US Soldiers honor WWII tradition with Christmas Eve in the caves of MaastrichtSoldiers from the U.S. Army participated in the annual mass honoring the Christmas Eve Mass celebrated by American soldiers in 1944. For the second year, USA Charge d’affaires Mr Shawn Crowley and his wife Sabine represented the United States Mission.December 24th, 1944, the Dutch Brothers of the Immaculate Conception organized a Christmas Eve Mass in the Schark Cave, close to the St. Pieter’s Mountain in Maastricht.Between 250 and 280 mostly young American soldiers, who were based in Maastricht and surrounding areas, attended this special Christmas celebration in the small cave.WWII soldiers signing their names in charcoal on the cave wall of ‘De Schark’ at the 1944 Christmas eve mass in Maastricht, Netherlands. Photo: The foundation of the Commemoration of the American Celebration 1944 (S.H.A.K. 1944)This was an emotional Christmas celebration for many young men who knew they were headed to the Battle of the Bulge in the near future. The Schark Cave was a place of brief refuge in wartime as Brothers and civilians came together in solidarity.After the Mass these young soldiers signed their signatures in charcoal on the cave wall (see photo). The Dutch foundation “Commemoration of the American Christmas Celebration 1944” (SHAK 1944) organizes this annual commemoration each Christmas Eve to honor the event.
Venetian carnival with Ciconia Consort and Rick Stotijn
From January 18 as Ciconia Consort will present the concert program Venetian Carnival with bassist Rick Stotijn. The string orchestra conducted by Dick Gasteren brings works by Rota, Bottesini, Stravinsky and the Dutch premiere of Pantalon und Columbine after W. A. Mozart.
Venetian Carnival starts on Thursday, January 18 at Parkstad Limburg Theaters Heerlen, further seen in the Nieuwe Kerk in The Hague, the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Tivoli / Vredenburg Utrecht Oude Blasius Church in Delden.
The finest musical imagination of the Venetian Carnival is perhaps composed by Giovanni Bottesini (1821-1889). He wrote the spectacular Gran Duo Concertante for violin and double bass. Guest Player and bassist Rick Stotijn has the opportunity to plunge into the Italian lyrical, musical acrobatics that characterizes this work.
Bassist Rick Stotijn
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was in 1771 with the decadent and extravagant Venetian carnival. He visited the Commedia dell’Arte closely linked to the Italian carnival. The visit to Venice inspired him to Pantalon und Columbine composition he wrote 12 years later for the pantomime theatre.
Ciconia Consort brings 235 years later, the Dutch premiere of this work in the original strings version reconstructed by John Holik. Pantomime player Kevin Gorcszynski brings some famous commedia dell’arte characters to life.
In addition to Mozart and Bottesini, Ciconia Consort brings during the Venetian Carnival works by Rota and Stravinsky (Appolon musagete).
Rick Stotijn (1983) is one of the leading bass players in the world. In 2013 he received the Dutch Music Prize, the highest recognition for Dutch musicians. Stotijn’s captain bass is a fellow at the Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra, but interpreting this role regularly with the London Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra. His first CD in 2012 of works by Bottensini received enthusiastic reviews.
Ciconia Consort was founded in 2012 and is led by Dick Gasteren. The orchestra consists of musicians with an average age of 25 years. Ciconia Consort has made over the past five years name with high-profile concerts. The orchestra regularly delves into unknown masterpieces and brings these often premieres on the Dutch concert venues. Artists and trendsetters from other disciplines are often guests of the orchestra like; Maarten van Rossem and Willem Ottespeer and musicians like Lavinia Meijer and Peter Gijsbertsen. Ciconia Consort is based in The Hague.
International Public Diplomacy Council (IPDC), a Diplomat Magazine’s partner in promoting Public Diplomacy in the Netherlands and abroad, is reaching the USA, Canada and South America in 2018.
