Newsletter

Smiling Faces au Pairs

July, August and September 2009
Make the best of your summer holiday! That is the theme for this newsletter. Smiling Faces want you to discover
something new during your vacation time and we will show you how. You can visit various places in Holland and
Europe, learn something new and do things you normally cant do in the fall/winter time. In this newsletter you will
find traveling tips, survival tips, information about outings, arrivals & departures, important websites, language
courses and our new program about au pairing abroad.

Sail away!
Do you have any plans already for the summer vacation? If
not, join the sailing trip and explore Holland! Enjoy your free
time on board and make new friends during the 7 day trip
around different harbors in Holland.
The ship will go to various harbors in Holland around
IJsselmeer and Waddenzee such as Enkhuizen, Volendam
and other typical Zuyderzee harbors. If the weather is
good we can visit one of the Waddeneilanden. During these
visits there will be time for cultural expeditions (visit
museums or city highlights) but also for shopping and
relaxation.
There will always be things you can do on board. You can
help the skipper and his mate with navigating, setting the
sails or stand behind the steering wheel. A guide on board
(who is a lady skipper) will tell you everything about sailing,
Holland and the nice places we visit. Or simply sit back,
read a book or play cards with fellow au pairs.

During this trip you will get a chance to show off your cooking skills. Every night, au pairs from the same country
will form a group and cook a dish from their home countries.
If this is your first time sailing, dont worry. The ship is comfortable with 2 to 4 persons cabins, large day-area,
and a fully equipped kitchen and has several showers and toilets on board.
The price for this trip is EUR 350/person which includes boat, lodgings, guide and meals.
Date
Embark
Disembark
Trip 1
25/7-31/7
Enkhuizen
Enkhuizen
Trip 2
1/8- 7/8
Enkhuizen
Enkhuizen
If youre interested please send an email to [email protected] and we will send you the application form.
You can also check www.napoweb.nl for more details.This trip is a special trip organized by Smiling Faces and
Hollands Glorie for all au pairs from NAPO au pair agencies.

Newsletter July, August, September

Open Your Eyes and See the Beauty of Europe!

There are many advantages you can get from traveling. You can meet new people, get more knowledge about
other cultures and feel more relaxed. Since the Netherlands is located in the heart of Europe, living in Holland
means you are close to popular destinations such as Berlin, Paris, Antwerp, etc. Summer traveling is fantastic
because you dont need to bring bulk of clothes (unlike traveling in winter) and you are more energized and
motivated to go outside.
In the next section you can find some tips about places to visit, how to get there and traveling tips. Lets start with
destinations that are located close to Holland:

Germany
Where to go:
Germany has several amazing
cities you can visit as Berlin,
Hamburg, Frankfurt and Cologne.
The closest cities to Holland are
Cologne & Dusseldorf (you can
do a day trip there) but if youre
willing to travel a little longer, why
dont you go to Berlin. In Berlin
you can find historical buildings,
go shopping ( theres a long
shopping street in Kudamm
area!) and visit museums or go to
the Berlin wall (there are ruins of
the wall covered with graffiti).
If you fancy shopping in a mall, why dont you go to Oberhaussen, where Centro - one of the largest indoor mall in
Europe - is located. Please be surprised to find that theres a food court inside the mall (you cant find food court in
Holland!) and there are variety of German food you can try. In Centro you can find shops that are not available in
Holland. Most of the shop assistants speak English so dont worry.
How to go:
You can take ICE train from cities like Utrecht, Amsterdam and Arnhem to Germany. From Utrecht to Berlin takes 6
hours while from Arnhem to Cologne takes 1hour 35 minutes. In order to find out how much the ticket price is, please
visit http://www.nshispeed.nl/
Of course you can also go by plane to Germany. Airline company Transavia
(http://www.transavia.com/hv/nl-NL/home )offers plane ticket to Berlin for as low as 47 euro.

Belgium
Where to go:
Small but compact. That might be your impression
of Belgium. Despite the small size and the
similarity to Holland, Belgium has interesting spots
to visit.
Sit in a caf in Grote Markt, Antwerp after hours of
window shopping or enjoy a plate of mussel in
Ghent after visiting Ghent Festival (the largest
open air cultural festival in Europe, starting from
th
th
July 18 27 ). You can also spend a weekend in
Brussels and visit the iconic Atomium and take
photos in front of the Manekken Pis.

