By Bonnie Klap, Editor in Chief.
Make no mistake about it! The Netherlands may be a relatively small country, but there is an impressive array of possibilities to explore it. Now may be the perfect time as the cold temperatures have finally made way for lovely spring weather, with trees and flowers in full bloom. “Carpe Diem,’ as the Latin saying goes, which means ‘seize the day,’ so allow me to suggest two entirely different ideas for the many Diplomats and their families to explore during this beautiful Spring season. First a ‘must-do’ is of course a visit to the famous “Keukenhof,”which incidentally celebrated its 65th birthday last March! Situated on 15th-century hunting grounds, the Keukenhof is a world famous international flower exhibition, which attracts 800,000 visitors annually. Queen Juliana and her daughters – then Princess Beatrix and her sisters Princess Margriet and Princess Irene -, were among the first visitors in 1950. Other dignitaries to visit the Keukenhof include US- Presidents Eisenhower and Carter and Hillary Clinton, when she was First Lady. In addition to the overwhelming amount of flowers, the Keukenhof also boasts a sculpture garden, Europe’s most beautiful orchid show and, this year’s highlight: a flower bulb mosaic depicting an Amsterdam canal scene with a tulip the size of a canal house
My second and entirely different idea for the Spring is to pay a visit to ‘SLIGRO’ at Forepark. The Sligro, well known to most international Diplomats, celebrates Spring by inviting the international community to their ‘Culinary Inspiration Day,’ during which the patrons of a number of top-restaurants will give cooking demonstrations and workshops, in order to inspire the guests to embark on an exciting culinary adventure, using a wide variety of fresh and organic products. Naturally a vast array of delicious wines can be tasted to complement the dishes prepared by these excellent chefs. With hopefully some gorgeous Spring weather in mind, Sligro also offers a large selection of top-quality meats and barbecue-supplies. You are all welcome to experience this Culinary Adventure at Sligro Forepark, Linge 2, The Hague, on May 15th from 14.00 – 21.00 hrs. Don’t miss it!