IPDCThe IPDC is headquartered in The Hague. A new cluster has been recently launched in Ottawa, Canada. The IPDC was engineered in 2013 by four Heads of Diplomatic Missions accredited to the Kingdom of the Netherlands and diplomats. Its main mission is to enhance Public Diplomacy practice in the European Union and overseas. We are a not-for-profit cluster of dedicated Public Diplomacy practitioners, including current and former ambassadors and diplomats worldwide. Our policy helps local, regional and foreign governments in excelling on Public Diplomacy. More recently, in 2017, the IPDC has joined the Faculty of Law of the University of Ottawa to organize the 1st Canada’s Public Diplomacy & Ambassador of the Year Awards 2018, taking place on January 24th at the Faculty of Law. Awards has received the full support of the Deanship of the Diplomatic Corps in Canada, H.E. Ambassador Florence Chideya, as well as from nine regional (Group) of diplomatic deans in Ottawa. Organizers are honored to have Tony Graham Lexus in Ottawa as the main sponsor of the event. The 2018 Awards in the Hague and the 2019 Awards in Ottawa is already in agenda. The organization of diplomatic awards (including its related Online polls), is one of the IPDC main savoir-faire. Awards Organized by the IPDC / National or International Online diplomatic polls for Public Diplomacy & Ambassadors of the Year Awards. Albeit it might change from country to country, voters choose their favorite embassies by geographical region from an Online platform. Votes count for both diplomatic awards; Public Diplomacy & Ambassadors of the Year Awards. Voters make their choices based on any of the following assets from an embassy & ambassador: The cultural achievement, country image/branding innovation, special events and promotions, Web site or social media outreach, publications, relationship with their own expats, and the embassy interaction with the local civil society.The IPDC encourages people to vote for their own embassy but to also to do so for other regional diplomatic missions. Normally, seven winner ambassadors -divided by geographical regions- receive their awards during a diplomatic ceremony organized by the IPDC in association with a distinguished academic institution. Embassies can run their own campaign promotion by inviting any person, accredited diplomats or not, to vote Online. Exceptionally, selected individuals non members of the diplomatic corps may receive a public recognition for their extraordinary support to public diplomacy or the diplomatic corps. Online Polls for Canada’s awards 2018 remains open until January 14th, 2018 on this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/K6C8D82As usual, diplomats accredited to the Netherlands, in the European Union and overseas, can send their CVs to the IPDC to join as volunteer contributors. Special requests or additional information can be sent to the IPDC at:publicdiplomat@gmail.com
On 7 November, 2017 the Embassy of Hungary in the Netherlands organized a panel discussion entitled “International Law from a Visegrád Perspective” at The Hague Institute for Global Justice. The event was organized in the framework of the Hungarian presidency of the Visegrád Group with more than 130 participants attending from diplomatic missions, international courts and think tanks in The Hague.
At this panel discussion, a distinguished panel of judges from all the Visegrád countries discussed the legal traditions in Visegrád countries and their current influence on international law, as well as how the national experience of judges influences the international courts and tribunals in The Hague.
Ms. Réka Varga, Head of the International Law Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, moderated the event.
The first panellist, the Polish judge of the International Criminal Court, Piotr Hofmański gave an introductory speech on the influence of Central European judges and experts on the development of the international criminal justice. The Hungarian judge of the International Criminal Court, Péter Kovács shared his thoughts on the development of international law in former Soviet-influenced countries. In his statement, he gave a fine overview on how the attitude of the Visegrád countries changed towards the international law in the past decades.
Ivana Hrdličková, the Czech President of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon spoke about the current challenges facing international courts. She identified the political and financial credibility as the biggest challenge. To manage this challenge transparency, efficiency and accountability are the best remedies.
From the Slovak Republic, Judge Peter Tomka working at the International Court of Justice enumerated the most influential jurists of the Visegrád countries who shaped the world of international law. He highlighted that Poland was the most active country at the Permanent Court of International Justice, the predecessor of the International Court of Justice. He emphasized that the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) was established in December 1966 upon Hungarian initiative.
The Ambassador of Hungary to the Netherlands His Excellency Mr. András Kocsis concluded the event by thanking the panellists and participants for their insightful comments and remarks.
Diplomat Magazine is looking forward to another year with passion to progress, wishing to our readers and followers a successful New Year 2018. May the New Year brings the changes that you wish to see at your workplace and family; may it brings you the strength to take innovative initiatives.
Another year with a whole new challenges and new opportunities to work hard, keep perseverance and transcend.