Newsletter July, August, September

How to go:
From Holland you can take a train to Roosendaal and from Roosendaal you can change train to Belgium. If you
have a Kortingskaart (discount card for the Dutch train by NS) you can get discounts for the ticket prices for this
journey too. The return train tickets cost 32,80 euro from Rotterdam to Brussels and the journey takes 1,5 hours.
To Antwerp it only takes 1 hour and 5 minutes.
There are other fabulous destinations that are a bit far from Holland. A visit to one of these places will make your
summer more memorable.

Rome and Venice

Rome is full of history and tourist attractions. There is
always something to see in this historical city full of art
and beautiful sculptures. Amaze yourself with the beauty
of Colosseum, Trevi di Fontana, Spanish Stairs and take
a peek at the great Vatican church or see the paintings
by Michael Angelo. In short, Rome will definitely leave
you good memories!
You can best travel to Rome by plane (try Ryan Air) and
the flight takes 2 hours. There are wide varieties of
accommodation; from affordable hostels to fancy hotels.
If you are more into arts than history, then visit Venice.
Venice is located in the northern of Italy and the city stretches across 118 small islands. Therefore if you want to
travel from a place to another, you will need to use water taxi (a boat). In Venice you will find a lot of accessories
stores selling nice jewelleries from crystals, masks, etc.
Airlines such as KLM and Alitalia provides direct flights from Amsterdam to Venice. You can also travel to Venice
from Milan by train (takes around 3,5 hours).

Barcelona
Everyone who has been to Barcelona will
agree that Barcelona is special and
memorable. You can find anything: sun,
sea, shops, food and attractions. Spend at
least 3 days in this beautiful city in order to
enjoy everything. Visit to Gaudi park and
buildings are a must and do not forget to
visit the beach too.
In the shopping districts of Barcelona (La
Rambla, Placa de Catalunya, Passeig de
Gracia) you will find many shops and also
department stores. To find out more about
shopping in Barcelona, go to http://www.aboutbarcelona.com/barcelona/shopping.asp where you will find tips about
where to shop and what to buy.
If youre a football fan, take a tour in the stadium of FC Barcelona Camp Nou which is the biggest stadium in the
world. If youre a culinary fan, then surprise yourself with the tapas, paella and Spanish wine.
Vueling, IBERIA and Ryan Air provide cheap airline tickets to Barcelona. The accommodation prices in Barcelona
is relatively cheap compared to Holland.

The World is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page
~St. Augustine

Newsletter July, August, September

Traveling with Inter Rail:

One Train ticket and 30 Countries to Choose From!
Have you always wanted to travel Europe by train? Do you want to sit
on a train, look away at the window and enjoy the panoramic view ?
With Inter Rail, you can go to 30 countries in Europe with 1 train
pass. You can choose from Romania, to Croatia to Norway but
nevertheless, it will be a wonderful experience in your life.
The price of Inter Rail global pass depends on the length of stay, but
it ranges from 159 to 399 (for the second class). Please note that
in order to purchase this ticket you must live in Holland for at least 6
months.
More information can be found in
http://www.nshispeed.nl/en/interrail/the-interrail-global-pass (in
English).

Tips for traveling

If youre planning to travel, these tips below will help you on preparing and packing.
What to pack?
- Mini-size of toiletries (shampoo, shower gel, toothpaste, etc). You can get them in drug stores such as
Kruidvat and Etos. Please remember that youre not allowed to bring liquid into the plane, so put your toiletries
(and perfume too! Otherwise the airport staff will throw your perfumes!) in the check-in luggage.
- Things to read.
- Cotton buds/ cotton
- Plastic bags or laundry bags for your dirty laundry
- Flip flop
- Pyjama
- Guidebook and city map
- Sun glasses
- Batteries for MP3/ camera and chargers
- Copies of important documents: residence permit card, passport, bank card, etc
- If youre going to the beach: dont forget your sunscreen and sand towel!
- Medicines such as pain killers, and eye drop.
- A few sanitary pads or tampon (just in case!)
- Band aid
- Lock for your baggage/suitcase (very useful if you will stay in a hostel)
- Of course, bring your passport AND residence permit card (the passport and visa wont be enough!).
NOTE: Do not bring too many clothes when traveling; you might buy new ones and you need space for things
you buy in your holiday destinations.
To-do list before you leave:
- Inform your host family, friends, family about the dates of your travel so they know that you wont be available
during those dates.
- Always check the weather forecast a day before traveling
- Bring enough cash
- Print the e-tickets and booking confirmations
- Check the time difference
- Make copies of all important documents : passport pages, visa page, residence permit, bank card.

