By Baron Henri Estramant.    Till 28 August 2015, the Casa do Brasil (Avenue Louise/Louizalaan 350, Brussels) is hosting a colour as well as black and white photographic exhibition of pictures taken by King Leopold III of Belgium in the 1960s. Between 1962 and 1967 the former monarch paid several visits to Mato Grosso and different regions of the Amazons. He was an avid photographer who captured images mixing the beauty of the tropical forest as well as scenes of quotidian life. Likewise King Leopold III is featured in complicity with the locals.  The actual collection comprises more than 50 000 images of his global expeditions. In Brussels the exhibition is being curated by Cristina Barros Greindl, member of the Funds Leopold III and Maria Izabel Branco Ribeiro, Director of the Museum of the Foundation Alvares Penteado located in São Paulo. The exhibition itself was displayed already back in 2010 at São Paulo at the Museu de Arte Brasileria of the Fundação Armando Alvares Penteado, in 2011 at the Museu de Artes e Oficio in Brasilia and in 2013 at Brazil’s parliament. In Belgium it was first exhibited at La Hulpe in 2011 thanks to the Fondation Folon. This time the exhibition at the Casa do Brasil is being supported by the Funds Leopold III. The vernissage was patronised by HRH Princess Esmeralda of Belgium, Lady Moncada, President of the Funds Leopold III and Brazil’s ambassador to Belgium and Luxembourg, HE Sr. André Amado.  Leopold III participated in the first expeditions of the brothers Villas Boas to the communities of the indigenous Txicão. In fact, the king did not only live beside the tribes but shared their meals, and customs during his stay. These experiences provided him with a “feeling of a secret fraternal identity with all men, regardless their origins, beliefs or civilisations”. For the motive he created the “King Leopold III Fund for Nature Exploration and Conservation”.  Leopold III was the IV King of the Belgians between 1934 and 1951.    For more information:  Fonds Léopold III: www.naturalsciences.be/LIII/FR Folon Foundation: http://fondationfolon.be/en/ Embassy of Brazil to Belgium and Luxembourg:  http://bruxelas.itamaraty.gov.br/pt-br/agenda_cultural.xml    

Festival celebrates 250 years of Mozart in The Hague and pays homage to the famous composer   One of the most famous visitors to The Hague ever was Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. This year marks the 250th anniversary of the Mozart family’s visit to The Hague. The anniversary will be celebrated 10-15 September 2015 with the festival “Mozart in The Hague” in which Mozart’s music is omnipresent – original, modified, ‘applied’ and in concert. The festival is a reflection of the diversity that characterizes the works of Mozart. Of course there is a prominent role for music. We were able to connect some wonderful performers with the festival, including Johannette Zomer, Ton Koopman and Tini Mathot, Menno van Delft, The Hague Philharmonic conducted by Jan Willem de Vriend, Residentie Bach Choir, The Hague Matrozenkoor and pianist Daria van den Bercken. During the Amadeus contest young talents get a chance to show what they can. Residents and visitors to the city will be surprised with outdoor music. The carillon is played and wind ensembles will perform arrangements of Mozart’s opera music. There are talks and walks, there is an exhibition in the Historical Museum. The Foundation Mozart in The Hague was founded in July 2014 and has quickly prepared a varied and contrasting program. It is the desire of the organisation to achieve co-operation and cohesion in the city. Collaboration has been sought and found with the activities of the National Heritage Day and Prinsjesdag Festival, but also existing concert series have been asked to programme their concerts in the festival period around Mozart. The festival provides a platform for professionals and amateurs. Artistic director of the festival is harpsichordist, conductor and composer Jörn Boysen (*1976). The full program and ticket information of the festival is available on www.mozartindenhaag.nl.   You can also follow the festival on Twitter (https://twitter.com/mozartindenhaag) and Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/mozartindenhaag). See the festival brochure via http://www.mozartindenhaag.nl/nieuws/id/13/23-6-2015/festivalbrochure-online/ Organization Mozart in The Hague Board of directors: Jean-Pierre de Vos – chairman Ellen van der Sar – secretary and festivalmanager Jos Rijntjes – treasurer Artistic director: Jörn Boysen – harpsichordist, conductor and composer Recommending Committee: The board of the Mozart Foundation in The Hague has the support of several prominent figures, who recommend our activities wholeheartedly: Karel de Rooij – cabaret and regisseur Leo Samama – musicologist and composer Liza Ferschtman – violinist Maartje van Weegen – presenter and journalist Mozart (k) ring Gelredome / Niederrhein Pauline Oostenrijk – oboist and schrijfster Ton Koopman – organist, conductor and harpsichordist   Information: info@mozartindenhaag.nl www.mozartindenhaag.nl Mozart in The Hague is sponsored by the following organizations: Fonds 1818, Gemeente Den Haag, Prins Bernhard Cultuurfonds Mozart-Wagner Fonds, Cultuurschakel, Hendrik Muller Fonds, Gravin van Bylandt Stichting en Stichting Orlanda Goban.

  Visit the Moroccan experience, ZieZo Marokko, from 17 October 2015.     On 17 October the Moroccan experience, ZieZo Marokko, opens in the Tropenmuseum Junior. Young and old travel together with Esmaa, Fatima, Nasrdin and Yousef. They talk about their lives: about their parents’ country, what it was like to grow up in the Netherlands, what they’ve discovered in Morocco and what inspires them. ZieZo Marokko is a theatrical spectacle that excites all the senses. The experience starts in the plane. Having landed in Morocco a tour guide takes the visitors through the medina, a maze of narrow streets and alleys. Behind every door and round each corner, a new surprise awaits. You can do wall graffiti in calligraphy or puzzle over a mosaic pattern in the courtyard of a Riad. You can play an aroma game in the kitchen or arrange a Moroccan fashion shop window. Oldest children’s museum in the Netherlands The Tropenmuseum Junior first opened its doors 40 years ago, also with an exhibition about Morocco. It’s the oldest children’s museum in the Netherlands and one of the oldest in Europe. The museum is renowned for its appealing teaching method: seeing, touching, experiencing and participating. The experience is a unique combination of the museum collection, personal stories and activities in a theatrical environment. The Tropenmuseum Junior’s general objective is to stimulate an open outlook. Practical information The Tropenmuseum Junior is open every Saturday and Sunday and daily during school holidays. There are Junior Journeys (6 – 13 years) and Family Journeys (all ages). The journeys start at set times and are offered in English on request. For more information see www.tropenmuseumjunior.nl.  It is advisable to reserve via reserveren@tropenmuseum.nl or +31 (0)88 0042 840. On school days the Tropenmuseum Junior is only open to school groups.