Hope you unfold new horizons to make your word a better place, fulfill new personal wishes, reach new goals and rediscover the strength within you to bring in genuine changes.
2017 was the best year for Diplomat Magazine up to date, 2018 looks even better.
This very first diplomatic magazine in the Netherlands’ history, Diplomat Magazine, founded by and for diplomats, has increased by 300% the quantity of diplomatic events, hence, the most active diplomatic magazine in Europe. Not to say, we went up 27% of visitors to our Online platform and 33% in our printed edition.
Happy New Year and thank you for your support!
Diplomat Magazine’s team.
Bamako- The Malian Government presented last 7-8 December the ‘Invest in Mali’ Forum site, showcasing opportunities in the field of international trade and strategic plans for the reconstruction of the economy.
Ms. Marina Diboma (middle) with His Excellency Mr. Jolke Oppewal, Dutch Ambassador, on her left. They are together with other shows participants.
The Netherlands is an strategic long-term partner of Mali. A delegation of eight Dutch companies participated in panel discussions and a Holland Pavilion.
Few days earlier, during the EU-AU summit in Ivory Coast, Prime Minister Mark Rutte paid a visit to Malian President Ibrahim Boubacar Keïta, participating alos at the “Invest in Mali”. Mali is a strategic country in deterring migration flows to Europe. Since 2014, the Netherlands makes an important contribution to MINUSMA, the UN mission to restore peace and stability in the north of the country.
Besides development and the UN operation, the Netherlands is supporting the private sector in Mali. Besides trade missions, Dutch support is present through business financing, technology transfer and knowledge transfer.
Photography by Annie Spratt.
In 2013 the Netherlands-African Business Council (NABC) organized on behalf of the Dutch Embassy in Bamako, the first official trade mission to Mali after the crisis period.
Since then seven trade missions took place, from and to Mali. In October 2017, a delegation of 60 Malian entrepreneurs came to the Netherlands. Marina Diboma, Deputy Managing Director of NABC declared: “Despite the negative news about Mali, the Dutch private sector remains interested in the country. Mali is still full of untapped business opportunities in agriculture, energy and infrastructure sectors. ”
This mission was organized by the Netherlands-African Business Council, commissioned by the Dutch Embassy in Bamako, within the framework of a multiannual program aimed at strengthening economic relations between the Netherlands and Mali. Local actors such as the Investment Promotion Agency and the Chamber of Commerce of Mali are important partners as well.
On the picture H.E Mr. András Kocsis, Ambassador of Hungary.
Tokaj, the one and only – Master class on the world renowned wine region of Hungary
By Michael Bonté.
Once again the Embassy of Hungary, Diplomatic Card, Diplomat Magazine and the Carlton Ambassador Hotel presented a wine extravaganza on 23 November 2017 with a whopping selection of eleven different wines.
All from the most famous Hungarian wine region Tokaj, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which has an unique terroir and grape varieties only found in Hungary. The guests were in for a treat.
For additional Kim Vermaat’s pictures, please open the link below: https://www.flickr.com/photos/121611753@N07/albums/72157691613898525
The venue was the cosy bar area of the hotel. The attendees were a mix of Dutch wine experts and importers, gastronomic journalists and representatives of the catering industry (Horeca in Dutch) among them was Mr Merlijn Keijzer, Manager of VIP Lounge Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, Ms Helma de Veer from a company called De Freule’, which specializes in (wine) gifts to business acquaintances.
The owner of Hungarian Corner restaurant in The Hague Mr Marco van den Boomgaard said: “We only recently also created a winebar so that our guests can try all kinds of Magyar wines.”
H.E Mr. András Kocsis, Ambassador of Hungary, opened the session saying: “By targeting all Dutch companies which sell wine we hope to gain more recognition of Hungarian wines in order to generate more sales in The Netherlands. We have undertaken a very exiting task with my colleagues this evening, because contrary to the previous practice when we introduced selections from different wines regions, we have now focused on one particular wine region Tokaj.”
He then introduced our host of the night, Mr Kristian Kielmayer, DipWSET wine expert at the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture. He had compiled a list of eleven fine white wines offered by ten Hungarian wineries for the enjoyment of the guests. Meanwhile Mr Kielmayer accompanied the wines with more information and tasting notes on them.