Newsletter July, August, September

Useful websites for traveling

Websites to check the details of international train journeys
http://www.nshispeed.nl/
You can check the price and length of journey of the
international train journeys departing from Holland.
http://www.raileurope.co.uk/Default.aspx?tabid=458

Websites to check the plane tickets

http://www.cheaptickets.nl/en/

This website tells you more about InterRail Passes which

enable you to travel to various countries in Europe by
trains with 1 pass.

On this website you can compare the prices of airline tickets.

Websites of low-cost airlines

http://www.ryanair.com
http://www.easyjet.com
http://www.transavia.com
Websites offering traveling tips
http://www.tripadvisor.com/
http://www.lonelyplanet.com/

Websites to book hostels or hotels

http://www.venere.com/ (only for credit card holders)

http://www.hihostels.com/

In order to make a booking, you will need to give your

credit card number. The credit card will not be charged
though. It is only to guarantee your booking.
The official website of youth hostel chains. The rooms are
affordable, though the locations of the hostels are not
always in the city center. They have single rooms as well as
bunk beds (dormitory).
They have branches in all over Europe.

Viva Hollandia
If you decide to stay in Holland in the summer, no need to be sad! There are plenty of things to do, see and explore.
Here are some tips about how to spend your summer time based on your interests.
If you like thrills and are into adventure
Visit Walibi! Walibi is the adult version of Efteling, with more challenging rollercoaster rides. Walibi has more
than 40 exciting attractions and you will be awake since the beginning till the end. It is located in Flevoland
and you can reach Walibi easily.
The entrance ticket is 27,50 euro and you can also buy all-season ticket for 65 euro (all tickets can be
purchased online). Since the queue for the entrance tickets might be long, it is a good idea to buy the tickets
online.

If you like art, music and culture..

thth
In Rotterdam, there will be North Sea Jazz festival starting from 10 12 of July . It is a well-known jazz
festival with Duffy, Adele and George Benson as the main acts. Tickets can be purchased online via
www.livenation.nl (also available in English)

Newsletter July, August, September

There will be a lot of free festivals. For the au pairs living in Rotterdam area, visit
http://www.zomerfestivals.nl/en to find out about the coming festivals (and most of them are for free!)
Visit the famous attractions in Amsterdam. With Iamsterdam card, you can go to various museums for free
such as Van Gogh museum, Rijksmuseum, and get 25% discounts for popular attractions such as
Madame Tussaud. Moreover you can go to canal cruise for free. The card costs from 38 euro (valid for 24
hours).For more information, go to http://www.iamsterdam.com/en/visiting/iamsterdamcard

If you just want to relax...

Arrange a picnic day with your friends. Dont forget to check the weather forecast the day before.
Go to the local library and read the books for free there. In a big library you can find international
newspapers and magazines too.

If you want to go shopping..

Visit designer outlet shops in Roermond (http://www.designeroutletroermond.com/) where you can find
branded clothes for less price. You can take a train to Roermond and from the station you can walk or take
a bus.
Visit Beverwijks Bazaar which is the largest indoor market in Europe. It is only open on Friday, Saturday
and Sunday. Not only you can find clothes, but also fresh fruits, food, gold jewels, electronic equipments
and second hand goods. You can go to Beverwijk by train and then take bus 76.

If you want to go to the beach

There are some options for you :

Hoek van Holland (where the Eurostar train to London departs), Scheveningen (The Hague), Zandvoort
and Bloemendaal (near Haarlem). Dont forget to wear sunscreen to prevent the sun burn.

How to Handle Homesickness

It is not always easy to be away from your home country. Feeling homesick is 100% normal and you will experience
it at some point of your stay in Holland.
Here are some tips on how to handle this uneasy situation:
- Tell your friends and family that you are feeling homesick. Admitting that youre homesick will make things easier for
you because not only it will relief you but people around you will also be more tolerant towards you. There is no need
to feel ashamed about feeling homesick, because it can happen to anybody.
- Keep yourself busy. Join a new activity, go back to your old hobby, meet some friends, or watch funny movies. If you
make yourself busy, you will have other things to think about in your mind.
- Make yourself familiar with the surroundings. Walk around the neighborhood, go to the park or speak to your
neighbor. If you are familiar with the surroundings, you will feel more comfortable living there.
- Be active and do not stay inside. Go outside and explore!

