beauty products Some years ago for example the soap-making community spiked People male and female all over the world started making their own natural soaps Fragrant and beautifully packaged they immediately became a hype Think of the shop Lush a little firm that started making its own natural and eco-friendly body products Within a few years it had expanded worldwide and now provides a great example of how nature can be good for us A few years ago I started following a blog that taught people how to make homemade beauty solutions explaining a lot of useful things of which I am sure my grandmother was very well aware Sometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generations I asked my elders about this some of whom had survived the great wars and they all think that at the end of the Second World War there was a kind of renaissance lsquola dolce vitarsquo as we called it in Italy when many possibilities and new hopes arose They were tricked into becoming part of a society that could only work with a healthy economy So we forgot about certain skills because we thought we no longer needed them But the illusion did not last long or more accurately it was doomed from the very beginning We are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countries No-one seems to have a solution and hope is being lost But to my surprise some people are reacting positively re-approaching nature and the basic ways of living forgetting what was important a few years ago and focusing on what is important today (and always)

45PerSPecTIVeS

clASSIFIeDS 46

34culTure

lsquoThere should surely be another association formed around beer with Heineken having arguably the worldrsquos best known brandrsquo

Brouwerij lsquot Ij

lsquoCasper Petersen set up a craft brewery in a former bath house at the foot of windmill De Gooyerrsquo

05FeATure

Brouwerij lsquot Ij

35culTure

tourists but the most interesting aspect is that it is now an institution by and for Amsterdammers Having not visited for some four summers on recent trips to furnish this article I saw a number of people I still recognised from 17 years ago when I first began my own quality beer research

The quality of the beers brewed by Brouwerij lsquot Ij has always been distinctive and of a high standard if not necessarily surpassing some of the master brews for which the Flemish reserve the very top drawer of the beer connoisseurrsquos chest This establishment can be counted among Amsterdamrsquos great pleasures There is nothing nicer than a gentle cycle or a trip on a small pleasure craft (the brewery is bordered on one side by a navigable canal) to a historic and beautiful windmill to sample some full-flavoured and robust beers especially when you know it is all produced locally (OK some ingredients are imported from Flanders) The staff and owners are truly invested in the ambiance and hospitality of this tradition The brilliantly experienced and persistent Bart and Patrick (of cafeacutes Zouk Proust Katoen and DePijp fame) took up the reins as new owners some four years ago They have managed to keep the placersquos spirit alive as well as growing the business and its capacity in a pleasant way to the point where Brouwerij lsquot Ij beers can now be found on tap in more than 50 cafes throughout the city and in bottled form in a growing number of off licences Capacity is due to take another leap in 2013 when production space will expand considerably through the acquisition of additional premises nearby

Brouwerij lsquot Ij offers a full array of beers to suit just about any taste and in conclusion I must say that I feel lucky to be an Amsterdammer with a local brewery that carries such a fine contemporary story I now leave it up to you to make your own way there and experience the preferred vibe (gezellig) tastes and pricing structure of our village city

Anyone over the age of 25 and born outside the Netherlands is likely to indelibly associate the image of this country with windmills For the more urbane visitors or new arrivals there should surely be another association formed around beer with Heineken having arguably the worldrsquos best known brand

Both of these positions are fine but do not represent the truth about Amsterdamrsquos skyline where just two windmills remain standing (De Gooyer and De Otter) or the quality of beer Amsterdammers are able to choose from In fact I am left wondering why such a clearly over-standardised scientifically processed star pupil like Heineken lager can be so popular around the world Or indeed with Dutch casual drinkers given the ridiculous bordering on monopolistic ownership and control the multinational exerts along with its stranglehold on licensed premises throughout the country

The Dutch have always been independent thinkers and a rather creative bunch when it comes to food and drink production They are less well known for things like modern craft brewing since the successful craft brewers over the hundreds of years they have demonstrated their aptitude for beer making are now tremendously successful and huge brands which long ago opted for standardisation and profit over taste

The original spirit of independence did however lead to alternative thinking in 1985 when Casper Petersen set up a craft brewery in a former bath house at the foot of windmill De Gooyer Over the years the brewery and its exclusively own-brand tasting room have become an institution for beer and history lovers alike The clientele is forever topped-up by

By Denson Pierre

36culTure

37culTure

38culTure

05FeATure 39

lsquoThis establishment can be counted among Amsterdamrsquos great pleasuresrsquo

lsquoCapacity is due to take another leap in 2013 when production space will expand considerablyrsquo

culTure

40culTure

05FeATure 41

lsquoBrouwerij lsquot Ij offers a full array of beers to suit just about any tastersquo

culTure

42

TheNatural Revolution

PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoSince the very beginning of time we have used nature to feed and cure ourselvesrsquo

43PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoEnthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge with each other increasing the potential for successful discoveries concerning crops and growing methodsrsquo

By Valeria Scimia

Nature has always been manrsquos friend even if humans have not greatly appreciated the gifts she offers and we are not always such good friends in return Since the very beginning of time we have used nature to feed and cure ourselves With industri-alisation people forgot about the benefits supplied by Mother Earth and switched their attention to what humans could invent sell and possess For many years we have been busy with television media and everything that could entertain us and make us lsquoricherrsquo forgetting about what we already had and always have had

44

lsquoSometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generationsrsquo

lsquoIt doesnrsquot have to start big ndash not everyone is into farming or making soaprsquo

PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoSo if our bodies naturally prefer clean air clean water organic food and so on we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of livingrsquo

lsquoWe are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countriesrsquo

And we should indeed remember how our grandparents lived appreciating what we have today with a little more consideration for what we will end up losing if we donrsquot change some things about our environment and lifestyle It doesnrsquot have to start big ndash not everyone is into farming or making soap ndash but there are thousands of ways to reconnect with nature and live in a more ecologically sound way The Netherlands is the perfect example of a country that refused to be smoked out by car fumes Most of the popula-tion travels by bicycle even over reasonably long distances or uses (efficient) public transport The air quality is there-fore much better here than in places where a three-person family owns and uses three cars daily Allergies which are becoming more and more prevalent within industrialised populations seem to be related to pollution This doesnrsquot surprise me greatly since I am from Rome whose famously busy streets are always filled with motor vehicles I always had respiratory problems while living there but they have all disappeared since I moved to the Netherlands

So if our bodies naturally prefer clean air clean water organic food and so on we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of living We can start by making our own lip balm or using cooking oils (yes) in place of creams and oils that are perfumed and mixed with unnatural agents If we cook meals and bake cakes from scratch to feed our children and ourselves we will soon start to notice the benefits of a healthy natural life on our bodies minds and wallets

If you prefer to start big and have a natural ability there are many communities already busy online and elsewhere The Netherlands has seen street garden invasions by Guerrilla Gardeners knitted street lights and bridges by Guerrilla Knitters farmers are growing all around the world and sharing information about apartment-based greenhouses and herb gardens so you donrsquot need to own a garden or a balcony to join the Natural Revolution There are many ways many trends ecological and creative solutions as alternatives to what we have today I say letrsquos take this crisis as an opportunity to cut down on useless expenses and rediscover our abilities to use what nature has given us

Lately however due to the evident economic crisis all over the western world there has been a global tendency towards redis-covering nature and the basic ways of humans before the era of industrialisation More and more people are becoming inter-ested in farming for example especially organic farming and are searching for new ecological ways to feed ourselves The internet is an excellent aid to these new communities with enthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge with each other increasing the potential for successful discoveries concerning crops and growing methods

People are starting to build their own machines to make them cheaper and last longer than those available for purchase Other examples include rediscovering the benefits of healthy food or homemade cures and beauty products Some years ago for example the soap-making community spiked People male and female all over the world started making their own natural soaps Fragrant and beautifully packaged they immediately became a hype Think of the shop Lush a little firm that started making its own natural and eco-friendly body products Within a few years it had expanded worldwide and now provides a great example of how nature can be good for us A few years ago I started following a blog that taught people how to make homemade beauty solutions explaining a lot of useful things of which I am sure my grandmother was very well aware Sometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generations I asked my elders about this some of whom had survived the great wars and they all think that at the end of the Second World War there was a kind of renaissance lsquola dolce vitarsquo as we called it in Italy when many possibilities and new hopes arose They were tricked into becoming part of a society that could only work with a healthy economy So we forgot about certain skills because we thought we no longer needed them But the illusion did not last long or more accurately it was doomed from the very beginning We are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countries No-one seems to have a solution and hope is being lost But to my surprise some people are reacting positively re-approaching nature and the basic ways of living forgetting what was important a few years ago and focusing on what is important today (and always)

45PerSPecTIVeS

clASSIFIeDS 46

lsquoCasper Petersen set up a craft brewery in a former bath house at the foot of windmill De Gooyerrsquo

05FeATure

Brouwerij lsquot Ij

35culTure

tourists but the most interesting aspect is that it is now an institution by and for Amsterdammers Having not visited for some four summers on recent trips to furnish this article I saw a number of people I still recognised from 17 years ago when I first began my own quality beer research

The quality of the beers brewed by Brouwerij lsquot Ij has always been distinctive and of a high standard if not necessarily surpassing some of the master brews for which the Flemish reserve the very top drawer of the beer connoisseurrsquos chest This establishment can be counted among Amsterdamrsquos great pleasures There is nothing nicer than a gentle cycle or a trip on a small pleasure craft (the brewery is bordered on one side by a navigable canal) to a historic and beautiful windmill to sample some full-flavoured and robust beers especially when you know it is all produced locally (OK some ingredients are imported from Flanders) The staff and owners are truly invested in the ambiance and hospitality of this tradition The brilliantly experienced and persistent Bart and Patrick (of cafeacutes Zouk Proust Katoen and DePijp fame) took up the reins as new owners some four years ago They have managed to keep the placersquos spirit alive as well as growing the business and its capacity in a pleasant way to the point where Brouwerij lsquot Ij beers can now be found on tap in more than 50 cafes throughout the city and in bottled form in a growing number of off licences Capacity is due to take another leap in 2013 when production space will expand considerably through the acquisition of additional premises nearby

Brouwerij lsquot Ij offers a full array of beers to suit just about any taste and in conclusion I must say that I feel lucky to be an Amsterdammer with a local brewery that carries such a fine contemporary story I now leave it up to you to make your own way there and experience the preferred vibe (gezellig) tastes and pricing structure of our village city

Anyone over the age of 25 and born outside the Netherlands is likely to indelibly associate the image of this country with windmills For the more urbane visitors or new arrivals there should surely be another association formed around beer with Heineken having arguably the worldrsquos best known brand

Both of these positions are fine but do not represent the truth about Amsterdamrsquos skyline where just two windmills remain standing (De Gooyer and De Otter) or the quality of beer Amsterdammers are able to choose from In fact I am left wondering why such a clearly over-standardised scientifically processed star pupil like Heineken lager can be so popular around the world Or indeed with Dutch casual drinkers given the ridiculous bordering on monopolistic ownership and control the multinational exerts along with its stranglehold on licensed premises throughout the country

The Dutch have always been independent thinkers and a rather creative bunch when it comes to food and drink production They are less well known for things like modern craft brewing since the successful craft brewers over the hundreds of years they have demonstrated their aptitude for beer making are now tremendously successful and huge brands which long ago opted for standardisation and profit over taste

The original spirit of independence did however lead to alternative thinking in 1985 when Casper Petersen set up a craft brewery in a former bath house at the foot of windmill De Gooyer Over the years the brewery and its exclusively own-brand tasting room have become an institution for beer and history lovers alike The clientele is forever topped-up by

By Denson Pierre

36culTure

37culTure

38culTure

05FeATure 39

lsquoThis establishment can be counted among Amsterdamrsquos great pleasuresrsquo

lsquoCapacity is due to take another leap in 2013 when production space will expand considerablyrsquo

culTure

40culTure

05FeATure 41

lsquoBrouwerij lsquot Ij offers a full array of beers to suit just about any tastersquo

culTure

42

TheNatural Revolution

PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoSince the very beginning of time we have used nature to feed and cure ourselvesrsquo

43PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoEnthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge with each other increasing the potential for successful discoveries concerning crops and growing methodsrsquo

By Valeria Scimia

Nature has always been manrsquos friend even if humans have not greatly appreciated the gifts she offers and we are not always such good friends in return Since the very beginning of time we have used nature to feed and cure ourselves With industri-alisation people forgot about the benefits supplied by Mother Earth and switched their attention to what humans could invent sell and possess For many years we have been busy with television media and everything that could entertain us and make us lsquoricherrsquo forgetting about what we already had and always have had

44

lsquoSometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generationsrsquo

lsquoIt doesnrsquot have to start big ndash not everyone is into farming or making soaprsquo

PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoSo if our bodies naturally prefer clean air clean water organic food and so on we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of livingrsquo

lsquoWe are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countriesrsquo

And we should indeed remember how our grandparents lived appreciating what we have today with a little more consideration for what we will end up losing if we donrsquot change some things about our environment and lifestyle It doesnrsquot have to start big ndash not everyone is into farming or making soap ndash but there are thousands of ways to reconnect with nature and live in a more ecologically sound way The Netherlands is the perfect example of a country that refused to be smoked out by car fumes Most of the popula-tion travels by bicycle even over reasonably long distances or uses (efficient) public transport The air quality is there-fore much better here than in places where a three-person family owns and uses three cars daily Allergies which are becoming more and more prevalent within industrialised populations seem to be related to pollution This doesnrsquot surprise me greatly since I am from Rome whose famously busy streets are always filled with motor vehicles I always had respiratory problems while living there but they have all disappeared since I moved to the Netherlands

So if our bodies naturally prefer clean air clean water organic food and so on we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of living We can start by making our own lip balm or using cooking oils (yes) in place of creams and oils that are perfumed and mixed with unnatural agents If we cook meals and bake cakes from scratch to feed our children and ourselves we will soon start to notice the benefits of a healthy natural life on our bodies minds and wallets

If you prefer to start big and have a natural ability there are many communities already busy online and elsewhere The Netherlands has seen street garden invasions by Guerrilla Gardeners knitted street lights and bridges by Guerrilla Knitters farmers are growing all around the world and sharing information about apartment-based greenhouses and herb gardens so you donrsquot need to own a garden or a balcony to join the Natural Revolution There are many ways many trends ecological and creative solutions as alternatives to what we have today I say letrsquos take this crisis as an opportunity to cut down on useless expenses and rediscover our abilities to use what nature has given us

Lately however due to the evident economic crisis all over the western world there has been a global tendency towards redis-covering nature and the basic ways of humans before the era of industrialisation More and more people are becoming inter-ested in farming for example especially organic farming and are searching for new ecological ways to feed ourselves The internet is an excellent aid to these new communities with enthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge with each other increasing the potential for successful discoveries concerning crops and growing methods

People are starting to build their own machines to make them cheaper and last longer than those available for purchase Other examples include rediscovering the benefits of healthy food or homemade cures and beauty products Some years ago for example the soap-making community spiked People male and female all over the world started making their own natural soaps Fragrant and beautifully packaged they immediately became a hype Think of the shop Lush a little firm that started making its own natural and eco-friendly body products Within a few years it had expanded worldwide and now provides a great example of how nature can be good for us A few years ago I started following a blog that taught people how to make homemade beauty solutions explaining a lot of useful things of which I am sure my grandmother was very well aware Sometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generations I asked my elders about this some of whom had survived the great wars and they all think that at the end of the Second World War there was a kind of renaissance lsquola dolce vitarsquo as we called it in Italy when many possibilities and new hopes arose They were tricked into becoming part of a society that could only work with a healthy economy So we forgot about certain skills because we thought we no longer needed them But the illusion did not last long or more accurately it was doomed from the very beginning We are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countries No-one seems to have a solution and hope is being lost But to my surprise some people are reacting positively re-approaching nature and the basic ways of living forgetting what was important a few years ago and focusing on what is important today (and always)

45PerSPecTIVeS

clASSIFIeDS 46

36culTure

37culTure

38culTure

05FeATure 39

lsquoThis establishment can be counted among Amsterdamrsquos great pleasuresrsquo

lsquoCapacity is due to take another leap in 2013 when production space will expand considerablyrsquo

culTure

40culTure

05FeATure 41

lsquoBrouwerij lsquot Ij offers a full array of beers to suit just about any tastersquo

culTure

42

TheNatural Revolution

PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoSince the very beginning of time we have used nature to feed and cure ourselvesrsquo

43PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoEnthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge with each other increasing the potential for successful discoveries concerning crops and growing methodsrsquo

By Valeria Scimia

Nature has always been manrsquos friend even if humans have not greatly appreciated the gifts she offers and we are not always such good friends in return Since the very beginning of time we have used nature to feed and cure ourselves With industri-alisation people forgot about the benefits supplied by Mother Earth and switched their attention to what humans could invent sell and possess For many years we have been busy with television media and everything that could entertain us and make us lsquoricherrsquo forgetting about what we already had and always have had

44

lsquoSometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generationsrsquo

lsquoIt doesnrsquot have to start big ndash not everyone is into farming or making soaprsquo

PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoSo if our bodies naturally prefer clean air clean water organic food and so on we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of livingrsquo

lsquoWe are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countriesrsquo

And we should indeed remember how our grandparents lived appreciating what we have today with a little more consideration for what we will end up losing if we donrsquot change some things about our environment and lifestyle It doesnrsquot have to start big ndash not everyone is into farming or making soap ndash but there are thousands of ways to reconnect with nature and live in a more ecologically sound way The Netherlands is the perfect example of a country that refused to be smoked out by car fumes Most of the popula-tion travels by bicycle even over reasonably long distances or uses (efficient) public transport The air quality is there-fore much better here than in places where a three-person family owns and uses three cars daily Allergies which are becoming more and more prevalent within industrialised populations seem to be related to pollution This doesnrsquot surprise me greatly since I am from Rome whose famously busy streets are always filled with motor vehicles I always had respiratory problems while living there but they have all disappeared since I moved to the Netherlands

So if our bodies naturally prefer clean air clean water organic food and so on we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of living We can start by making our own lip balm or using cooking oils (yes) in place of creams and oils that are perfumed and mixed with unnatural agents If we cook meals and bake cakes from scratch to feed our children and ourselves we will soon start to notice the benefits of a healthy natural life on our bodies minds and wallets

If you prefer to start big and have a natural ability there are many communities already busy online and elsewhere The Netherlands has seen street garden invasions by Guerrilla Gardeners knitted street lights and bridges by Guerrilla Knitters farmers are growing all around the world and sharing information about apartment-based greenhouses and herb gardens so you donrsquot need to own a garden or a balcony to join the Natural Revolution There are many ways many trends ecological and creative solutions as alternatives to what we have today I say letrsquos take this crisis as an opportunity to cut down on useless expenses and rediscover our abilities to use what nature has given us

Lately however due to the evident economic crisis all over the western world there has been a global tendency towards redis-covering nature and the basic ways of humans before the era of industrialisation More and more people are becoming inter-ested in farming for example especially organic farming and are searching for new ecological ways to feed ourselves The internet is an excellent aid to these new communities with enthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge with each other increasing the potential for successful discoveries concerning crops and growing methods

People are starting to build their own machines to make them cheaper and last longer than those available for purchase Other examples include rediscovering the benefits of healthy food or homemade cures and beauty products Some years ago for example the soap-making community spiked People male and female all over the world started making their own natural soaps Fragrant and beautifully packaged they immediately became a hype Think of the shop Lush a little firm that started making its own natural and eco-friendly body products Within a few years it had expanded worldwide and now provides a great example of how nature can be good for us A few years ago I started following a blog that taught people how to make homemade beauty solutions explaining a lot of useful things of which I am sure my grandmother was very well aware Sometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generations I asked my elders about this some of whom had survived the great wars and they all think that at the end of the Second World War there was a kind of renaissance lsquola dolce vitarsquo as we called it in Italy when many possibilities and new hopes arose They were tricked into becoming part of a society that could only work with a healthy economy So we forgot about certain skills because we thought we no longer needed them But the illusion did not last long or more accurately it was doomed from the very beginning We are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countries No-one seems to have a solution and hope is being lost But to my surprise some people are reacting positively re-approaching nature and the basic ways of living forgetting what was important a few years ago and focusing on what is important today (and always)

45PerSPecTIVeS

clASSIFIeDS 46

37culTure

38culTure

05FeATure 39

lsquoThis establishment can be counted among Amsterdamrsquos great pleasuresrsquo

lsquoCapacity is due to take another leap in 2013 when production space will expand considerablyrsquo

culTure

40culTure

05FeATure 41

lsquoBrouwerij lsquot Ij offers a full array of beers to suit just about any tastersquo

culTure

42

TheNatural Revolution

PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoSince the very beginning of time we have used nature to feed and cure ourselvesrsquo

43PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoEnthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge with each other increasing the potential for successful discoveries concerning crops and growing methodsrsquo

By Valeria Scimia

Nature has always been manrsquos friend even if humans have not greatly appreciated the gifts she offers and we are not always such good friends in return Since the very beginning of time we have used nature to feed and cure ourselves With industri-alisation people forgot about the benefits supplied by Mother Earth and switched their attention to what humans could invent sell and possess For many years we have been busy with television media and everything that could entertain us and make us lsquoricherrsquo forgetting about what we already had and always have had

44

lsquoSometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generationsrsquo

lsquoIt doesnrsquot have to start big ndash not everyone is into farming or making soaprsquo

PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoSo if our bodies naturally prefer clean air clean water organic food and so on we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of livingrsquo

lsquoWe are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countriesrsquo

And we should indeed remember how our grandparents lived appreciating what we have today with a little more consideration for what we will end up losing if we donrsquot change some things about our environment and lifestyle It doesnrsquot have to start big ndash not everyone is into farming or making soap ndash but there are thousands of ways to reconnect with nature and live in a more ecologically sound way The Netherlands is the perfect example of a country that refused to be smoked out by car fumes Most of the popula-tion travels by bicycle even over reasonably long distances or uses (efficient) public transport The air quality is there-fore much better here than in places where a three-person family owns and uses three cars daily Allergies which are becoming more and more prevalent within industrialised populations seem to be related to pollution This doesnrsquot surprise me greatly since I am from Rome whose famously busy streets are always filled with motor vehicles I always had respiratory problems while living there but they have all disappeared since I moved to the Netherlands

So if our bodies naturally prefer clean air clean water organic food and so on we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of living We can start by making our own lip balm or using cooking oils (yes) in place of creams and oils that are perfumed and mixed with unnatural agents If we cook meals and bake cakes from scratch to feed our children and ourselves we will soon start to notice the benefits of a healthy natural life on our bodies minds and wallets

If you prefer to start big and have a natural ability there are many communities already busy online and elsewhere The Netherlands has seen street garden invasions by Guerrilla Gardeners knitted street lights and bridges by Guerrilla Knitters farmers are growing all around the world and sharing information about apartment-based greenhouses and herb gardens so you donrsquot need to own a garden or a balcony to join the Natural Revolution There are many ways many trends ecological and creative solutions as alternatives to what we have today I say letrsquos take this crisis as an opportunity to cut down on useless expenses and rediscover our abilities to use what nature has given us

Lately however due to the evident economic crisis all over the western world there has been a global tendency towards redis-covering nature and the basic ways of humans before the era of industrialisation More and more people are becoming inter-ested in farming for example especially organic farming and are searching for new ecological ways to feed ourselves The internet is an excellent aid to these new communities with enthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge with each other increasing the potential for successful discoveries concerning crops and growing methods

People are starting to build their own machines to make them cheaper and last longer than those available for purchase Other examples include rediscovering the benefits of healthy food or homemade cures and beauty products Some years ago for example the soap-making community spiked People male and female all over the world started making their own natural soaps Fragrant and beautifully packaged they immediately became a hype Think of the shop Lush a little firm that started making its own natural and eco-friendly body products Within a few years it had expanded worldwide and now provides a great example of how nature can be good for us A few years ago I started following a blog that taught people how to make homemade beauty solutions explaining a lot of useful things of which I am sure my grandmother was very well aware Sometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generations I asked my elders about this some of whom had survived the great wars and they all think that at the end of the Second World War there was a kind of renaissance lsquola dolce vitarsquo as we called it in Italy when many possibilities and new hopes arose They were tricked into becoming part of a society that could only work with a healthy economy So we forgot about certain skills because we thought we no longer needed them But the illusion did not last long or more accurately it was doomed from the very beginning We are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countries No-one seems to have a solution and hope is being lost But to my surprise some people are reacting positively re-approaching nature and the basic ways of living forgetting what was important a few years ago and focusing on what is important today (and always)

45PerSPecTIVeS

clASSIFIeDS 46

38culTure

05FeATure 39

lsquoThis establishment can be counted among Amsterdamrsquos great pleasuresrsquo

lsquoCapacity is due to take another leap in 2013 when production space will expand considerablyrsquo

culTure

40culTure

05FeATure 41

lsquoBrouwerij lsquot Ij offers a full array of beers to suit just about any tastersquo

culTure

42

TheNatural Revolution

PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoSince the very beginning of time we have used nature to feed and cure ourselvesrsquo

43PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoEnthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge with each other increasing the potential for successful discoveries concerning crops and growing methodsrsquo

By Valeria Scimia

Nature has always been manrsquos friend even if humans have not greatly appreciated the gifts she offers and we are not always such good friends in return Since the very beginning of time we have used nature to feed and cure ourselves With industri-alisation people forgot about the benefits supplied by Mother Earth and switched their attention to what humans could invent sell and possess For many years we have been busy with television media and everything that could entertain us and make us lsquoricherrsquo forgetting about what we already had and always have had

44

lsquoSometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generationsrsquo

lsquoIt doesnrsquot have to start big ndash not everyone is into farming or making soaprsquo

PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoSo if our bodies naturally prefer clean air clean water organic food and so on we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of livingrsquo

lsquoWe are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countriesrsquo

And we should indeed remember how our grandparents lived appreciating what we have today with a little more consideration for what we will end up losing if we donrsquot change some things about our environment and lifestyle It doesnrsquot have to start big ndash not everyone is into farming or making soap ndash but there are thousands of ways to reconnect with nature and live in a more ecologically sound way The Netherlands is the perfect example of a country that refused to be smoked out by car fumes Most of the popula-tion travels by bicycle even over reasonably long distances or uses (efficient) public transport The air quality is there-fore much better here than in places where a three-person family owns and uses three cars daily Allergies which are becoming more and more prevalent within industrialised populations seem to be related to pollution This doesnrsquot surprise me greatly since I am from Rome whose famously busy streets are always filled with motor vehicles I always had respiratory problems while living there but they have all disappeared since I moved to the Netherlands

So if our bodies naturally prefer clean air clean water organic food and so on we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of living We can start by making our own lip balm or using cooking oils (yes) in place of creams and oils that are perfumed and mixed with unnatural agents If we cook meals and bake cakes from scratch to feed our children and ourselves we will soon start to notice the benefits of a healthy natural life on our bodies minds and wallets

If you prefer to start big and have a natural ability there are many communities already busy online and elsewhere The Netherlands has seen street garden invasions by Guerrilla Gardeners knitted street lights and bridges by Guerrilla Knitters farmers are growing all around the world and sharing information about apartment-based greenhouses and herb gardens so you donrsquot need to own a garden or a balcony to join the Natural Revolution There are many ways many trends ecological and creative solutions as alternatives to what we have today I say letrsquos take this crisis as an opportunity to cut down on useless expenses and rediscover our abilities to use what nature has given us

Lately however due to the evident economic crisis all over the western world there has been a global tendency towards redis-covering nature and the basic ways of humans before the era of industrialisation More and more people are becoming inter-ested in farming for example especially organic farming and are searching for new ecological ways to feed ourselves The internet is an excellent aid to these new communities with enthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge with each other increasing the potential for successful discoveries concerning crops and growing methods

People are starting to build their own machines to make them cheaper and last longer than those available for purchase Other examples include rediscovering the benefits of healthy food or homemade cures and beauty products Some years ago for example the soap-making community spiked People male and female all over the world started making their own natural soaps Fragrant and beautifully packaged they immediately became a hype Think of the shop Lush a little firm that started making its own natural and eco-friendly body products Within a few years it had expanded worldwide and now provides a great example of how nature can be good for us A few years ago I started following a blog that taught people how to make homemade beauty solutions explaining a lot of useful things of which I am sure my grandmother was very well aware Sometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generations I asked my elders about this some of whom had survived the great wars and they all think that at the end of the Second World War there was a kind of renaissance lsquola dolce vitarsquo as we called it in Italy when many possibilities and new hopes arose They were tricked into becoming part of a society that could only work with a healthy economy So we forgot about certain skills because we thought we no longer needed them But the illusion did not last long or more accurately it was doomed from the very beginning We are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countries No-one seems to have a solution and hope is being lost But to my surprise some people are reacting positively re-approaching nature and the basic ways of living forgetting what was important a few years ago and focusing on what is important today (and always)

45PerSPecTIVeS

clASSIFIeDS 46

05FeATure 39

lsquoThis establishment can be counted among Amsterdamrsquos great pleasuresrsquo

lsquoCapacity is due to take another leap in 2013 when production space will expand considerablyrsquo

culTure

40culTure

05FeATure 41

lsquoBrouwerij lsquot Ij offers a full array of beers to suit just about any tastersquo

culTure

42

TheNatural Revolution

PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoSince the very beginning of time we have used nature to feed and cure ourselvesrsquo

43PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoEnthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge with each other increasing the potential for successful discoveries concerning crops and growing methodsrsquo

By Valeria Scimia

Nature has always been manrsquos friend even if humans have not greatly appreciated the gifts she offers and we are not always such good friends in return Since the very beginning of time we have used nature to feed and cure ourselves With industri-alisation people forgot about the benefits supplied by Mother Earth and switched their attention to what humans could invent sell and possess For many years we have been busy with television media and everything that could entertain us and make us lsquoricherrsquo forgetting about what we already had and always have had

44

lsquoSometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generationsrsquo

lsquoIt doesnrsquot have to start big ndash not everyone is into farming or making soaprsquo

PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoSo if our bodies naturally prefer clean air clean water organic food and so on we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of livingrsquo

lsquoWe are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countriesrsquo

And we should indeed remember how our grandparents lived appreciating what we have today with a little more consideration for what we will end up losing if we donrsquot change some things about our environment and lifestyle It doesnrsquot have to start big ndash not everyone is into farming or making soap ndash but there are thousands of ways to reconnect with nature and live in a more ecologically sound way The Netherlands is the perfect example of a country that refused to be smoked out by car fumes Most of the popula-tion travels by bicycle even over reasonably long distances or uses (efficient) public transport The air quality is there-fore much better here than in places where a three-person family owns and uses three cars daily Allergies which are becoming more and more prevalent within industrialised populations seem to be related to pollution This doesnrsquot surprise me greatly since I am from Rome whose famously busy streets are always filled with motor vehicles I always had respiratory problems while living there but they have all disappeared since I moved to the Netherlands

So if our bodies naturally prefer clean air clean water organic food and so on we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of living We can start by making our own lip balm or using cooking oils (yes) in place of creams and oils that are perfumed and mixed with unnatural agents If we cook meals and bake cakes from scratch to feed our children and ourselves we will soon start to notice the benefits of a healthy natural life on our bodies minds and wallets

If you prefer to start big and have a natural ability there are many communities already busy online and elsewhere The Netherlands has seen street garden invasions by Guerrilla Gardeners knitted street lights and bridges by Guerrilla Knitters farmers are growing all around the world and sharing information about apartment-based greenhouses and herb gardens so you donrsquot need to own a garden or a balcony to join the Natural Revolution There are many ways many trends ecological and creative solutions as alternatives to what we have today I say letrsquos take this crisis as an opportunity to cut down on useless expenses and rediscover our abilities to use what nature has given us

Lately however due to the evident economic crisis all over the western world there has been a global tendency towards redis-covering nature and the basic ways of humans before the era of industrialisation More and more people are becoming inter-ested in farming for example especially organic farming and are searching for new ecological ways to feed ourselves The internet is an excellent aid to these new communities with enthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge with each other increasing the potential for successful discoveries concerning crops and growing methods

People are starting to build their own machines to make them cheaper and last longer than those available for purchase Other examples include rediscovering the benefits of healthy food or homemade cures and beauty products Some years ago for example the soap-making community spiked People male and female all over the world started making their own natural soaps Fragrant and beautifully packaged they immediately became a hype Think of the shop Lush a little firm that started making its own natural and eco-friendly body products Within a few years it had expanded worldwide and now provides a great example of how nature can be good for us A few years ago I started following a blog that taught people how to make homemade beauty solutions explaining a lot of useful things of which I am sure my grandmother was very well aware Sometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generations I asked my elders about this some of whom had survived the great wars and they all think that at the end of the Second World War there was a kind of renaissance lsquola dolce vitarsquo as we called it in Italy when many possibilities and new hopes arose They were tricked into becoming part of a society that could only work with a healthy economy So we forgot about certain skills because we thought we no longer needed them But the illusion did not last long or more accurately it was doomed from the very beginning We are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countries No-one seems to have a solution and hope is being lost But to my surprise some people are reacting positively re-approaching nature and the basic ways of living forgetting what was important a few years ago and focusing on what is important today (and always)

45PerSPecTIVeS

clASSIFIeDS 46

40culTure

05FeATure 41

lsquoBrouwerij lsquot Ij offers a full array of beers to suit just about any tastersquo

culTure

42

TheNatural Revolution

PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoSince the very beginning of time we have used nature to feed and cure ourselvesrsquo

43PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoEnthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge with each other increasing the potential for successful discoveries concerning crops and growing methodsrsquo

By Valeria Scimia

Nature has always been manrsquos friend even if humans have not greatly appreciated the gifts she offers and we are not always such good friends in return Since the very beginning of time we have used nature to feed and cure ourselves With industri-alisation people forgot about the benefits supplied by Mother Earth and switched their attention to what humans could invent sell and possess For many years we have been busy with television media and everything that could entertain us and make us lsquoricherrsquo forgetting about what we already had and always have had

44

lsquoSometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generationsrsquo

lsquoIt doesnrsquot have to start big ndash not everyone is into farming or making soaprsquo

PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoSo if our bodies naturally prefer clean air clean water organic food and so on we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of livingrsquo

lsquoWe are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countriesrsquo

And we should indeed remember how our grandparents lived appreciating what we have today with a little more consideration for what we will end up losing if we donrsquot change some things about our environment and lifestyle It doesnrsquot have to start big ndash not everyone is into farming or making soap ndash but there are thousands of ways to reconnect with nature and live in a more ecologically sound way The Netherlands is the perfect example of a country that refused to be smoked out by car fumes Most of the popula-tion travels by bicycle even over reasonably long distances or uses (efficient) public transport The air quality is there-fore much better here than in places where a three-person family owns and uses three cars daily Allergies which are becoming more and more prevalent within industrialised populations seem to be related to pollution This doesnrsquot surprise me greatly since I am from Rome whose famously busy streets are always filled with motor vehicles I always had respiratory problems while living there but they have all disappeared since I moved to the Netherlands

So if our bodies naturally prefer clean air clean water organic food and so on we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of living We can start by making our own lip balm or using cooking oils (yes) in place of creams and oils that are perfumed and mixed with unnatural agents If we cook meals and bake cakes from scratch to feed our children and ourselves we will soon start to notice the benefits of a healthy natural life on our bodies minds and wallets

If you prefer to start big and have a natural ability there are many communities already busy online and elsewhere The Netherlands has seen street garden invasions by Guerrilla Gardeners knitted street lights and bridges by Guerrilla Knitters farmers are growing all around the world and sharing information about apartment-based greenhouses and herb gardens so you donrsquot need to own a garden or a balcony to join the Natural Revolution There are many ways many trends ecological and creative solutions as alternatives to what we have today I say letrsquos take this crisis as an opportunity to cut down on useless expenses and rediscover our abilities to use what nature has given us

Lately however due to the evident economic crisis all over the western world there has been a global tendency towards redis-covering nature and the basic ways of humans before the era of industrialisation More and more people are becoming inter-ested in farming for example especially organic farming and are searching for new ecological ways to feed ourselves The internet is an excellent aid to these new communities with enthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge with each other increasing the potential for successful discoveries concerning crops and growing methods

People are starting to build their own machines to make them cheaper and last longer than those available for purchase Other examples include rediscovering the benefits of healthy food or homemade cures and beauty products Some years ago for example the soap-making community spiked People male and female all over the world started making their own natural soaps Fragrant and beautifully packaged they immediately became a hype Think of the shop Lush a little firm that started making its own natural and eco-friendly body products Within a few years it had expanded worldwide and now provides a great example of how nature can be good for us A few years ago I started following a blog that taught people how to make homemade beauty solutions explaining a lot of useful things of which I am sure my grandmother was very well aware Sometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generations I asked my elders about this some of whom had survived the great wars and they all think that at the end of the Second World War there was a kind of renaissance lsquola dolce vitarsquo as we called it in Italy when many possibilities and new hopes arose They were tricked into becoming part of a society that could only work with a healthy economy So we forgot about certain skills because we thought we no longer needed them But the illusion did not last long or more accurately it was doomed from the very beginning We are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countries No-one seems to have a solution and hope is being lost But to my surprise some people are reacting positively re-approaching nature and the basic ways of living forgetting what was important a few years ago and focusing on what is important today (and always)

