29 August 2008
The Anne Frank House museum said Friday it has restored 52 photographs and images the Jewish teenager pasted on the wall of her room to cheer herself up while hiding from the Nazis. The water-stained collage of celebrities of the day, such as Greta Garbo and the Lane Sisters, that Anne Frank created shortly after her family went into hiding have been seen by millions of visitors, offering them another view into the mind of the girl best known for her posthumously published diary.
"Our little room looked very bare at first with nothing on the walls," Anne wrote in an entry on July 11, 1942. "But thanks to Daddy, who had brought my picture postcards and film-star collection ... I have transformed the walls into one gigantic picture. This makes it look much more cheerful." One photo, of Olympic skater and Hollywood star Sonja Henie, had been out of place since an earlier renovation in the 1970s and has now returned to its original spot, said museum spokeswoman Annemarie Bekker. An investigation of the pictures found that most were movie stars cut from the Dutch women's magazine Libelle, Bekker said.
More at
Associated Press
25 August 2008
Olympic athletes from the Netherlands returned home Monday and were cheered by 25,000 fans at the Amsterdam stadium which hosted the 1928 Games. Led by medal winners, team members walked or danced along an orange-colored catwalk to a stage set up in the Olympic Stadium before being reunited with family and friends. The Netherlands ended 12th on the Beijing medals table with seven golds, five silvers and four bronzes.
"This is great. There are so many people here," said Marianne Vos, who won gold at the cycle track in the women's points race. "We have only just flown home, but you would not want to miss this." Hockey gold medalist Minke Smabers told the crowd that her boyfriend Tjerk Smeets, a catcher with the Dutch baseball team, proposed to her in Beijing at the closing ceremony. "He dropped to one knee and asked me to marry him. I said 'yes' straight away," Smabers said.
International Herald Tribune
24 August 2008
The New York Daily News visits Amsterdam:
"The art lovers go to Amsterdam for the Rembrandts, the flower lovers go for the tulips, and the hipsters go for the - well, you know what the hipsters go for. The point is, no matter what your preference, you'll find what you want in the capital of the Netherlands, one of Europe's most exciting cities with 45 museums, numerous canals, historic palaces and churches, and a distinctive international atmosphere.
Starting with the museums, you mustn't miss the Rijksmuseum, one of the great art museums of Europe. It exhibits works by such Dutch masters as Rembrandt and Vermeer, along with artifacts that showcase the Netherlands' culture and history. The highlight: seeing Rembrandt's huge masterpiece "The Night Watch" up close.
A look at one of the world's first social service ventures is provided by the Begijnhof, an enclosed area of small houses, courtyards and gardens that gave refuge for centuries to destitute women. Now housing senior citizens, the Begijnhof is a quiet refuge amid the teeming metropolis, with architectural gems and beautiful landscaping. Other architectural attractions include the Royal Palace, an impressive domed building in the center of the city that was originally the Town Hall, and the Nieuwe Kerk or "New Church," built in the 15th century. Daily tours of the Royal Palace are offered to see its rooms of state and artworks, while the Nieuwe Kerk features art and history exhibitions.
But perhaps the best way to experience the city's unique atmosphere is by taking one of Amsterdam's canal tours. Several companies provide day and night tours of the Venice of the North, while a "museum boat" goes to the museum district. Water taxis are also available to specific locations, such as hotels and restaurants."
Read the entire article with lots of travel tips
here
24 August 2008
Chef de Mission of the Dutch Olympics team, Charles van Commenée, looks back on the Games with a good feeling. He is "more than satisfied" with the Dutch performance in Beijing. In the past two weeks, the Dutch team won 16 medals: seven gold, five silver and four bronze. That is less than in the previous two Games, but more separate teams and individuals were involved in winning the medals. In Sydney and Athens, the Dutch team relied on just a few competitors such as swimmers Pieter van den Hoogenband, Inge de Bruijn and cyclist Leontien van Moorsel.
More at
Radio Netherlands
With 16 medals the Netherlands end up in
12th place in the overall medal standings.
22 August 2008
Americans forced to settle for silver in water polo
The Americans lost, 9-8, to the Netherlands in the gold-medal game Thursday when Dutch superstar Danielle de Bruijn scored with 26 seconds left. The loss follows a trend. The U.S. lost in the gold-medal game in the final seconds in the 2000 Olympics, lost in the final seconds of the semifinal in 2004 and lost again in the waning seconds Thursday. This defeat is easy to explain. The Americans could not stop de Bruijn, who scored seven goals in her final game. She announced her retirement after the medal ceremony. The Netherlands quickly rolled to a 4-0 lead, and the Americans never recovered. The U.S. tied the game at five and later at eight but never led.