Newsletter July, August, September

Handy Dutch Websites

The funny one

Take a peek at this funny website, http://www.howtosurviveholland.nl/ and you will get new perspectives on
Holland.This website contains tips on how to survive in Holland, written by foreigners. Some of the tips are very
laughable!

The serious one

You can read Dutch news in English on http://www.dutchnews.nl/

About Dutch cooking

If you plan to impress your family back home with your stampot-making skills, this website will be handy for you:
http://dutchfood.about.com/b/

The Dutch eBay

If you plan to sell something or buy second hand goods online, then Marktplaats is your heaven! Marktplaats
(http://www.marktplaats.nl ) is the market place for online seller and buyer and their service is for free. Thus you dont
need to pay to advertise. You can look for books, shoes, electronic equipments and many more!

The online bookstore

Bol (http://www.bol.com/) is the largest online bookstore in the Netherlands with wide varieties of English books (and
Dutch, of course) and reasonably priced

Public transport information

If youre always too late to catch your bus or tram, probably its because you havent heard of 9292OV. You can look
for the schedule of public transport from here: http://journeyplanner.9292.nl/. Print the schedule and no more rushing
next time!
Train schedules and ticket prices information can be found in http://www.ns.nl/cs/Satellite/travellers. Both websites
mentioned are in English.

Information about Rotterdam Pas

For au pairs who are living in Rotterdam, there is good news for you. Rotterdam Pas is a card that you can use
to explore Rotterdam and events nearby Rotterdam. You can get many discounts and privileges with this card.
For example, you can get free entrance to Euromast, membership discount at the city library, free entrance to
Spido boat, discount for Duinrell, Tropicana, Blijdorp zoo, etc. And whats more amazing, it only costs you 5!!
How can I get the Rotterdam Pas?

First, you must be registered at your local town hall

Au pair gets a special rate ( 5 instead of 55) but you need to bring a statement from your host family
confirming that youre an au pair in that family and receives .. monthly pocket money
Thirdly, bring a pass photo with you (4x 6 cm) and pay 5.
Done, your card will be ready in a minute!

Where can I buy it?

You can buy it at the city library (in Rotterdam city center) and also
Stadswinkel near you. We do not advise you to buy it during weekend as the

Newsletter July, August, September

queue is very long. For more information on where to buy it, please visit:
http://www.rotterdampas.nl/rotterdampas-kopen/waar-te-koop.html
NOTE: You can apply for this card only if you live in Rotterdam or towns around Rotterdam (Schiedam, Hoek
van Holland, Barendrecht, Delft, Capelle a/d Ijssel, Nieuwekerk a/d Ijssel, Spijkenisse, Ridderkerk).

Information about Utrecht Pas

Utrecht Pas or U-Pas is dedicated for the residents of Utrecht and towns around Utrecht
(Ijsselstein, Houten, Maarssen, De Bilt, Nieuwegein). With this card you can enjoy various
discounts such as discount on short courses at Volks Universiteit, tango lessons, theater and
concert tickets. The card is for free and you can get the application form at the City Library in
Utrecht (next to Selexyz book store) or local library. You need to have a statement regarding
your pocket money in order to get this card. Please ask for this statement via email
([email protected]) and we will send it to you via email. For more information about this
card, please go to http://www.utrecht.nl/smartsite.dws?id=14955

Information about Discount Card for Trains

If you wish to explore the beauty of Holland by train, there is a cheaper way to do it.
You can get a discount card for trains (in Dutch it is called Voordeeluren Kaart). It is
valid for a year and costs 55. It might seem expensive at first, but if you plan to travel
frequently by train, then this card is very useful. You will get 40% discount on your
train journey and can take 3 friends with you (thus if you go out with 3 other friends,
they can buy the discounted ticket prices instead of the regular ones).

How can I get the card?

Go to the nearest central station, go to the information desk and ask for the application forms for the
discount card.

Take the form home and since its in Dutch, please ask your host family to help you translating it.
Complete the form and dont forget to put your pass photo on it.

Bring the completed form back to the information desk and pay at the desk.
The English information about this card can be found on NS English website. Go to www.ns.nl, click English
on the top right of the page. Click Arrange and Buy and click on The off-peak discount pass.

NOTE: The discount is only valid from 9 a.m. during working days. At the weekend, its valid the whole day.