45PerSPecTIVeS

clASSIFIeDS 46

05FeATure 41

lsquoBrouwerij lsquot Ij offers a full array of beers to suit just about any tastersquo

culTure

42

TheNatural Revolution

PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoSince the very beginning of time we have used nature to feed and cure ourselvesrsquo

43PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoEnthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge with each other increasing the potential for successful discoveries concerning crops and growing methodsrsquo

By Valeria Scimia

Nature has always been manrsquos friend even if humans have not greatly appreciated the gifts she offers and we are not always such good friends in return Since the very beginning of time we have used nature to feed and cure ourselves With industri-alisation people forgot about the benefits supplied by Mother Earth and switched their attention to what humans could invent sell and possess For many years we have been busy with television media and everything that could entertain us and make us lsquoricherrsquo forgetting about what we already had and always have had

44

lsquoSometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generationsrsquo

lsquoIt doesnrsquot have to start big ndash not everyone is into farming or making soaprsquo

PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoSo if our bodies naturally prefer clean air clean water organic food and so on we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of livingrsquo

lsquoWe are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countriesrsquo

And we should indeed remember how our grandparents lived appreciating what we have today with a little more consideration for what we will end up losing if we donrsquot change some things about our environment and lifestyle It doesnrsquot have to start big ndash not everyone is into farming or making soap ndash but there are thousands of ways to reconnect with nature and live in a more ecologically sound way The Netherlands is the perfect example of a country that refused to be smoked out by car fumes Most of the popula-tion travels by bicycle even over reasonably long distances or uses (efficient) public transport The air quality is there-fore much better here than in places where a three-person family owns and uses three cars daily Allergies which are becoming more and more prevalent within industrialised populations seem to be related to pollution This doesnrsquot surprise me greatly since I am from Rome whose famously busy streets are always filled with motor vehicles I always had respiratory problems while living there but they have all disappeared since I moved to the Netherlands

So if our bodies naturally prefer clean air clean water organic food and so on we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of living We can start by making our own lip balm or using cooking oils (yes) in place of creams and oils that are perfumed and mixed with unnatural agents If we cook meals and bake cakes from scratch to feed our children and ourselves we will soon start to notice the benefits of a healthy natural life on our bodies minds and wallets

If you prefer to start big and have a natural ability there are many communities already busy online and elsewhere The Netherlands has seen street garden invasions by Guerrilla Gardeners knitted street lights and bridges by Guerrilla Knitters farmers are growing all around the world and sharing information about apartment-based greenhouses and herb gardens so you donrsquot need to own a garden or a balcony to join the Natural Revolution There are many ways many trends ecological and creative solutions as alternatives to what we have today I say letrsquos take this crisis as an opportunity to cut down on useless expenses and rediscover our abilities to use what nature has given us

Lately however due to the evident economic crisis all over the western world there has been a global tendency towards redis-covering nature and the basic ways of humans before the era of industrialisation More and more people are becoming inter-ested in farming for example especially organic farming and are searching for new ecological ways to feed ourselves The internet is an excellent aid to these new communities with enthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge with each other increasing the potential for successful discoveries concerning crops and growing methods

People are starting to build their own machines to make them cheaper and last longer than those available for purchase Other examples include rediscovering the benefits of healthy food or homemade cures and beauty products Some years ago for example the soap-making community spiked People male and female all over the world started making their own natural soaps Fragrant and beautifully packaged they immediately became a hype Think of the shop Lush a little firm that started making its own natural and eco-friendly body products Within a few years it had expanded worldwide and now provides a great example of how nature can be good for us A few years ago I started following a blog that taught people how to make homemade beauty solutions explaining a lot of useful things of which I am sure my grandmother was very well aware Sometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generations I asked my elders about this some of whom had survived the great wars and they all think that at the end of the Second World War there was a kind of renaissance lsquola dolce vitarsquo as we called it in Italy when many possibilities and new hopes arose They were tricked into becoming part of a society that could only work with a healthy economy So we forgot about certain skills because we thought we no longer needed them But the illusion did not last long or more accurately it was doomed from the very beginning We are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countries No-one seems to have a solution and hope is being lost But to my surprise some people are reacting positively re-approaching nature and the basic ways of living forgetting what was important a few years ago and focusing on what is important today (and always)

45PerSPecTIVeS

clASSIFIeDS 46

42

TheNatural Revolution

PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoSince the very beginning of time we have used nature to feed and cure ourselvesrsquo

43PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoEnthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge with each other increasing the potential for successful discoveries concerning crops and growing methodsrsquo

By Valeria Scimia

Nature has always been manrsquos friend even if humans have not greatly appreciated the gifts she offers and we are not always such good friends in return Since the very beginning of time we have used nature to feed and cure ourselves With industri-alisation people forgot about the benefits supplied by Mother Earth and switched their attention to what humans could invent sell and possess For many years we have been busy with television media and everything that could entertain us and make us lsquoricherrsquo forgetting about what we already had and always have had

44

lsquoSometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generationsrsquo

lsquoIt doesnrsquot have to start big ndash not everyone is into farming or making soaprsquo

PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoSo if our bodies naturally prefer clean air clean water organic food and so on we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of livingrsquo

lsquoWe are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countriesrsquo

And we should indeed remember how our grandparents lived appreciating what we have today with a little more consideration for what we will end up losing if we donrsquot change some things about our environment and lifestyle It doesnrsquot have to start big ndash not everyone is into farming or making soap ndash but there are thousands of ways to reconnect with nature and live in a more ecologically sound way The Netherlands is the perfect example of a country that refused to be smoked out by car fumes Most of the popula-tion travels by bicycle even over reasonably long distances or uses (efficient) public transport The air quality is there-fore much better here than in places where a three-person family owns and uses three cars daily Allergies which are becoming more and more prevalent within industrialised populations seem to be related to pollution This doesnrsquot surprise me greatly since I am from Rome whose famously busy streets are always filled with motor vehicles I always had respiratory problems while living there but they have all disappeared since I moved to the Netherlands

So if our bodies naturally prefer clean air clean water organic food and so on we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of living We can start by making our own lip balm or using cooking oils (yes) in place of creams and oils that are perfumed and mixed with unnatural agents If we cook meals and bake cakes from scratch to feed our children and ourselves we will soon start to notice the benefits of a healthy natural life on our bodies minds and wallets

If you prefer to start big and have a natural ability there are many communities already busy online and elsewhere The Netherlands has seen street garden invasions by Guerrilla Gardeners knitted street lights and bridges by Guerrilla Knitters farmers are growing all around the world and sharing information about apartment-based greenhouses and herb gardens so you donrsquot need to own a garden or a balcony to join the Natural Revolution There are many ways many trends ecological and creative solutions as alternatives to what we have today I say letrsquos take this crisis as an opportunity to cut down on useless expenses and rediscover our abilities to use what nature has given us

Lately however due to the evident economic crisis all over the western world there has been a global tendency towards redis-covering nature and the basic ways of humans before the era of industrialisation More and more people are becoming inter-ested in farming for example especially organic farming and are searching for new ecological ways to feed ourselves The internet is an excellent aid to these new communities with enthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge with each other increasing the potential for successful discoveries concerning crops and growing methods

People are starting to build their own machines to make them cheaper and last longer than those available for purchase Other examples include rediscovering the benefits of healthy food or homemade cures and beauty products Some years ago for example the soap-making community spiked People male and female all over the world started making their own natural soaps Fragrant and beautifully packaged they immediately became a hype Think of the shop Lush a little firm that started making its own natural and eco-friendly body products Within a few years it had expanded worldwide and now provides a great example of how nature can be good for us A few years ago I started following a blog that taught people how to make homemade beauty solutions explaining a lot of useful things of which I am sure my grandmother was very well aware Sometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generations I asked my elders about this some of whom had survived the great wars and they all think that at the end of the Second World War there was a kind of renaissance lsquola dolce vitarsquo as we called it in Italy when many possibilities and new hopes arose They were tricked into becoming part of a society that could only work with a healthy economy So we forgot about certain skills because we thought we no longer needed them But the illusion did not last long or more accurately it was doomed from the very beginning We are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countries No-one seems to have a solution and hope is being lost But to my surprise some people are reacting positively re-approaching nature and the basic ways of living forgetting what was important a few years ago and focusing on what is important today (and always)

45PerSPecTIVeS

clASSIFIeDS 46

43PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoEnthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge with each other increasing the potential for successful discoveries concerning crops and growing methodsrsquo

By Valeria Scimia

Nature has always been manrsquos friend even if humans have not greatly appreciated the gifts she offers and we are not always such good friends in return Since the very beginning of time we have used nature to feed and cure ourselves With industri-alisation people forgot about the benefits supplied by Mother Earth and switched their attention to what humans could invent sell and possess For many years we have been busy with television media and everything that could entertain us and make us lsquoricherrsquo forgetting about what we already had and always have had

44

lsquoSometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generationsrsquo

lsquoIt doesnrsquot have to start big ndash not everyone is into farming or making soaprsquo

PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoSo if our bodies naturally prefer clean air clean water organic food and so on we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of livingrsquo

lsquoWe are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countriesrsquo

And we should indeed remember how our grandparents lived appreciating what we have today with a little more consideration for what we will end up losing if we donrsquot change some things about our environment and lifestyle It doesnrsquot have to start big ndash not everyone is into farming or making soap ndash but there are thousands of ways to reconnect with nature and live in a more ecologically sound way The Netherlands is the perfect example of a country that refused to be smoked out by car fumes Most of the popula-tion travels by bicycle even over reasonably long distances or uses (efficient) public transport The air quality is there-fore much better here than in places where a three-person family owns and uses three cars daily Allergies which are becoming more and more prevalent within industrialised populations seem to be related to pollution This doesnrsquot surprise me greatly since I am from Rome whose famously busy streets are always filled with motor vehicles I always had respiratory problems while living there but they have all disappeared since I moved to the Netherlands

So if our bodies naturally prefer clean air clean water organic food and so on we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of living We can start by making our own lip balm or using cooking oils (yes) in place of creams and oils that are perfumed and mixed with unnatural agents If we cook meals and bake cakes from scratch to feed our children and ourselves we will soon start to notice the benefits of a healthy natural life on our bodies minds and wallets

If you prefer to start big and have a natural ability there are many communities already busy online and elsewhere The Netherlands has seen street garden invasions by Guerrilla Gardeners knitted street lights and bridges by Guerrilla Knitters farmers are growing all around the world and sharing information about apartment-based greenhouses and herb gardens so you donrsquot need to own a garden or a balcony to join the Natural Revolution There are many ways many trends ecological and creative solutions as alternatives to what we have today I say letrsquos take this crisis as an opportunity to cut down on useless expenses and rediscover our abilities to use what nature has given us

Lately however due to the evident economic crisis all over the western world there has been a global tendency towards redis-covering nature and the basic ways of humans before the era of industrialisation More and more people are becoming inter-ested in farming for example especially organic farming and are searching for new ecological ways to feed ourselves The internet is an excellent aid to these new communities with enthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge with each other increasing the potential for successful discoveries concerning crops and growing methods

People are starting to build their own machines to make them cheaper and last longer than those available for purchase Other examples include rediscovering the benefits of healthy food or homemade cures and beauty products Some years ago for example the soap-making community spiked People male and female all over the world started making their own natural soaps Fragrant and beautifully packaged they immediately became a hype Think of the shop Lush a little firm that started making its own natural and eco-friendly body products Within a few years it had expanded worldwide and now provides a great example of how nature can be good for us A few years ago I started following a blog that taught people how to make homemade beauty solutions explaining a lot of useful things of which I am sure my grandmother was very well aware Sometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generations I asked my elders about this some of whom had survived the great wars and they all think that at the end of the Second World War there was a kind of renaissance lsquola dolce vitarsquo as we called it in Italy when many possibilities and new hopes arose They were tricked into becoming part of a society that could only work with a healthy economy So we forgot about certain skills because we thought we no longer needed them But the illusion did not last long or more accurately it was doomed from the very beginning We are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countries No-one seems to have a solution and hope is being lost But to my surprise some people are reacting positively re-approaching nature and the basic ways of living forgetting what was important a few years ago and focusing on what is important today (and always)

45PerSPecTIVeS

clASSIFIeDS 46

44

lsquoSometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generationsrsquo

lsquoIt doesnrsquot have to start big ndash not everyone is into farming or making soaprsquo