Detroit Free Press
Netherlands win women's hockey gold
World champion the Netherlands has beaten host China 2-0 to win its second Olympic hockey title. China won silver, its first hockey medal of any colour, while Argentina earlier outclassed Germany to take home the bronze for the second consecutive Olympics. The Dutch took the lead from a botched penalty corner in the 51st minute, with forward Naomi van As knocking in a rebound and scoring her first goal of the tournament.
ABC
The men's hockey team was less successful, losing to Germany in the semi-final. After drawing 1-1, they lost on penalties in extra time. There was also disappointment when both Dutch table tennis hopefuls were knocked out of the women's singles competition in the fourth round. Singapore's Feng Tianwei beat Li Jie of the Netherlands, while Li's compatriot, Li Jiao, the current European champion, didn't have a chance against China's Guo Yue.
Radio Netherlands
19 August 2008
Star rider wins Olympic gold for the Netherlands
Anky van Grunsven of the Netherlands won her third consecutive gold medal in the individual dressage equestrian event at the Olympics. She scored 82.40 percent with her horse, Salinero, in the grand prix freestyle riding on Tuesday to bring her total to 78.68 percent for the grand prix special and freestyle tests, confirming van Grunsven as the queen of the sport.
Sportsnetwork.com
Netherlands advances to semifinals of men's field hockey
After an uneventful first half, the Netherlands and Pakistan battled back and forth in men's Pool A field hockey, with the Dutch emerging with a 4-2 win. The Netherlands scored its second marker on a penalty corner in the 46th minute, followed by a second penalty-corner goal in the 58th minute. With 10 points from four matches, the Netherlands only needed a draw to secure a place in the semifinals. The Dutch won a silver medal at the Athens Games.
CBC.ca
There was also disappointment in the Dutch camp, with cyclist Willy Kanis failing to secure a place in the finals during Tuesday's track sprint finals; she ended fourth to miss a bronze medal. Gymnast Epke Zonderland also failed in his bid for a medal in the men's horizontal bar final; he fell from the apparatus, ending in seventh place.
Radio Netherlands
17 August 2008
Rowing: Dutch double win lightweight gold
Netherlands duo Kirsten van der Kolk and Marit van Eupen won gold in the women's lightweight double sculls after a close battle with Finland.
BBC
Dutch upset defending gold medalists in water polo
The Netherlands upset defending gold medalists Italy 13-11 in penalty shots in the quarterfinals of the Olympic women's water polo tournament Sunday. Erzsebet Valkai's first missed penalty shot in three years with the Italian national team came at the worst possible time, helping the Dutch to victory. The Netherlands advanced to play Hungary in the semifinals Tuesday. The Hungarians won the teams' earlier meeting, 11-9 in pool play. "It's our duty to reset that first match, if you know what I mean," Dutch driver Danielle de Bruijn said. "I think we have a score to settle."
International Herald Tribune
Hockey: Dutch women down Australia 2-1
Reigning world champions the Netherlands snatched their fourth win and secured a semifinal spot, defeating Australia 2-1 in the Olympic women's hockey on Saturday. Australia, ranked fourth in the world, suffered their first loss since the tournament started. Australia went 1-0 up on a field goal from Sarah Young in the 17th minute. However, just three minutes later, Maartje Paumen from Holland leveled the score to 1-1 with a penalty corner. He scored his second in the 46th minute, also a penalty corner, and set up the Dutch's win.
Xinhua
Cycling: Tough times in Beijing for the Dutch
If the Dutch cycling team don't seem particularly cheerful in this year's Olympics, it's hardly surprising after the series of problems which have hit the team in Beijing. Worst off by a long way was their team pursuiter Niki Terpstra, who crashed badly as he was riding to the Laoshan stadium for the qualifier this morning. When team-mate Robert Slippens braked, Terpstra went into him and over the handlebars. His injuries was major: two broken arms, possible fractures in the sternum and a possibly fractured jawbone.
That's not all, either: Yesterday Peter Pieters, the team coach, was struck by a rider at the velodrome and although initial suspicions of a broken hip turned out to be unfounded, he does have a broken cocycx bone in his lower back. On a sporting level, things have not been going too well either. Theo Bos fell and was eliminated from the keirin on Saturday, whilst team-mate Teun Mulder was disqualified for not keeping his line.
Cycling Weekly
US defeats Dutch 7-0 in baseball
The United States has beaten the Netherlands 7-0 in a baseball game that was called off after eight innings following a second rain delay. The Dutch protested the decision because they had loaded the bases in the ninth inning with no outs. The protest was denied by baseball's international federation. The players shook hands after the game, which started 6 1/2 hours earlier.
Associated Press
13 August 2008
A Dutch television journalist was killed overnight when Russian warplanes bombed the central Georgian city of Gori. The television news station RTL reported on its Web site that its cameraman Stan Storimans, 39, was killed and correspondent Jeroen Akkermans was wounded in the leg in the attack. RTL said at least five people died in the Gori bombing. At least two other journalists have been reported killed previously in the fighting between Georgian and Russian troops, now in its fifth day.