Newsletter July, August, September

A Nice Day at the Efteling

th

Despite the rain at the end of the afternoon,

afternoon, everybody seemed to enjoy their time in Efteling on June 7 . More
than 150
0 au pairs participated and they got chances to test their guts in various rides in Efteling. At around
10.15 a.m the au pairs started to queue and they were all so eager to join the outing.
This outing is especially nice for au pairs who just came to Holland. Karla Jimenez was happy to find fellow
Spanish speaking au pairs and Irma from Indonesia made friends immediately. For au pairs who have lived in
Holland longer, it was also nice because they can catch up with their friends.
fr
Aimee was delighted to see her
friends from other agency and Natalia was excited to hang out with Beatriz again.
Team 6 won the treasure hunt challenge and brought the cool beauty prizes home. David, the only male
participant from Germany also got a prize. I guess we must all appreciate his willingness to mingle with the
females :)

Spend a day in historical Pampus

th

On September 20 you will get the opportunity to visit the island Pampus, which is one of worlds heritage sites
(according to UNESCO). Pampus defense line was built between 1883 and 1920 to guard the capital
Amsterdam. Dont worry, during this outing we will not teach you about the Dutch history but we will let you have
fun because we are going to sail to Pampus!
We will help the skipper navigating the boat (you will get a crash
course on sailing!) and later on we will have BBQ together. This
outing will be great for au pairs who just come to Holland because
you can make friends easily and visit one of the interesting places in
Holland.
The cost of this outing is 32,50 euro (normally it costs about 50
euro). If you have your Enjoy and Explore Card, you can join this
outing for free as your host family already paid for this.
this Register now
if youre interested! There are only spaces available for 120 people.

Newsletter July, August, September

Activities in the Ranstad area

Nothing to do on your weekends? Visit one of these websites, they are full of fun ideas.
Isic.org

Discounts with your IYTC card

Fodors.com

worldwide fun

Virtualtourist.com

cultural things

Thego.nl

Things to do in Holland

Eatdrinketc.com

Things to do in Amsterdam

Amsterdam.digicity.nl

Things to do in Amsterdam

Eng.cityvox-nl.com

Things to do in Amsterdam

Rotterdamsuitburo.nl

Things to do in Rotterdam

Uit010.nl

Things to do in Rotterdam

Uitaandemaas.nl

Things to do in South Holland

Videoland.nl

DVD rental

Pathe.nl

Dutch cinemas

Tvgids.nl

TV guide, movies start around 8.30 pm

Expatica.com

concerts & other

Birthdays
Happy birthday to everybody listed below!
July 06
July 14
July 14
July 17
August 02
August 02
August 11
August 16
August 17
August 22
September 02
September 04
September 13
September 15
Spetember 16
Spetember 16
Spetember 19
Spetember 25
Spetember 29
Spetember 29

Hope from Zimbabwe

Melva from Peru
Dorottya from Hungary
Candice from South Africa
Nawaal from South Africa
Irma from Indonesia
Irazema from Peru
Maria Ika from Indonesia
Beatrix from Hungary
Frisda from Indonesia
Anja from South Africa
Thanh from Vietnam
Yeny from Peru
Karla from Mexico
Ike from Indonesia
Justyna from Poland
Vitra from Indonesia
Joanna from Poland
Aya from Vietnam
Katalin from Hungary

In the Netherlands it is quite normal to send a card to someone who celebrates his or her birthday. So if you
want to join our custom, send these birthday girls a card!

Newsletter July, August, September

This is also possible by e-mail. Go to www.hallmark.com and you can send a free birthday e-card!
No address? Send us an email and you will receive the Au Pair address list.

IYTC and Enjoy & Explore card

Special for Smiling Faces au pairs! Enjoy your stay in Holland with these cards.
For au pairs who arrive from April 2009, Smiling Faces offers the Enjoy & Explore
Card. This card allows au pairs to join outings which are paid by the host family (the
basic au pair will get 2 outings and the premium au pair will get 4). Both will also
receive IYTC card for free.
Please be aware that in order to get Enjoy & Explore Card you need to send a printed pass photo to our
address: Nicolaas Zasstraat 43A, 3033 TC, Rotterdam. In order to get IYTC card, please send a digital
passphoto to [email protected] and we will send the card to your host family address.
About the IYTC card:
NAPO and ISIC have worked together to make the International Youth Travel Card (IYTC) accessible for au
pairs in The Netherlands.
With the IYTC card you can get discounts in Holland and Europe on travelling, tourist attractions, entertainment,
accommodations and going out. You can also access some of their services for young travellers.
For more information on the IYTC-NAPO card, visit http://www.isic.org/sisp/index.htm?fx=home.