“What does it have to offer, why is it special. For centuries, kings, queens and nobles have liked, adored these wines; it has its myth, its history. The Tokaij Aszú, is one of the world’s most fantastic, maybe the best sweet wine and this evening our guests had the chance to experience why this wine region is special, why the wine, the people, the history and the soil are special. It is due to the conditions, the nature, and of course, what lies in the future.”Mr. Kristian Kielmayer, DipWSET wine expert at the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture.
The invitees certainly had a long list of white wines to taste. It kicked off with a Brut Sparkling wine from Patricius Winery. Followed by Furmint Bio 2016 from Tokaj Hétszolo Winery, No 8 Cuvée Hárslevelu Kassai Vineyard 2015 from Grand Tokaji Winery, Tokajhárslevelu Kassai 2015 from Kikelet Winery, Chateau Dereszla Tokaj Dry 2015 from Dereszla Winery, Öreg Király Dulo Furmint 2015 from Barta Winery.
Then the sweeter whites were introduced starting with: Late Harvest 2013 from Tokaj Oremus, Szamorodni 6 Puttonyas 2014 from Degenfeld Winery, Puttonyos 5 aszú 2013 from Royal Tokaj Winery, Puttonyos 6 Aszú 2013 from Grand Tokaj Winery and last but not least a magnificient Puttonyos 6 Aszú 2009 from Árvay Pincészet. The last wine was provided by Mr Gert de Kruijf from De Kruijf Fine Food Services as he was the only one who still had this particular beautiful vintage in his cellar.
The wines certainly displayed the finesse and complexity of the Tokaj region deserving a wider public.
Hungarian food by chef Mr János Klimay.
After all that imbibing the guests needed a snack and they were treated to a small buffet of, prepared by the Chef de Cuisine of the Hungarian Embassy Mr János Klimay, a hearty richly filled Palóc style lamb soup and a Vargabéles a filopastry pie filled with slightly sweet cottage cheese served with apricot jam.
Many guests remarked this had been an excellent edition of the Hungarian Embassy wine presentation and hoped that they would be treated again next year to this event. As Ambassador Kocis said “According to the feedback received from the public, I think that Tokaj was a hit.”
Learn to Cycle in Amsterdam by Xing Chen Learn to Cycle in Amsterdam has been written for reasonably experienced cyclists who probably learnt to ride a bicycle during their childhood years, in a relatively safe environment. They feel comfortable when cycling in quiet, pedestrian- and bicycle-friendly areas with low car densities, but have yet to learn to navigate through busy, built-up areas with high levels of traffic, such as seen in the centre of Amsterdam. Cycling confidently through crowded streets requires additional skills and detailed knowledge about traffic rules and road user behaviour. In Learn to Cycle in Amsterdam, author Xing Chen focuses on the acquisition and development of these skills and knowledge, preparing readers for the multitude of unexpected traffic and personal situations that they might encounter as they place their foot on the pedal and swing their way onto the Amsterdam asphalt.
Learn to Cycle in Amsterdam is accompanied by dynamic, entertaining and illustrative photographs by Kevin McPeake and Shirley Agudo.
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About the author:Xing Chen (1985) is a neuroscientist who has lived in the US, the UK, and Singapore. In 2014, she moved to the Netherlands to work on the development of brain implants for sight restoration. On the very first day of her arrival in Amsterdam, she bought a secondhand bicycle, and gradually mastered the art of cycling through the crowded city streets. Xing now covers a distance of over 20 km per day, by bike.
By Roy Lie A Tjam.
The Indonesian Marching Band Gita Bahana Nusantara Jakarta on a tour in Europe paid a courtesy visit to the Embassy of Indonesia in The Hague. Before coming to the Netherlands the band performed in Italy.
In fact, the band was in the Netherlands to participate in a World Brass Band Competition, WMC Kerkrade-Limburg 2017.
The band ended on the third place and won three Bronze medals, not bad for a novice. A presentation was organized at the Nusantara auditorium of the Indonesian Embassy during the summer. The youngsters put on a dazzling spectacle. H. E. Ambassador I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja, thanked the band for their excellent contribution in promoting Indonesia via music.