PerSPecTIVeS

lsquoSo if our bodies naturally prefer clean air clean water organic food and so on we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of livingrsquo

lsquoWe are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countriesrsquo

And we should indeed remember how our grandparents lived appreciating what we have today with a little more consideration for what we will end up losing if we donrsquot change some things about our environment and lifestyle It doesnrsquot have to start big ndash not everyone is into farming or making soap ndash but there are thousands of ways to reconnect with nature and live in a more ecologically sound way The Netherlands is the perfect example of a country that refused to be smoked out by car fumes Most of the popula-tion travels by bicycle even over reasonably long distances or uses (efficient) public transport The air quality is there-fore much better here than in places where a three-person family owns and uses three cars daily Allergies which are becoming more and more prevalent within industrialised populations seem to be related to pollution This doesnrsquot surprise me greatly since I am from Rome whose famously busy streets are always filled with motor vehicles I always had respiratory problems while living there but they have all disappeared since I moved to the Netherlands

So if our bodies naturally prefer clean air clean water organic food and so on we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of living We can start by making our own lip balm or using cooking oils (yes) in place of creams and oils that are perfumed and mixed with unnatural agents If we cook meals and bake cakes from scratch to feed our children and ourselves we will soon start to notice the benefits of a healthy natural life on our bodies minds and wallets

If you prefer to start big and have a natural ability there are many communities already busy online and elsewhere The Netherlands has seen street garden invasions by Guerrilla Gardeners knitted street lights and bridges by Guerrilla Knitters farmers are growing all around the world and sharing information about apartment-based greenhouses and herb gardens so you donrsquot need to own a garden or a balcony to join the Natural Revolution There are many ways many trends ecological and creative solutions as alternatives to what we have today I say letrsquos take this crisis as an opportunity to cut down on useless expenses and rediscover our abilities to use what nature has given us

Lately however due to the evident economic crisis all over the western world there has been a global tendency towards redis-covering nature and the basic ways of humans before the era of industrialisation More and more people are becoming inter-ested in farming for example especially organic farming and are searching for new ecological ways to feed ourselves The internet is an excellent aid to these new communities with enthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge with each other increasing the potential for successful discoveries concerning crops and growing methods

People are starting to build their own machines to make them cheaper and last longer than those available for purchase Other examples include rediscovering the benefits of healthy food or homemade cures and beauty products Some years ago for example the soap-making community spiked People male and female all over the world started making their own natural soaps Fragrant and beautifully packaged they immediately became a hype Think of the shop Lush a little firm that started making its own natural and eco-friendly body products Within a few years it had expanded worldwide and now provides a great example of how nature can be good for us A few years ago I started following a blog that taught people how to make homemade beauty solutions explaining a lot of useful things of which I am sure my grandmother was very well aware Sometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generations I asked my elders about this some of whom had survived the great wars and they all think that at the end of the Second World War there was a kind of renaissance lsquola dolce vitarsquo as we called it in Italy when many possibilities and new hopes arose They were tricked into becoming part of a society that could only work with a healthy economy So we forgot about certain skills because we thought we no longer needed them But the illusion did not last long or more accurately it was doomed from the very beginning We are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countries No-one seems to have a solution and hope is being lost But to my surprise some people are reacting positively re-approaching nature and the basic ways of living forgetting what was important a few years ago and focusing on what is important today (and always)

45PerSPecTIVeS

clASSIFIeDS 46

lsquoSo if our bodies naturally prefer clean air clean water organic food and so on we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of livingrsquo

lsquoWe are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countriesrsquo

And we should indeed remember how our grandparents lived appreciating what we have today with a little more consideration for what we will end up losing if we donrsquot change some things about our environment and lifestyle It doesnrsquot have to start big ndash not everyone is into farming or making soap ndash but there are thousands of ways to reconnect with nature and live in a more ecologically sound way The Netherlands is the perfect example of a country that refused to be smoked out by car fumes Most of the popula-tion travels by bicycle even over reasonably long distances or uses (efficient) public transport The air quality is there-fore much better here than in places where a three-person family owns and uses three cars daily Allergies which are becoming more and more prevalent within industrialised populations seem to be related to pollution This doesnrsquot surprise me greatly since I am from Rome whose famously busy streets are always filled with motor vehicles I always had respiratory problems while living there but they have all disappeared since I moved to the Netherlands

So if our bodies naturally prefer clean air clean water organic food and so on we should find a way to get closer to a more natural way of living We can start by making our own lip balm or using cooking oils (yes) in place of creams and oils that are perfumed and mixed with unnatural agents If we cook meals and bake cakes from scratch to feed our children and ourselves we will soon start to notice the benefits of a healthy natural life on our bodies minds and wallets

If you prefer to start big and have a natural ability there are many communities already busy online and elsewhere The Netherlands has seen street garden invasions by Guerrilla Gardeners knitted street lights and bridges by Guerrilla Knitters farmers are growing all around the world and sharing information about apartment-based greenhouses and herb gardens so you donrsquot need to own a garden or a balcony to join the Natural Revolution There are many ways many trends ecological and creative solutions as alternatives to what we have today I say letrsquos take this crisis as an opportunity to cut down on useless expenses and rediscover our abilities to use what nature has given us

Lately however due to the evident economic crisis all over the western world there has been a global tendency towards redis-covering nature and the basic ways of humans before the era of industrialisation More and more people are becoming inter-ested in farming for example especially organic farming and are searching for new ecological ways to feed ourselves The internet is an excellent aid to these new communities with enthusiasts from all over the world sharing their knowledge with each other increasing the potential for successful discoveries concerning crops and growing methods

People are starting to build their own machines to make them cheaper and last longer than those available for purchase Other examples include rediscovering the benefits of healthy food or homemade cures and beauty products Some years ago for example the soap-making community spiked People male and female all over the world started making their own natural soaps Fragrant and beautifully packaged they immediately became a hype Think of the shop Lush a little firm that started making its own natural and eco-friendly body products Within a few years it had expanded worldwide and now provides a great example of how nature can be good for us A few years ago I started following a blog that taught people how to make homemade beauty solutions explaining a lot of useful things of which I am sure my grandmother was very well aware Sometimes I wonder how it is possible to forget about certain basic things within just a couple of generations I asked my elders about this some of whom had survived the great wars and they all think that at the end of the Second World War there was a kind of renaissance lsquola dolce vitarsquo as we called it in Italy when many possibilities and new hopes arose They were tricked into becoming part of a society that could only work with a healthy economy So we forgot about certain skills because we thought we no longer needed them But the illusion did not last long or more accurately it was doomed from the very beginning We are now facing an economic crisis that is bringing down some European countries No-one seems to have a solution and hope is being lost But to my surprise some people are reacting positively re-approaching nature and the basic ways of living forgetting what was important a few years ago and focusing on what is important today (and always)

45PerSPecTIVeS

clASSIFIeDS 46

clASSIFIeDS 46

clASSIFIeDS 47

YOU WONrsquoT FIND BETTER PRICES IN THE CZ THAN IN OUR AIRPORT SHOPS

It pays to shop at the airport Many brand outlets with a wide selection of exclusive goods carry The Best Price Guarantee logo which means you get the best prices in the Czech Republic

A4indd 8 12412 1012

clASSIFIeDS 49

YOU WONrsquoT FIND BETTER PRICES IN THE CZ THAN IN OUR AIRPORT SHOPS

It pays to shop at the airport Many brand outlets with a wide selection of exclusive goods carry The Best Price Guarantee logo which means you get the best prices in the Czech Republic

A4indd 8 12412 1012

50cAFeBAr reVIew

lsquoA fine centrally located spacersquo

CafeacuteBar Review Cafeacute De Jaren

lsquoA fine centrally located spacersquo

lsquoA recommendable cafeacute for those in need of a fresh meet-up address with stylersquo

CafeacuteBar Review Cafeacute De Jaren

By Denson Pierre

cAFeBAr reVIew 51

Nieuwe Doelenstraat 20-22 Amsterdam

City gemCafeacute De Jaren is a fantastic meeting place for those with business budgets or a few extra euros to do lunch in a fine centrally located space It remains the best of Amsterdamrsquos grand reading cafeacutes its very high ceilings and exceptional terrace providing an ambiance conducive to important social meetings (lunch dates) and casual business meetings It seldom turns into a session bar in the evening possibly due to its pricing structure and not having sampled the restaurant aspect of the business this cannot be given the Sentinel seal of approval Nevertheless De Jaren remains a recommendable cafeacute for those in need of a fresh meet-up address with style and character in the old city

wwwcafedejarennl

lsquoA fine centrally located spacersquo

lsquoA recommendable cafeacute for those in need of a fresh meet-up address with stylersquo

CafeacuteBar Review Cafeacute De Jaren

By Denson Pierre

cAFeBAr reVIew 51

Nieuwe Doelenstraat 20-22 Amsterdam

City gemCafeacute De Jaren is a fantastic meeting place for those with business budgets or a few extra euros to do lunch in a fine centrally located space It remains the best of Amsterdamrsquos grand reading cafeacutes its very high ceilings and exceptional terrace providing an ambiance conducive to important social meetings (lunch dates) and casual business meetings It seldom turns into a session bar in the evening possibly due to its pricing structure and not having sampled the restaurant aspect of the business this cannot be given the Sentinel seal of approval Nevertheless De Jaren remains a recommendable cafeacute for those in need of a fresh meet-up address with style and character in the old city

wwwcafedejarennl

52STAr Beer GuIDe

The SentinelStar beer guide

lsquoThis unfiltered beer could challenge whatever you now drink as your standard fair-priced session selectionrsquoThis provocative and full-bodied IPA differs appreciably from many other beers of its ilk and despite its strength avoids an overwhelming taste of alcohol From the tap its frothy nose-tingling aroma provides the immediate impression that this unfiltered beer could challenge whatever you now drink as your standard fair-priced session selection From the bottle you will detect the subtle difference in taste brought about by the second fermentation during storage providing additional joy

A pleasantly surprising find given the many other beers for which Amsterdamrsquos foremost craft brewers Brouwerij lsquot Ij are already famous It illustrates the breweryrsquos develop-ment and pre-eminence on the competitive local craft brewing scenelsquot Ij IPA is brewed and served at Brouwerij lsquot Ij Amsterdam The Netherlands

wwwbrouwerijhetijnl

By Denson Pierre

lsquoT IJ INDIA PALE ALE (IPA) (7 ABV)

STAr Beer GuIDe 53

The SentinelStar beer guide

lsquoThis unfiltered beer could challenge whatever you now drink as your standard fair-priced session selectionrsquoThis provocative and full-bodied IPA differs appreciably from many other beers of its ilk and despite its strength avoids an overwhelming taste of alcohol From the tap its frothy nose-tingling aroma provides the immediate impression that this unfiltered beer could challenge whatever you now drink as your standard fair-priced session selection From the bottle you will detect the subtle difference in taste brought about by the second fermentation during storage providing additional joy

A pleasantly surprising find given the many other beers for which Amsterdamrsquos foremost craft brewers Brouwerij lsquot Ij are already famous It illustrates the breweryrsquos develop-ment and pre-eminence on the competitive local craft brewing scenelsquot Ij IPA is brewed and served at Brouwerij lsquot Ij Amsterdam The Netherlands

wwwbrouwerijhetijnl

By Denson Pierre

lsquoT IJ INDIA PALE ALE (IPA) (7 ABV)

STAr Beer GuIDe 53

54AMSTerDAM SeNTINel recOMMeNDeD

Greenhouse Amsterdam Zuid 22 August 2012

We find the best most fun most typical exciting or local favourite restaurants etcetera in Amsterdam and bring them to you an easy way to feel like a local

recOMMeNDeD

Photo Marco Dignum

55

EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort

Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl

Website wwweurogiftsnl

FILMPROEF

ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123

Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit

Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions

Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace

VibesVibes is a relaxing cafecocktail bar art gallery with a large selection of coffees herbal teas homemade cakes and an amazing card of cocktails made with fresh fruit by a professional cocktail bartenderEnjoy our Italian kitchen in a cosy and friendly atmosphere

IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines

Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole experi-ence while dining with them

Cafe TisfrisCafe Tisfris is recognisable for its landmarks funky pillars and terrace Tisfris offers a friendly service and is a great pit stop for ldquoyummyrdquo refreshments

Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam

Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits

Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp MusicTo Be Seen and Tasted

To Be Seen and Tasted

Fun Drinking amp Music

Connoisseurs Delight

Connoisseurs Delight

To Be Seen and Tasted

Neighbourhood cosy

Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate

Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl

St Antoniebreestraat 142 Amsterdamwwwtisfrisnl

Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl

Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome

Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl

2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl

Jan Pieter Heijestraat 137 Amsterdamwwwwixcomvibes137vibes

Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl

Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo

RECOMMENDED

55

EUROGIFTSXenonweg 9 3812 SZ Amersfoort

Tel 033 - 454 35 75 - Fax 033 - 454 35 79E-mail lmproefeurogiftsnl

Website wwweurogiftsnl

FILMPROEF

ORDERNUMMER 6021022ARTIKELNUMMER 65123

Ware grootte (indien uitgeprint)Kleur opdruk Wit

Mulligans Irish Music BarAmsterdamrsquos best address for live Irish music Five (5) nights a week Check our agenda for upcoming sessions

