Gorilla Bokito has chicken pox

Bokito, the Rotterdam gorilla who became world famous after jumping out of his enclosure and attacking woman in May this year, has chicken pox, the Blijdorp zoo authorities said on Wednesday.
The silverback gorilla probably caught the infection from a visitor, the zoo said. Source http://www.dutchnews.nl/

Johan Cruijff

More than thirty years in football have resulted in an astonishing amount of championships, cups, prizes and personal awards, both as a trainer and as a player. 'You do not always ponder it, but when you have the opportunity to do something for someone else, you should.' From this vision, the Johan Cruyff Welfare Foundation came to be in 1996, founded by European soccer player of the century, Johan Cruijff. After years of involvement with fundraising activities, Cruijff specifically wanted to use his influence for sports and play projects for less fortunate young people. Cruijff has special attention handicapped young people, because exactly to them, sports and play are of high importance. Surf for more information to http://www.worldofjohancruyff.com/

Stylisch Ambassade Hotel in Amsterdam

Ten 17th-century canal-side houses on the distinguished Herengracht in the historic centre of Amsterdam form the accommodations for the stylish Ambassade Hotel. A unique location at one of the city's loveliest spots, the hotel is situated very quiet yet within easy walking distance of museums, restaurants and important places of interest. The 59 rooms and suites at the Ambassade Hotel have been furnished and decorated with care and provided with every modern convenience. The attractive lobby, salons and other public areas contain antique furniture and clocks combined with modern paintings created by the famous Cobra group. Surf for more information to http://www.ambassade-hotel.nl/

Marcel Wanders, Europe's hottest designer

Wanders has earned his status in the design world as a visionary and leader. In addition to being art director for moooi, his work is offered by all the usual suspects—Flos, B&B Italia, Vitra, Boffi, Mandarina Duck and Bisazza. Wanders has won more awards and received more attention in the media than we have space to talk about. There is a reason Businessweek referred to him as "Europe's hottest designer" and The Washington Post identified him as "the design world's favorite star." Surf for more information to http://www.marcelwanders.com/

Dutch Party Queen Christine Kroonenburg

Christine Kroonenburg, widow of property tycoon Jaap Kroonenburg, has been named society queen of 2007 by magazine Miljonair. Second on the magazine's most-invited list is interior designer Jan des Bouvrie and his wife Monique, with former politician Ed Nijpels in third place.
Kroonenburg says she gets some 1,000 invitations a year of which some 300 are worthy of attention. 'I select very strictly and only do the things I think are interesting,' she said.
Source: www.DutchNews.nl

Holland's national memory

As the "national memory", the Nationaal Archief manages not only historic government records but also the archives of private individuals who play or have played an important part in the life of the nation. Surf for more information to http://www.nationaalarchief.nl/

Flood protection

For the past 2000 years, the inhabitants of the Netherlands have often had to cope with flood disasters. The name 'Netherlands' gives a clue to the problem: 'Nether' means 'low'. It literally means 'The Low Countries'. When a storm develops and the wind stirs up the waves, the Dutch coastal area can become flooded. The last time this happened on a large scale was just over fifty years ago. Almost 2000 people died following the flood disaster of 1953. This website describe why this disaster occurred, what exactly happened, and what was done afterwards to prevent it from happening again. (Photo: Rijkswaterstaat). Surf for more information to http://www.deltawerken.com/

Simple, banal, everyday scenes that make up Dutch daily life

Aan de dijk is a prepositional phrase in Dutch. You pronounce it phonetically as on duh dike. In a sentance, you would use it to refer to where something is located. For example, "Ravenstein is a little town located on the Maas dike." Ravenstein isn't physically on the dike, but rather located adjacent to the dike. Rachel James is American by birth, but have been living in the Netherlands since 1998. She makes a living as a portrait and lifestyle photographer. aandedijk.com is a website in which she documents the simple, banal, everyday scenes that make up Dutch daily life. Surf for more information to http://www.aandedijk.com/

Dutch post world war two buildigs

Some 100 post-WWII buildings are to be added to the roll call of listed monuments by cultural minister Ronald Plasterk. It is the first time monuments dating from the post-war reconstruction period have been designated as listed monuments.
If parliament agrees, then the Groothandelsgebouw in Rotterdam and the NS train station in Zutphen will be among those listed.
Not all the nominations are standard buildings however. Plasterk has also placed Hoogovens steel works in IJmuiden, the war memorial on the Dam in Amsterdam, the military graveyard in Bloemendaal and the radio telescope in Dwingeloo on his list.
There are also a remarkable number of churches, like the Adventkerk in Aerdenhout and the Church of the Resurrection, known to Amsterdammers as the 'coal scuttle', in Amsterdam-West.
A lot of churches were built in the post-war period in the hope they would provide a focus for social cohesion in new housing areas, architectural historian Anita Blom told Monday's Trouw. 'This became even more important during the Cold War as a counterbalance to communism,' she says. Source http://www.dutchnews.nl/

Rapsody "retro" yachts

Rapsody Yachts is building new classical fast sailing motor yachts for the very top segment of the market under the Rapsody-label. These "Retro"yachts answer to all the demands of modern yachting, but have a very nostalgic look. Quality time is our slogan; you will find all the luxury and comfort on board our yachts. Surf for more information to: www.rapsody.nl

Miffy

Miffy was born in 1955. The Bruna family was on holiday at the seaside resort "Egmond aan Zee". Their son was playing with his fabric toy bunny, father Dick was drawing as usual. Dick remembered the real pet bunnies he had when he was young and suddenly a bunny appeard on his sheet of drawing paper. For the first time there she was our Miffy. Surf for more information to http://www.miffy.com/

Lubberhuizen & Raaff

Lubberhuizen & Raaff - the only genuine distillery in the Netherlands - is situated on Waalbandijk in the old fire station at Varik, a beautiful rural village in the Betuwse region surrounded by orchards. There, Lubberhuizen & Raaff distil the best freshly harvested fruit - apples, pears, plums, cherries, raspberries, blackberries and blackcurrants - into eau de vie of the very highest quality. Unlike the usual factory method, in which industrial alcohol is mixed with essences and put on the market as liqueurs and other fruit alcohol, for L&R distilling is still a pure craft. Surf for more information to http://www.lubberhuizen-raaff.nl/

Hortus Bulborum

The Hortus Bulborum is the only garden in the world where you can find over 2,500 different tulip, hyacinth, daffodil and other bulbous cultivars, species and varieties in bloom. Nowhere on this globe you will find such a fine selection of old bulbs in one place. Every spring the Hortus transforms into a treasure trove full of dazzling colours, beautiful shapes and overwhelming fragrances at the foot of the picturesque, parish church in Limmen village, near the historic city of Alkmaar. Surf for more information to: http://www.hortus-bulborum.nl/

Discover some of the many delights that Holland has got to offer at http://www.discoverholland.info/