Also at the Nusantara Auditorium of the Indonesian Embassy, in July, Staff members of the Embassy of Indonesia bid farewell to three of their colleagues who have come to the end of their stint in The Hague.
Ambassador I Gusti Agung Wesaka Puja attended the function and presented the departing colleagues with a token of appreciation for the service they rendered to the Indonesian Mission in The Hague.
The departing colleagues are Mr. Erwyn Franz Ramis Wantania, Immigration Attache Mr. Aditya Timoranto, First Secretary and Ms. Dr. I Pradjarahardja, Huisarts. The same event served as a welcome party to the newly arrived colleagues.
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Photography by the Embassy of Indonesia in The Hague. Dok. KBRI Den Haag
On Saturday 9th December in the middle of the busy city of The Hague, the Hof is a haven of peace, a mere 5 minute walk from the Bijenkorf! The 17th century courtyard and garden lovely at any time, is particularly special when beautifully lit and decorated for the Christmas season.
Dressed in Dickens style choirs sang carols. Hot chocolate, mulled wine, home-made soup and other goodies were available.
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For information: www.hofvanwouw.
IPDC
The IPDC is headquartered in The Hague. A new cluster has been recently launched in Ottawa, Canada. The IPDC was engineered in 2013 by four Heads of Diplomatic Missions accredited to the Kingdom of the Netherlands and diplomats. Its main mission is to enhance Public Diplomacy practice in the European Union and overseas. We are a not-for-profit cluster of dedicated Public Diplomacy practitioners, including current and former ambassadors and diplomats worldwide. Our policy helps local, regional and foreign governments in excelling on Public Diplomacy.
More recently, in 2017, the IPDC has joined the Faculty of Law of the University of Ottawa to organize the 1st Canada’s Public Diplomacy & Ambassador of the Year Awards 2018, taking place on January 24th at the Faculty of Law. Awards has received the full support of the Deanship of the Diplomatic Corps in Canada, H.E. Ambassador Florence Chideya, as well as from nine regional (Group) of diplomatic deans in Ottawa. Organizers are honored to have Tony Graham Lexus in Ottawa as the main sponsor of the event. The 2018 Awards in the Hague and the 2019 Awards in Ottawa is already in agenda.
The organization of diplomatic awards (including its related Online polls), is one of the IPDC main savoir-faire.
Awards Organized by the IPDC / National or International Online diplomatic polls for Public Diplomacy & Ambassadors of the Year Awards.
Albeit it might change from country to country, voters choose their favorite embassies by geographical region from an Online platform. Votes count for both diplomatic awards; Public Diplomacy & Ambassadors of the Year Awards. Voters make their choices based on any of the following assets from an embassy & ambassador: The cultural achievement, country image/branding innovation, special events and promotions, Web site or social media outreach, publications, relationship with their own expats, and the embassy interaction with the local civil society.
The IPDC encourages people to vote for their own embassy but to also to do so for other regional diplomatic missions. Normally, seven winner ambassadors -divided by geographical regions- receive their awards during a diplomatic ceremony organized by the IPDC in association with a distinguished academic institution. Embassies can run their own campaign promotion by inviting any person, accredited diplomats or not, to vote Online.
Exceptionally, selected individuals non members of the diplomatic corps may receive a public recognition for their extraordinary support to public diplomacy or the diplomatic corps.
Online Polls for Canada’s awards 2018 remains open until January 14th, 2018 on this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/K6C8D82
As usual, diplomats accredited to the Netherlands, in the European Union and overseas, can send their CVs to the IPDC to join as volunteer contributors.
Special requests or additional information can be sent to the IPDC at:
publicdiplomat@gmail.com
Ms. Réka Varga, Head of the International Law Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, moderated the event.
The first panellist, the Polish judge of the International Criminal Court, Piotr Hofmański gave an introductory speech on the influence of Central European judges and experts on the development of the international criminal justice. The Hungarian judge of the International Criminal Court, Péter Kovács shared his thoughts on the development of international law in former Soviet-influenced countries. In his statement, he gave a fine overview on how the attitude of the Visegrád countries changed towards the international law in the past decades.
Ivana Hrdličková, the Czech President of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon spoke about the current challenges facing international courts. She identified the political and financial credibility as the biggest challenge. To manage this challenge transparency, efficiency and accountability are the best remedies.