Cafeacute KostverlorenCafeacute Kostverloren is a contemporary cafe offering the cosiness of a saloon an open kitchen and the intimacy of a living room During summer there is a large sunny terrace and during winter an open fi replace

VibesVibes is a relaxing cafecocktail bar art gallery with a large selection of coffees herbal teas homemade cakes and an amazing card of cocktails made with fresh fruit by a professional cocktail bartenderEnjoy our Italian kitchen in a cosy and friendly atmosphere

IncantoIncanto is a restaurant with a classic Italian kitchen Venetian chef Simone Ambrosin is known for his pure and simple style of cooking with feeling for nuance The wine list contains over 150 Italian wines

Planet RosePlanet Rose is the fi rst Caribbean restaurant in the Netherlands which specializes in Jamaican cuisine The menu features a daily changing selection of JamaicanCaribbean dishes and they ensure that you enjoy the whole experi-ence while dining with them

Cafe TisfrisCafe Tisfris is recognisable for its landmarks funky pillars and terrace Tisfris offers a friendly service and is a great pit stop for ldquoyummyrdquo refreshments

Cafe restaurant EdelCafe restaurant Edel is the perfect place for lunch dinner or to simply enjoy a drink Edel is a unique place in Amsterdam

Cafeacute OportoCafeacute Oporto is a traditional Amsterdam lsquobrown cafersquo Welcoming tourists and regular customers alike they offer televised sports wireless internet connection and a wide range of reasonably priced beers and spirits

Connoisseurs Delight Fun Drinking amp MusicTo Be Seen and Tasted

To Be Seen and Tasted

Fun Drinking amp Music

Connoisseurs Delight

Connoisseurs Delight

To Be Seen and Tasted

Neighbourhood cosy

Opera Prima - Patisserie Bistro TraiteurThe best place in town for lunch exquisite high teas or brunches and all of your luxury catering both private and corporate

Kinkerstraat 228 Amsterdamwwwoperaprimanl

St Antoniebreestraat 142 Amsterdamwwwtisfrisnl

Postjesweg 1 1057 DT Amsterdamwwwedelamsterdamnl

Zoutsteeg 1 1012 LX Amsterdamwwwcafeoportonethome

Amstel 100 1017 AC Amsterdamwwwmulligansnl

2e Kostverlorenkade 70 Amsterdamwwwcafekostverlorennl

Jan Pieter Heijestraat 137 Amsterdamwwwwixcomvibes137vibes

Amstel 2 Amsterdamwwwrestaurant-incantonl

Nicolaas Beetsstraat 47 Amsterdamwwwplanetroseinfo

RECOMMENDED

56SPOTTeD

Answer to sentinelpostgmailcom

Where is this inAmsterdam

Room 2cfilm

Room 2cfilm

A corker of a movie that weaves together the lives of various individuals and brings them together in a maelstrom of forgiveness and frogs Tom Cruise is the stand-out act but he is so well supported by the entire ensemble that each perfor-mance could be considered the leading role The soundtrack and dialogue will remain with you for a long time as will the glow from being thoroughly treated to something special

In this the pick of the films based on the original Gene Rodenberry creation we find that Ricardo Montalban has abandoned his fantasy island and has instead been banished to a distant planet and left to wither What Captain Kirk and crew did not bank on however was that Uumlbermensch Khan and his clan would not only endure but would eventually come to threaten the starship Enterprisersquos very existence during a seminal portrayal of battleships in epic combat powered by dilithium crystals in space Ceti eel anyone

By David King

By dpmotions

Magnolia (1999)

Star Trek II The wrath of Khan (1982)

FIlM reVIew 57

TreNDS 58

lsquoThe concept is the same even if the Americans are slightly sleeker and more TV-friendlyrsquo

Natural (S)electionBy Dirkje Bakker-Pierre

59TreNDS

Itrsquos election time all over again Posters are being put up Flyers are being posted Empty promises hang in the warm summer air like soft white clouds side by side with snide remarks and evil gossip Not just here in the Netherlands but also in the country our more recent governments like to see as their spiritual leader and role model the United States of America (land of the free)

Now what do people wear when they want to be elected as leader of a country These people are mostly men so we are focusing on the style of male politicians

Number one an as-boring-as-possible dark-blue or dark-grey suit with a white shirt and a blue or red tie Sometimes if they go for a seriously stylish appearance the suit might be black It is practically the same here as it is in the US the only difference is that Dutch candidates tend to buy suits that donrsquot really fit properly But the concept is the same even if the Americans are slightly sleeker and more TV-friendly

The suit is for speeches debates and official appearances This is substituted for a polo shirt or open-necked shirt with blue jeans (not too dark not too light) combined with white sneakers or brown leather shoes when they want to look

casual and act as though they are just normal people like you and me

Actually the Dutch elections are probably the most unfash-ionable thing I could ever think of (and for that matter since Femke has gone also the most sexless thing on the planet) Harry Potter hairstyles bald patches poorly-fitting clothes old-fashioned ties frumpy dresses wire-framed glasseshellip I am sure there must be a shop somewhere where all Dutch politicians buy their clothes with special government discount (and a low-budget house photographer must take all their photos)

America has another problem Even if Obama wasnrsquot a huge success in office he tends to dress well His opponent is swimming in cash and can also afford to look like a successful person How is the American electorate going to choose between them You would hope that their respec-tive positions on things like guns gay marriage taxes abortion and religion would be the deciding factors But of course therersquos the small matter of the number of TV commercials they can afford too It will be a hard act to follow for our local contestants who lack the Americansrsquo budget charisma sense of style and apparently Photoshop Fortunately elections in the Netherlands are about more important things than fashionhellip Arenrsquot they

clASSIFIeDS 60

Room 2cfilm

Room 2cfilm

A corker of a movie that weaves together the lives of various individuals and brings them together in a maelstrom of forgiveness and frogs Tom Cruise is the stand-out act but he is so well supported by the entire ensemble that each perfor-mance could be considered the leading role The soundtrack and dialogue will remain with you for a long time as will the glow from being thoroughly treated to something special

In this the pick of the films based on the original Gene Rodenberry creation we find that Ricardo Montalban has abandoned his fantasy island and has instead been banished to a distant planet and left to wither What Captain Kirk and crew did not bank on however was that Uumlbermensch Khan and his clan would not only endure but would eventually come to threaten the starship Enterprisersquos very existence during a seminal portrayal of battleships in epic combat powered by dilithium crystals in space Ceti eel anyone

By David King

By dpmotions

Magnolia (1999)

Star Trek II The wrath of Khan (1982)

FIlM reVIew 57

TreNDS 58

lsquoThe concept is the same even if the Americans are slightly sleeker and more TV-friendlyrsquo

Natural (S)electionBy Dirkje Bakker-Pierre

59TreNDS

Itrsquos election time all over again Posters are being put up Flyers are being posted Empty promises hang in the warm summer air like soft white clouds side by side with snide remarks and evil gossip Not just here in the Netherlands but also in the country our more recent governments like to see as their spiritual leader and role model the United States of America (land of the free)

Now what do people wear when they want to be elected as leader of a country These people are mostly men so we are focusing on the style of male politicians

Number one an as-boring-as-possible dark-blue or dark-grey suit with a white shirt and a blue or red tie Sometimes if they go for a seriously stylish appearance the suit might be black It is practically the same here as it is in the US the only difference is that Dutch candidates tend to buy suits that donrsquot really fit properly But the concept is the same even if the Americans are slightly sleeker and more TV-friendly

The suit is for speeches debates and official appearances This is substituted for a polo shirt or open-necked shirt with blue jeans (not too dark not too light) combined with white sneakers or brown leather shoes when they want to look

casual and act as though they are just normal people like you and me

Actually the Dutch elections are probably the most unfash-ionable thing I could ever think of (and for that matter since Femke has gone also the most sexless thing on the planet) Harry Potter hairstyles bald patches poorly-fitting clothes old-fashioned ties frumpy dresses wire-framed glasseshellip I am sure there must be a shop somewhere where all Dutch politicians buy their clothes with special government discount (and a low-budget house photographer must take all their photos)

America has another problem Even if Obama wasnrsquot a huge success in office he tends to dress well His opponent is swimming in cash and can also afford to look like a successful person How is the American electorate going to choose between them You would hope that their respec-tive positions on things like guns gay marriage taxes abortion and religion would be the deciding factors But of course therersquos the small matter of the number of TV commercials they can afford too It will be a hard act to follow for our local contestants who lack the Americansrsquo budget charisma sense of style and apparently Photoshop Fortunately elections in the Netherlands are about more important things than fashionhellip Arenrsquot they

clASSIFIeDS 60

TreNDS 58

lsquoThe concept is the same even if the Americans are slightly sleeker and more TV-friendlyrsquo

Natural (S)electionBy Dirkje Bakker-Pierre

59TreNDS

Itrsquos election time all over again Posters are being put up Flyers are being posted Empty promises hang in the warm summer air like soft white clouds side by side with snide remarks and evil gossip Not just here in the Netherlands but also in the country our more recent governments like to see as their spiritual leader and role model the United States of America (land of the free)

Now what do people wear when they want to be elected as leader of a country These people are mostly men so we are focusing on the style of male politicians

Number one an as-boring-as-possible dark-blue or dark-grey suit with a white shirt and a blue or red tie Sometimes if they go for a seriously stylish appearance the suit might be black It is practically the same here as it is in the US the only difference is that Dutch candidates tend to buy suits that donrsquot really fit properly But the concept is the same even if the Americans are slightly sleeker and more TV-friendly

The suit is for speeches debates and official appearances This is substituted for a polo shirt or open-necked shirt with blue jeans (not too dark not too light) combined with white sneakers or brown leather shoes when they want to look

casual and act as though they are just normal people like you and me

Actually the Dutch elections are probably the most unfash-ionable thing I could ever think of (and for that matter since Femke has gone also the most sexless thing on the planet) Harry Potter hairstyles bald patches poorly-fitting clothes old-fashioned ties frumpy dresses wire-framed glasseshellip I am sure there must be a shop somewhere where all Dutch politicians buy their clothes with special government discount (and a low-budget house photographer must take all their photos)

America has another problem Even if Obama wasnrsquot a huge success in office he tends to dress well His opponent is swimming in cash and can also afford to look like a successful person How is the American electorate going to choose between them You would hope that their respec-tive positions on things like guns gay marriage taxes abortion and religion would be the deciding factors But of course therersquos the small matter of the number of TV commercials they can afford too It will be a hard act to follow for our local contestants who lack the Americansrsquo budget charisma sense of style and apparently Photoshop Fortunately elections in the Netherlands are about more important things than fashionhellip Arenrsquot they

clASSIFIeDS 60

Natural (S)electionBy Dirkje Bakker-Pierre

59TreNDS

Itrsquos election time all over again Posters are being put up Flyers are being posted Empty promises hang in the warm summer air like soft white clouds side by side with snide remarks and evil gossip Not just here in the Netherlands but also in the country our more recent governments like to see as their spiritual leader and role model the United States of America (land of the free)

Now what do people wear when they want to be elected as leader of a country These people are mostly men so we are focusing on the style of male politicians

Number one an as-boring-as-possible dark-blue or dark-grey suit with a white shirt and a blue or red tie Sometimes if they go for a seriously stylish appearance the suit might be black It is practically the same here as it is in the US the only difference is that Dutch candidates tend to buy suits that donrsquot really fit properly But the concept is the same even if the Americans are slightly sleeker and more TV-friendly

The suit is for speeches debates and official appearances This is substituted for a polo shirt or open-necked shirt with blue jeans (not too dark not too light) combined with white sneakers or brown leather shoes when they want to look

casual and act as though they are just normal people like you and me

Actually the Dutch elections are probably the most unfash-ionable thing I could ever think of (and for that matter since Femke has gone also the most sexless thing on the planet) Harry Potter hairstyles bald patches poorly-fitting clothes old-fashioned ties frumpy dresses wire-framed glasseshellip I am sure there must be a shop somewhere where all Dutch politicians buy their clothes with special government discount (and a low-budget house photographer must take all their photos)