Arrivals & Departures

Arrivals
Wed like to welcome the newly arrived Smiling Faces au pairs! Welcome to the Netherlands,we hope youll
enjoy your stay and a very pleasant time with your host family.
When?

Who?

Where?

July

Grecia Chantal Garcia Lopez from Mexico

Wijchen

July

Marcia from South Africa

Driebergen

August

Mariela from Peru

Alkmaar

August

Wardah from South Africa

Tiel

August

Yury Paola Chacon Plazas from Colombia

t Zand

August

Liubov from Georgia

Utrecht

August

Angela from Colombia

Rotterdam

August

Nicolene from South Africa

Wassenaar

August

Ruije Guo from China

Heemstede

September

Shannon from South Africa

Amsterdam

September

David Peter Pienaar from South Africa

Amsterdam

September

Maricel from the Philippines

Breda

Newsletter July, August, September

Departures
Maria Cristina, Angelica, Mai Quyen, Ivon Ramirez, Janne, Natalia Micu, Lucerito, Beatriz, Deasy, Aglahen,
Vera, Frisda, Yeny, Natalie, Ina, Guadalupe, Mickey and Marie Louise will be leaving us soon. We hope youve
had an unforgetable time in Holland and we wish you all the best in the future!

English courses
Recommendation for Rotterdam

Center for British English (CBE) has 18 levels in English, you will have to conduct a test and a short interview to
assess your level. Courses are taught, mostly in the evening, on a weekly basis for 15 weeks. They start 3 times
a year and have a maximum of 12 people.
The course fee is 250 excluding the book, which is 25. The new courses will start in July 2009. For more
information visit: www.british-english.nl.

Another year au pairing in Europe?

Do you like being an au pair?
Do you want to make the most of your time in Europe?
Do you like challenges?
If yes, then you are invited to our new program: Second Year Placement! After gaining much experience in
Holland, why dont you broaden your horizon in a different country by being an au pair? Smiling Faces offers
placement in Belgium, and Norway.
Being an Au Pair is a great opportunity to enrich your life experiences. You can learn new language, explore the
country and make new friends. For more information about this program, please send an email to
[email protected].
It takes 6 months for us to find a host family and proceed your application and arrange your visa. Therefore it is
best to register as soon as possible!
NOTE: if youre already 26 years old you can still participate in this program because Norway accepts
applicants until 30 years old.

Newsletter July, August, September

Smiling Faces Summer Agenda

July
Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday
Thursday
1
2

10

11

North Sea Jazz

festival starts!

North Sea
Jazz festival

17

18

Final test for

Dutch course

12

13

14

15

16

Friday

North Sea Jazz

festival

Saturday

The start of
Ghent
Festival
(until 27th )

19

20

21

22

23

24
Rotterdams
Zomer
Carnaval
starts!

26

27

28

29

30

31

Sailing Trip I

Sailing Trip I

Sailing Trip I

Sailing TripI

Sailing Trip I

Sailing Trip I

Monday

Tuesday

Thursday

Friday

25
Sailing Trip I
by NAPO
start!

August
Sunday

Wednesday

Saturday
1
Sailing Trip
I I by NAPO
start!

Sailing Trip I I

Sailing Trip I I

Sailing Trip I I

Sailing Trip I I

Sailing Trip I I

Sailing Trip I I

10

11

12

13

14

15
Pinkpop
festival (with
80s Music)

16

17

18

19

20
Pukkelpop
festival in
Kiewit Hasselt
Belgium

21
*Pukkelpop
festival
features 50
Cent, NERD,
etc

22
*Pukkelpop
festival is
nd
from 20-22
July.

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

Summer
Darkness
festival in
Utrecht (for
fans of gothic)

Newsletter July, August, September

30

31

September
Sunday

Monday

Tuesday
1

Wednesday
2

Thursday
4

Friday
5

Saturday

9
Coldplay
concert in
Nijmegen

10
Coldplay
concert in
Nijmegen

11

12

13

14

15

16
Walking with
Dinosaurus
exhibition in
Rotterdam
th
(until 20 )

17

18

19

20
Day trip to
Pampus by
NAPO &
Smiling
Faces
27

21

22

23

24

25

26

28

29

30

Newsletter July, August, September