From the Slovak Republic, Judge Peter Tomka working at the International Court of Justice enumerated the most influential jurists of the Visegrád countries who shaped the world of international law. He highlighted that Poland was the most active country at the Permanent Court of International Justice, the predecessor of the International Court of Justice. He emphasized that the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) was established in December 1966 upon Hungarian initiative.
The Ambassador of Hungary to the Netherlands His Excellency Mr. András Kocsis concluded the event by thanking the panellists and participants for their insightful comments and remarks. 
Ms. Réka Varga, Head of the International Law Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, moderated the event.
The first panellist, the Polish judge of the International Criminal Court, Piotr Hofmański gave an introductory speech on the influence of Central European judges and experts on the development of the international criminal justice. The Hungarian judge of the International Criminal Court, Péter Kovács shared his thoughts on the development of international law in former Soviet-influenced countries. In his statement, he gave a fine overview on how the attitude of the Visegrád countries changed towards the international law in the past decades.
Ivana Hrdličková, the Czech President of the Special Tribunal for Lebanon spoke about the current challenges facing international courts. She identified the political and financial credibility as the biggest challenge. To manage this challenge transparency, efficiency and accountability are the best remedies.
From the Slovak Republic, Judge Peter Tomka working at the International Court of Justice enumerated the most influential jurists of the Visegrád countries who shaped the world of international law. He highlighted that Poland was the most active country at the Permanent Court of International Justice, the predecessor of the International Court of Justice. He emphasized that the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) was established in December 1966 upon Hungarian initiative.
The Ambassador of Hungary to the Netherlands His Excellency Mr. András Kocsis concluded the event by thanking the panellists and participants for their insightful comments and remarks. 
Besides development and the UN operation, the Netherlands is supporting the private sector in Mali. Besides trade missions, Dutch support is present through business financing, technology transfer and knowledge transfer.
Besides development and the UN operation, the Netherlands is supporting the private sector in Mali. Besides trade missions, Dutch support is present through business financing, technology transfer and knowledge transfer.
The venue was the cosy bar area of the hotel. The attendees were a mix of Dutch wine experts and importers, gastronomic journalists and representatives of the catering industry (Horeca in Dutch) among them was Mr Merlijn Keijzer, Manager of VIP Lounge Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, Ms Helma de Veer from a company called De Freule’, which specializes in (wine) gifts to business acquaintances.
The owner of Hungarian Corner restaurant in The Hague Mr Marco van den Boomgaard said: “We only recently also created a winebar so that our guests can try all kinds of Magyar wines.”
H.E Mr. András Kocsis, Ambassador of Hungary, opened the session saying: “By targeting all Dutch companies which sell wine we hope to gain more recognition of Hungarian wines in order to generate more sales in The Netherlands.
We have undertaken a very exiting task with my colleagues this evening, because contrary to the previous practice when we introduced selections from different wines regions, we have now focused on one particular wine region Tokaj.”
He then introduced our host of the night, Mr Kristian Kielmayer, DipWSET wine expert at the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture. He had compiled a list of eleven fine white wines offered by ten Hungarian wineries for the enjoyment of the guests. Meanwhile Mr Kielmayer accompanied the wines with more information and tasting notes on them.
“What does it have to offer, why is it special. For centuries, kings, queens and nobles have liked, adored these wines; it has its myth, its history. The Tokaij Aszú, is one of the world’s most fantastic, maybe the best sweet wine and this evening our guests had the chance to experience why this wine region is special, why the wine, the people, the history and the soil are special. It is due to the conditions, the nature, and of course, what lies in the future.”
Then the sweeter whites were introduced starting with: Late Harvest 2013 from Tokaj Oremus, Szamorodni 6 Puttonyas 2014 from Degenfeld Winery, Puttonyos 5 aszú 2013 from Royal Tokaj Winery, Puttonyos 6 Aszú 2013 from Grand Tokaj Winery and last but not least a magnificient Puttonyos 6 Aszú 2009 from Árvay Pincészet. The last wine was provided by Mr Gert de Kruijf from De Kruijf Fine Food Services as he was the only one who still had this particular beautiful vintage in his cellar.
