Celebrating local butchers
The Netherlands is blessed with an abundance of excellent small independent shops, from bakeries and patisseries to flower shops and many, many truly excellent butchers specialising in either purely poultry…
A well-crafted and impressive Mahler 3 from Claus Peter Flor and the Phion Orchestra
We witnessed a perfectly executed climax in this most monumental of symphonies. This is the best performance I have heard from this orchestra, and I look forward to more!
Van der Poel Ice Cream: Simply the best
A traditional, handcrafted ice-cream of the highest quality, produced here in the heart of the Twente region of the Netherlands
Hof van Twente Wijn: Dutch wine at its best
As you drive into Bentelo, a small Dutch village in the rich, green Twente countryside, the landscape transforms as row upon row of beautiful vines stretch across the horizon.
Wong, Stotijn and Phion create a most memorable performance
One of the many wonders of living in this part of the east Netherlands is the opportunity to hear so many talented yong musicians and watch them at work. This…
Redefining the World of Classical Music Competitions
Friday night’s concert at De Doelen, Rotterdam was the culmination of two weeks of frenetic music-making here in the Netherlands, and the highlight of this inaugural International Conducting Competition, Rotterdam.…
To Vote or Not to Vote? That is the Question
Earlier this month, for the first time in my newly adopted country, I voted in the local elections and it felt good. I shop locally and support local business. I pay my taxes to the Dutch government.
The Phion Orchestra With Annelien Van Wauwe Gave a Sparkling Performance
The Finnish music of Kaija Saariaho found dazzling exponents in the hands of two Belgian artists: Annelien Van Wauve and Martijn Dendievel
Vishandel Klijnstra – The Best Fish Stall on Enschede Market
My Food Heroes for today are Vishandel Klijnstra, a fabulous fish market stall found in H.J. van Heekplein, Enschede on a Tuesday and Saturday, and at Markt Enschede Zuid on a Thursday.
The Nutcracker at the Royal Opera House. What a treat!
After a forced closure over Christmas and the New Year, the Royal Ballet’s latest production of Tchaikovsky’s Nutcracker at the Royal Opera House as seen on Wednesday January 5th was a fantastic spectacle, brushing away all Covid-induced thoughts and inviting the audience to enter Hoffman’s magical world