America has another problem Even if Obama wasnrsquot a huge success in office he tends to dress well His opponent is swimming in cash and can also afford to look like a successful person How is the American electorate going to choose between them You would hope that their respec-tive positions on things like guns gay marriage taxes abortion and religion would be the deciding factors But of course therersquos the small matter of the number of TV commercials they can afford too It will be a hard act to follow for our local contestants who lack the Americansrsquo budget charisma sense of style and apparently Photoshop Fortunately elections in the Netherlands are about more important things than fashionhellip Arenrsquot they

clASSIFIeDS 60

clASSIFIeDS 60

clASSIFIeDS 61

TecHNOlOGY 62

TechBit Sio-Bytes

StrikingempirelsquoApple innovation patents and the industry as a whole is debatablersquo

By Simon Owusu

A long time ago in a galaxy far far away

It is a dark time for innovators Although the Samsung phones and tablets have been punished Samsung still pursues innovators from their hidden bases and copies them across the industry Evading the dreaded copyists a group of revolutionary innovators led by Jonathan Ive (Apple Senior Vice President Industrial Design) has established a new secret plan in the remote location of Cupertino The evil Samsung obsessed with copying the next big thing has dispatched thousands of remote probes into the far reaches of the industryhellip

Taking up where I left off in my previous article Apple had accused Samsungrsquos phones and tablets of being in likeness to Applersquos own crown jewels Fast forward to the present and the juryrsquos verdict is in Samsung has lost to the tune of US$ 1 billion (in a US court) so far in what is a huge blow to the company What this means for Samsung Apple innovation patents and the industry as a whole is debatable To under-stand the implications one has to understand the reasoning behind the verdict why Samsung lost and what comes next for both companies going forward

Subject to the judgersquos ruling in this case which is due on 20 September the jurorsrsquo verdict was that Samsung lsquowilfullyrsquo infringed Applersquos patents that Samsung went out of its way

to copy Apple knowing full well that Applersquos patents existed and that it was violating them The jurors wished to make it clear in their verdict that any company be it Apple Google Samsung or Microsoft could not just copy its competi-tors without repercussions The US$ 1 billion awarded in damages was excessively high in order to serve as a warning to companies to think twice before modelling their products on other companiesrsquo designs This message was addressed to the entire industry and not just Samsung

lsquoA warning to companies to think twice before modelling their products on other companiesrsquo designsrsquoSamsung lost because the evidence showed that it had really produced a Samsung lsquoiPhonersquo instead of a Samsung smart-phone A turning point in the court case concerned Google which supplies the Android operating system for Samsung devices Having remarked on the stark resemblance to Apple devices when Google first saw Samsungrsquos offering the company tried to dissuade Samsung from pursuing that course Samsungrsquos management disregarded this advice however and went ahead choosing not to disclose to their designers the warnings raised by Googlersquos senior staff which was in contrast to Samsungrsquos copyist strategy Ultimately trade dress came into play and swayed the final verdict in Applersquos favour Trade dress is a legal term that generally refers to (characteristics of) the visual appearance of a product or its packaging that signifies the source of the product to consumers Trade dress protection is intended

TecHNOlOGY 63

to protect consumers from packaging or product designs that imitate other products to avoid consumers buying one product in the belief that it is another In a survey commis-sioned by Samsung in Best Buy stores to determine why so many Samsung tablets were being returned one of the most common reasons cited was because consumers wanted an iPad and thought they were purchasing one when they bought the Samsung tablets

Many have argued that such a verdict is against innovation and the culprit is the US patent system pointing out that similar cases outside the United States have not been upheld in Applersquos favour However to quote Garret Murray ldquoIrsquom not a fan of software patents but I am a fan of ethical and respectful business practicerdquo Take away the flaws in the US patent system and ultimately what Samsung has done is not respectable business practice Being caught cold by the success of the iDevices Samsung had two paths they could have taken either shamefully copy or respectfully innovate

Palm Inc another smartphone manufacturer facing the same crisis (drastically becoming insignificant in Applersquos wake) decided to innovate and developed WebOS which powered its phones and the HP TouchPad tablets Sadly WebOS as innovative as it was failed commercially Nokia also tried to innovative with Windows Mobile 7 powering its phones and this has yet to take off Those that neither innovated nor copied were pushed further into obscurity (eg Motorola Sony Ericsson and RIM)

Some say that Samsung had no other choice but to copy Apple and innovate based on its winning formula However Samsung achieved a large and profitable market share by

essentially cloning the iPhone and iPad and the end result was that the majority of devices look like iDevices Samsung did not add anything to the mix so where was the innova-tion Inventions and innovations donrsquot always pay off and a failure to successfully innovate is not a reason to clone or copy Samsungrsquos weakness or fear of innovation has led to this point of blockage The upside of the verdict is that now Samsung will have to differentiate its offerings by law which should lead to more choice on the market and better product innovations

To those who say innovation has been hampered by this case I say this Apple reached its lofty position by innovating and not by copying what was successful at the time A lesson can be learnt from this The iPod iPhone and iPad were breakthrough devices born out of innovation and they differentiated themselves from everything else around Take heed Samsung go forth and innovate

What is next for Apple is the reason they brought this case to court in the first place Apple in all secrecy probably already has the next lsquoindustry changerrsquo in its hands and wants to make sure that when it does see the light of day its limelight is not stolen by copycat cloners Once again Apple is laying down dots that we will all connect later on

lsquoInventions and innovations donrsquot always pay off and a failure to successfully innovate is not a reason to clone or copyrsquo

SPOrT 64

On The VolleylsquoI found myself watching countless events covering nearly every sportrsquo

65SPOrT

After watching the heroics of the Olympic Games a return to the whingeing melodramatics of football and some of the worldrsquos highest paid entertainers would seem a little hollow Take Victoria Pendleton for example When she was unfairly disqualified in her first event we didnrsquot see her or her team waving their hands in the judgersquos face When nervous athletes started before the gun and were subse-quently shown a red card they didnrsquot look to the skies and ask themselves ldquowhy always merdquo they just walked away Obviously upset but with all their dignity as professionals intact

All in all the London Games were a great exhibition of enthusiasm emotion and the will to take part How sport should be played No arrogance time-wasting or cheating The only deviation from the otherwise impeccable sporting behaviour was Shin A-lam or the Incredible Sulk who carried out a 75 minute sit-down protest because she lost her fencing match But this came after arguably one of most controversial moments of the entire two weeks Eventually she was led away by officials in floods of tears only to return moments later to contest third place If London was the sporting lens through which the whole world was watching perhaps then even the English Premier League may have learnt something about dedication professionalism and fair play

Looking back on it all now was it just me or was everyone so enchanted by the stars of London 2012 Was it genuine interest in proper athletes pushing themselves to their limit or was it the suave seduction of televised sport Maybe it was all down to my craving for competition my longing to cheer on a team or even individuals and get those particular neurochemicals associated with sport in full flow Whichever it was Irsquom left with mixed feelings of admiration and emptiness

Perhaps itrsquos never going to be the perfect time to give up the old addiction and relish in the accomplishments of other sports and their competitors Irsquom not looking forward to the start of the weightlifting season or thinking about following water polo on a more permanent basis But for two weeks at least a life without football was a life worth living

The summer sunshine and a break from it all have lent a hand in taking my mind off the start of the football season and helped keep the lid tightly screwed on the anti-depressants Besides there were also the Olympic Games

When I decided to give up football for a year I didnrsquot intend this abstinence to extend to other sports although Irsquove never really been as fanatical about running or swimming as I was about footballhellip Until now When the Games come around I usually watch some athletics Nothing much just a bit of track and field Not this time I found myself watching countless events covering nearly every sport from Archery to Wrestling every day for all 16 days

Never before has indoor cycling been the source of so much intrigue and excitement never have I been so captivated by canoeing or touched by table tennis Never before had I managed to sit through even a few minutes of a swimming race let alone six consecutive nights of them Previously any form of rowing or sailing would make me turn the telly over badminton made me leave the room and anything vaguely equestrian made me feel physically sick Not anymore I even discovered that I could enjoy watching such so-called sports as diving and synchronised swimming ndash which appar-ently tests lung-busting endurance athleticism artistry and technical skill to the limit ndash and I watched them with intent gleaning facts and stats about teams and individuals notching up minutes and hours spent either glued to a screen or reading about them on the Internet

So when Team GB pipped the Netherlands to the post in the show-jumping one Monday afternoon I found myself jumping up and down on my sofa But then who could have failed to be charmed by the sporting excellence on display in London during those two magical weeks All those lsquogreat momentsrsquo to look back on such as Super Saturday when Team GB took six golds including three in 45 minutes What about Mo Farah taking the 5000m gold just a few days later or David Rudisha smashing the 800m world record And letrsquos not forget the Jamaican sprinters clean-sweep but also Nicola Adams the first woman in history to become an Olympic boxing champion and Oscar Pistorious aka the Blade Runner The only medals I consciously turned my back on were the footballing ones

By Simon Joseph

A Talking Point

lsquoAll in all the London Games were a great exhibition of enthusiasm emotion and the will to take partrsquo

clASSIFIeDS 66

Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam

wwwwswonennlenglish

wwwconsultancymarketmediacom

- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive

we are looking for

TecHNOlOGY 63

to protect consumers from packaging or product designs that imitate other products to avoid consumers buying one product in the belief that it is another In a survey commis-sioned by Samsung in Best Buy stores to determine why so many Samsung tablets were being returned one of the most common reasons cited was because consumers wanted an iPad and thought they were purchasing one when they bought the Samsung tablets

Many have argued that such a verdict is against innovation and the culprit is the US patent system pointing out that similar cases outside the United States have not been upheld in Applersquos favour However to quote Garret Murray ldquoIrsquom not a fan of software patents but I am a fan of ethical and respectful business practicerdquo Take away the flaws in the US patent system and ultimately what Samsung has done is not respectable business practice Being caught cold by the success of the iDevices Samsung had two paths they could have taken either shamefully copy or respectfully innovate

Palm Inc another smartphone manufacturer facing the same crisis (drastically becoming insignificant in Applersquos wake) decided to innovate and developed WebOS which powered its phones and the HP TouchPad tablets Sadly WebOS as innovative as it was failed commercially Nokia also tried to innovative with Windows Mobile 7 powering its phones and this has yet to take off Those that neither innovated nor copied were pushed further into obscurity (eg Motorola Sony Ericsson and RIM)

Some say that Samsung had no other choice but to copy Apple and innovate based on its winning formula However Samsung achieved a large and profitable market share by

essentially cloning the iPhone and iPad and the end result was that the majority of devices look like iDevices Samsung did not add anything to the mix so where was the innova-tion Inventions and innovations donrsquot always pay off and a failure to successfully innovate is not a reason to clone or copy Samsungrsquos weakness or fear of innovation has led to this point of blockage The upside of the verdict is that now Samsung will have to differentiate its offerings by law which should lead to more choice on the market and better product innovations

To those who say innovation has been hampered by this case I say this Apple reached its lofty position by innovating and not by copying what was successful at the time A lesson can be learnt from this The iPod iPhone and iPad were breakthrough devices born out of innovation and they differentiated themselves from everything else around Take heed Samsung go forth and innovate

What is next for Apple is the reason they brought this case to court in the first place Apple in all secrecy probably already has the next lsquoindustry changerrsquo in its hands and wants to make sure that when it does see the light of day its limelight is not stolen by copycat cloners Once again Apple is laying down dots that we will all connect later on

lsquoInventions and innovations donrsquot always pay off and a failure to successfully innovate is not a reason to clone or copyrsquo

SPOrT 64

On The VolleylsquoI found myself watching countless events covering nearly every sportrsquo

65SPOrT

After watching the heroics of the Olympic Games a return to the whingeing melodramatics of football and some of the worldrsquos highest paid entertainers would seem a little hollow Take Victoria Pendleton for example When she was unfairly disqualified in her first event we didnrsquot see her or her team waving their hands in the judgersquos face When nervous athletes started before the gun and were subse-quently shown a red card they didnrsquot look to the skies and ask themselves ldquowhy always merdquo they just walked away Obviously upset but with all their dignity as professionals intact

All in all the London Games were a great exhibition of enthusiasm emotion and the will to take part How sport should be played No arrogance time-wasting or cheating The only deviation from the otherwise impeccable sporting behaviour was Shin A-lam or the Incredible Sulk who carried out a 75 minute sit-down protest because she lost her fencing match But this came after arguably one of most controversial moments of the entire two weeks Eventually she was led away by officials in floods of tears only to return moments later to contest third place If London was the sporting lens through which the whole world was watching perhaps then even the English Premier League may have learnt something about dedication professionalism and fair play

Looking back on it all now was it just me or was everyone so enchanted by the stars of London 2012 Was it genuine interest in proper athletes pushing themselves to their limit or was it the suave seduction of televised sport Maybe it was all down to my craving for competition my longing to cheer on a team or even individuals and get those particular neurochemicals associated with sport in full flow Whichever it was Irsquom left with mixed feelings of admiration and emptiness