The wines certainly displayed the finesse and complexity of the Tokaj region deserving a wider public.
The venue was the cosy bar area of the hotel. The attendees were a mix of Dutch wine experts and importers, gastronomic journalists and representatives of the catering industry (Horeca in Dutch) among them was Mr Merlijn Keijzer, Manager of VIP Lounge Schiphol Airport in Amsterdam, Ms Helma de Veer from a company called De Freule’, which specializes in (wine) gifts to business acquaintances.
The owner of Hungarian Corner restaurant in The Hague Mr Marco van den Boomgaard said: “We only recently also created a winebar so that our guests can try all kinds of Magyar wines.”
H.E Mr. András Kocsis, Ambassador of Hungary, opened the session saying: “By targeting all Dutch companies which sell wine we hope to gain more recognition of Hungarian wines in order to generate more sales in The Netherlands.
We have undertaken a very exiting task with my colleagues this evening, because contrary to the previous practice when we introduced selections from different wines regions, we have now focused on one particular wine region Tokaj.”
He then introduced our host of the night, Mr Kristian Kielmayer, DipWSET wine expert at the Hungarian Ministry of Agriculture. He had compiled a list of eleven fine white wines offered by ten Hungarian wineries for the enjoyment of the guests. Meanwhile Mr Kielmayer accompanied the wines with more information and tasting notes on them.
“What does it have to offer, why is it special. For centuries, kings, queens and nobles have liked, adored these wines; it has its myth, its history. The Tokaij Aszú, is one of the world’s most fantastic, maybe the best sweet wine and this evening our guests had the chance to experience why this wine region is special, why the wine, the people, the history and the soil are special. It is due to the conditions, the nature, and of course, what lies in the future.”
Then the sweeter whites were introduced starting with: Late Harvest 2013 from Tokaj Oremus, Szamorodni 6 Puttonyas 2014 from Degenfeld Winery, Puttonyos 5 aszú 2013 from Royal Tokaj Winery, Puttonyos 6 Aszú 2013 from Grand Tokaj Winery and last but not least a magnificient Puttonyos 6 Aszú 2009 from Árvay Pincészet. The last wine was provided by Mr Gert de Kruijf from De Kruijf Fine Food Services as he was the only one who still had this particular beautiful vintage in his cellar.
The wines certainly displayed the finesse and complexity of the Tokaj region deserving a wider public.
Cycling confidently through crowded streets requires additional skills and detailed knowledge about traffic rules and road user behaviour.
In Learn to Cycle in Amsterdam, author Xing Chen focuses on the acquisition and development of these skills and knowledge, preparing readers for the multitude of unexpected traffic and personal situations that they might encounter as they place their foot on the pedal and swing their way onto the Amsterdam asphalt.
Learn to Cycle in Amsterdam is accompanied by dynamic, entertaining and illustrative photographs by Kevin McPeake and Shirley Agudo.
——–
About the author:
Xing Chen (1985) is a neuroscientist who has lived in the US, the UK, and Singapore. In 2014, she moved to the Netherlands to work on the development of brain implants for sight restoration. On the very first day of her arrival in Amsterdam, she bought a secondhand bicycle, and gradually mastered the art of cycling through the crowded city streets. Xing now covers a distance of over 20 km per day, by bike.
Cycling confidently through crowded streets requires additional skills and detailed knowledge about traffic rules and road user behaviour.
In Learn to Cycle in Amsterdam, author Xing Chen focuses on the acquisition and development of these skills and knowledge, preparing readers for the multitude of unexpected traffic and personal situations that they might encounter as they place their foot on the pedal and swing their way onto the Amsterdam asphalt.
Learn to Cycle in Amsterdam is accompanied by dynamic, entertaining and illustrative photographs by Kevin McPeake and Shirley Agudo.
——–
About the author:
Xing Chen (1985) is a neuroscientist who has lived in the US, the UK, and Singapore. In 2014, she moved to the Netherlands to work on the development of brain implants for sight restoration. On the very first day of her arrival in Amsterdam, she bought a secondhand bicycle, and gradually mastered the art of cycling through the crowded city streets. Xing now covers a distance of over 20 km per day, by bike.
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For information: www.hofvanwouw. 
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For information: www.hofvanwouw.