Perhaps itrsquos never going to be the perfect time to give up the old addiction and relish in the accomplishments of other sports and their competitors Irsquom not looking forward to the start of the weightlifting season or thinking about following water polo on a more permanent basis But for two weeks at least a life without football was a life worth living

The summer sunshine and a break from it all have lent a hand in taking my mind off the start of the football season and helped keep the lid tightly screwed on the anti-depressants Besides there were also the Olympic Games

When I decided to give up football for a year I didnrsquot intend this abstinence to extend to other sports although Irsquove never really been as fanatical about running or swimming as I was about footballhellip Until now When the Games come around I usually watch some athletics Nothing much just a bit of track and field Not this time I found myself watching countless events covering nearly every sport from Archery to Wrestling every day for all 16 days

Never before has indoor cycling been the source of so much intrigue and excitement never have I been so captivated by canoeing or touched by table tennis Never before had I managed to sit through even a few minutes of a swimming race let alone six consecutive nights of them Previously any form of rowing or sailing would make me turn the telly over badminton made me leave the room and anything vaguely equestrian made me feel physically sick Not anymore I even discovered that I could enjoy watching such so-called sports as diving and synchronised swimming ndash which appar-ently tests lung-busting endurance athleticism artistry and technical skill to the limit ndash and I watched them with intent gleaning facts and stats about teams and individuals notching up minutes and hours spent either glued to a screen or reading about them on the Internet

So when Team GB pipped the Netherlands to the post in the show-jumping one Monday afternoon I found myself jumping up and down on my sofa But then who could have failed to be charmed by the sporting excellence on display in London during those two magical weeks All those lsquogreat momentsrsquo to look back on such as Super Saturday when Team GB took six golds including three in 45 minutes What about Mo Farah taking the 5000m gold just a few days later or David Rudisha smashing the 800m world record And letrsquos not forget the Jamaican sprinters clean-sweep but also Nicola Adams the first woman in history to become an Olympic boxing champion and Oscar Pistorious aka the Blade Runner The only medals I consciously turned my back on were the footballing ones

By Simon Joseph

A Talking Point

lsquoAll in all the London Games were a great exhibition of enthusiasm emotion and the will to take partrsquo

clASSIFIeDS 66

Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam

wwwwswonennlenglish

wwwconsultancymarketmediacom

- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive

we are looking for

SPOrT 64

On The VolleylsquoI found myself watching countless events covering nearly every sportrsquo

65SPOrT

After watching the heroics of the Olympic Games a return to the whingeing melodramatics of football and some of the worldrsquos highest paid entertainers would seem a little hollow Take Victoria Pendleton for example When she was unfairly disqualified in her first event we didnrsquot see her or her team waving their hands in the judgersquos face When nervous athletes started before the gun and were subse-quently shown a red card they didnrsquot look to the skies and ask themselves ldquowhy always merdquo they just walked away Obviously upset but with all their dignity as professionals intact

All in all the London Games were a great exhibition of enthusiasm emotion and the will to take part How sport should be played No arrogance time-wasting or cheating The only deviation from the otherwise impeccable sporting behaviour was Shin A-lam or the Incredible Sulk who carried out a 75 minute sit-down protest because she lost her fencing match But this came after arguably one of most controversial moments of the entire two weeks Eventually she was led away by officials in floods of tears only to return moments later to contest third place If London was the sporting lens through which the whole world was watching perhaps then even the English Premier League may have learnt something about dedication professionalism and fair play

Looking back on it all now was it just me or was everyone so enchanted by the stars of London 2012 Was it genuine interest in proper athletes pushing themselves to their limit or was it the suave seduction of televised sport Maybe it was all down to my craving for competition my longing to cheer on a team or even individuals and get those particular neurochemicals associated with sport in full flow Whichever it was Irsquom left with mixed feelings of admiration and emptiness

Perhaps itrsquos never going to be the perfect time to give up the old addiction and relish in the accomplishments of other sports and their competitors Irsquom not looking forward to the start of the weightlifting season or thinking about following water polo on a more permanent basis But for two weeks at least a life without football was a life worth living

The summer sunshine and a break from it all have lent a hand in taking my mind off the start of the football season and helped keep the lid tightly screwed on the anti-depressants Besides there were also the Olympic Games

When I decided to give up football for a year I didnrsquot intend this abstinence to extend to other sports although Irsquove never really been as fanatical about running or swimming as I was about footballhellip Until now When the Games come around I usually watch some athletics Nothing much just a bit of track and field Not this time I found myself watching countless events covering nearly every sport from Archery to Wrestling every day for all 16 days

Never before has indoor cycling been the source of so much intrigue and excitement never have I been so captivated by canoeing or touched by table tennis Never before had I managed to sit through even a few minutes of a swimming race let alone six consecutive nights of them Previously any form of rowing or sailing would make me turn the telly over badminton made me leave the room and anything vaguely equestrian made me feel physically sick Not anymore I even discovered that I could enjoy watching such so-called sports as diving and synchronised swimming ndash which appar-ently tests lung-busting endurance athleticism artistry and technical skill to the limit ndash and I watched them with intent gleaning facts and stats about teams and individuals notching up minutes and hours spent either glued to a screen or reading about them on the Internet

So when Team GB pipped the Netherlands to the post in the show-jumping one Monday afternoon I found myself jumping up and down on my sofa But then who could have failed to be charmed by the sporting excellence on display in London during those two magical weeks All those lsquogreat momentsrsquo to look back on such as Super Saturday when Team GB took six golds including three in 45 minutes What about Mo Farah taking the 5000m gold just a few days later or David Rudisha smashing the 800m world record And letrsquos not forget the Jamaican sprinters clean-sweep but also Nicola Adams the first woman in history to become an Olympic boxing champion and Oscar Pistorious aka the Blade Runner The only medals I consciously turned my back on were the footballing ones

By Simon Joseph

A Talking Point

lsquoAll in all the London Games were a great exhibition of enthusiasm emotion and the will to take partrsquo

clASSIFIeDS 66

Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam

wwwwswonennlenglish

wwwconsultancymarketmediacom

- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive

we are looking for

65SPOrT

After watching the heroics of the Olympic Games a return to the whingeing melodramatics of football and some of the worldrsquos highest paid entertainers would seem a little hollow Take Victoria Pendleton for example When she was unfairly disqualified in her first event we didnrsquot see her or her team waving their hands in the judgersquos face When nervous athletes started before the gun and were subse-quently shown a red card they didnrsquot look to the skies and ask themselves ldquowhy always merdquo they just walked away Obviously upset but with all their dignity as professionals intact

All in all the London Games were a great exhibition of enthusiasm emotion and the will to take part How sport should be played No arrogance time-wasting or cheating The only deviation from the otherwise impeccable sporting behaviour was Shin A-lam or the Incredible Sulk who carried out a 75 minute sit-down protest because she lost her fencing match But this came after arguably one of most controversial moments of the entire two weeks Eventually she was led away by officials in floods of tears only to return moments later to contest third place If London was the sporting lens through which the whole world was watching perhaps then even the English Premier League may have learnt something about dedication professionalism and fair play

Looking back on it all now was it just me or was everyone so enchanted by the stars of London 2012 Was it genuine interest in proper athletes pushing themselves to their limit or was it the suave seduction of televised sport Maybe it was all down to my craving for competition my longing to cheer on a team or even individuals and get those particular neurochemicals associated with sport in full flow Whichever it was Irsquom left with mixed feelings of admiration and emptiness

Perhaps itrsquos never going to be the perfect time to give up the old addiction and relish in the accomplishments of other sports and their competitors Irsquom not looking forward to the start of the weightlifting season or thinking about following water polo on a more permanent basis But for two weeks at least a life without football was a life worth living

The summer sunshine and a break from it all have lent a hand in taking my mind off the start of the football season and helped keep the lid tightly screwed on the anti-depressants Besides there were also the Olympic Games

When I decided to give up football for a year I didnrsquot intend this abstinence to extend to other sports although Irsquove never really been as fanatical about running or swimming as I was about footballhellip Until now When the Games come around I usually watch some athletics Nothing much just a bit of track and field Not this time I found myself watching countless events covering nearly every sport from Archery to Wrestling every day for all 16 days

Never before has indoor cycling been the source of so much intrigue and excitement never have I been so captivated by canoeing or touched by table tennis Never before had I managed to sit through even a few minutes of a swimming race let alone six consecutive nights of them Previously any form of rowing or sailing would make me turn the telly over badminton made me leave the room and anything vaguely equestrian made me feel physically sick Not anymore I even discovered that I could enjoy watching such so-called sports as diving and synchronised swimming ndash which appar-ently tests lung-busting endurance athleticism artistry and technical skill to the limit ndash and I watched them with intent gleaning facts and stats about teams and individuals notching up minutes and hours spent either glued to a screen or reading about them on the Internet

So when Team GB pipped the Netherlands to the post in the show-jumping one Monday afternoon I found myself jumping up and down on my sofa But then who could have failed to be charmed by the sporting excellence on display in London during those two magical weeks All those lsquogreat momentsrsquo to look back on such as Super Saturday when Team GB took six golds including three in 45 minutes What about Mo Farah taking the 5000m gold just a few days later or David Rudisha smashing the 800m world record And letrsquos not forget the Jamaican sprinters clean-sweep but also Nicola Adams the first woman in history to become an Olympic boxing champion and Oscar Pistorious aka the Blade Runner The only medals I consciously turned my back on were the footballing ones

By Simon Joseph

A Talking Point

lsquoAll in all the London Games were a great exhibition of enthusiasm emotion and the will to take partrsquo

clASSIFIeDS 66

Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam

wwwwswonennlenglish

wwwconsultancymarketmediacom

- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive

we are looking for

clASSIFIeDS 66

Get advice on housing rental contracts and apartments in Amsterdam

wwwwswonennlenglish

wwwconsultancymarketmediacom

- Account Manager Market Media- (Internship) International Marketing Executive

we are looking for

clASSIFIeDSclASSIFIeDS 67

SPOrT 68SPOrT

Something is brewing in West London and a couple of FFG-CL managers are on to it forcing the rest into some very early season rethinking Chelsea look absolutely awesome as an attacking force and now they have seemingly settled on their defensive configuration could be the team to beat this season With the other five or so potential pacesetters fluffing their lines somewhat the ideal circumstances may exist for ironically the luckiest footballer in history to flourish

Three seasons ago I gave up on Fernando Torres as his profli-gacy had become intolerable to me Torres is a very good goal scorer but he has always needed a high number of chances served up to him in order to convert them He is of course remarkably talented and technically pretty excellent when in form Form though has been his Achilles heel since he left Atletico Madrid This may sound odd given that he did have one outstanding season (2007-2008) at Liverpool in terms of goals scored (24) but that Liverpool team included two of the best opportunity providers of the time (Xabi Alonso and Steven Gerrard) I have always wondered how many goals a clinically consistent striker would have tallied with the same level of service

From 2008 onwards Torres managed to remain in Liverpoolrsquos

first team following which for some unknown reason (given his lack of form and injuries over the intervening three-year period) Chelsea made him their lead striker purchase at a cost of some euro60 million During the same period incidentally he was instrumental in Spain winning Euro 2008 the 2010 World Cup and later Euro 2012 even collecting the Golden Boot for his three goals Torresrsquo chapter in history has been written and later generations will not recall that none of his Euro 2012 goals were key in any way and that the Spanish team was so overwhelmingly full of opportunity creators that a fit David Villa might have scored 10 goals in the same tournament Spain without Villa played a no-striker system and Torres only made his way into games to score lsquoeasyrsquo goals late on against shattered and demoralised defenders

Chelsea are recreating some kind of West London Globetrotters of Premier League football with an attacking midfield overload of tremendous individual and collective flair and effectiveness If only because there will be a very high number of chances created by the ball bringers this year between them and Fernando Torres who is in the fortunate position of being Chelsearsquos only real option as centre forward it can only mean loads of goals Even if Fernando manages once again to be the bungling-then-beautiful striker of the past few seasons I fear FFG-CL managers may be forced to buy him to cover the many goals and points he will inevitably score if only by virtue of being fit enough to play

By Denson Pierre

The Gold Room

SPOrTSPOrT 69

clASSIFIeDS

wwwczechtourismcom

70

CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT

SPOrTSPOrT 69

clASSIFIeDS

wwwczechtourismcom

70

CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT

clASSIFIeDS

wwwczechtourismcom

70

CZECH REPUBLIC - STUNNINGLY DIFFERENT