Gori was bombed overnight by Russian forces who have occupied the nearby Georgian separatist region of South Ossetia and on Monday advanced into Georgia proper. Gori was all but deserted late Monday after most remaining residents and Georgian soldiers fled. Dutch Ambassador Onno Van Elderenbosch said Storimans was working in a media center that had been set up on the top floor of Gori's three-story television and radio center. It was not clear whether the building itself had been hit.
Associated Press
RTL has opened a special
page on their website with news and reactions. (In Dutch)
13 August 2008
Dutch Olympic women's judo bronze
Dutch Olympic judo contestants continue to win medals in Beijing, with Edith Bosch taking the bronze in the women's 70kg category. However, her compatriot, Mark Huizinga, was knocked out of the men's 90kg category contest.
Radio Netherlands
Swimming: 'Hoogie' wants to win just once more
Pieter van den Hoogenband has just one goal at the Beijing Olympics: He wants to win his third gold medal in a row in the 100-meter freestyle, the main event as far as swimming is concerned.
If he does, he will be the first person to do so in the history of the Olympic Games. At the Sydney Olympics in 2000, Van den Hoogenband was the first person to swim the 100-metre freestyle event in under 48 seconds. This is the thirty-year-old's last competition season and he wants to shine just one more time. "I want to show myself and the rest of the world that I am the best. Just once more." It's also Van den Hoogenband's fourth Olympics.
Radio Netherlands
Football: Sibon Keeps Dutch Olympic Dream Alive
Netherlands 1-0 Japan. The Dutch needed a win to qualify to the next round, but Japan did their best to bring them down. Oranje needed a Gerald Sibon spot kick to seal the deal. Japan are already eliminated after two losses, while Holland have been unable to impress with two draws. As a result of the results so far Holland needed to win today’s match by two goals to make sure of qualification. Injury time was a tense time - it usually is when Holland are playing. Vermeer had to be on his best as Japan had a late goalmouth flurry. Thus, the narrow win for The Netherlands was enough to help them qualify for the next round, because of the Nigerian win against USA. However, the quarterfinal won’t be easy for Oranje. Reigning Olympic champions Argentine are waiting.
More at
Goal.com
Holland's rowing team on a low as weed slows them down in Beijing Olympics
Racing may be cancelled after Holland – Britain's main rivals in the men's four – complained that their elimination in a semi-final was due to weed slowing down their hull. Holland were too late to make an official protest to FISA, but the international rowing governing body will check the course early and, if necessary, cancel racing so that it can be cleared.
The Telegraph
Hockey: British hopes suffer blow at hands of Dutch
Great Britain's hopes of a medal in the men's hockey suffered a blow after a late goal condemned the British side to a 1-0 defeat against the Netherlands. A 4-2 victory over Pakistan in their opening group game had raised British hopes, but the Dutch, silver medal winners in Athens in 2004, presented a sterner test. The result leaves Britain in third place in Pool B, behind the Dutch and Australia, both of whom have 100% records. The top two teams in each of the two groups qualify for the semi-finals.
The Guardian
11 August 2008
At the Olympic Games in Beijing, Dutch judoka Deborah Gravenstijn has won a silver medal in the women's under-57 kg category. In the final, she lost to Italy's Giulia Quintavalle after she was unable to take the intiative following an uko. Nevertheless it was a good day for Ms Gravenstijn in Beijing. She was not expected to win an Olympic medal. She won a place in the semi-final after beating the Brazilian Ketleyn Quadros and the Spaniard Isabel Fernandez. Once she beat China's Xu Yan in the quarter final, she was certain of winning a medal.
More at
Radio Netherlands
Hockey: Dutch and Germans open with big wins
Defending champions Germany and the Netherlands swamped their opponents on Sunday, while former champions Australia scraped past South Korea in the first round of the Olympic women's hockey. Germany thrashed Britain, ranked 10th and whose last Olympic appearance was eight years ago, 5-1 and top-ranked Netherlands hammered South Africa 6-0.
More at
Reuters
Sailing: Dutch women on right track
The British trio of Sarah Ayton, Sarah Webb and Pippa Wilson continue to lead the Yngling after finishing fourth and second in Monday's races. They dropped a seventh place finish in race four and have a total of 15 points, giving them a three point advantage over Mandy Mulder, Annemieke Bes and Merel Witteveen of the Netherlands. The crews in spots 3-11 are separated by a mere four points. Australia and the United States are in third and fourth, respectively, with 32 points, and Finland is one point back with 33.
Beijing Olympics website
10 August 2008
Veldhuis anchors Dutch to relay gold, second medal
Marleen Veldhuis anchored the Netherlands to women's 4x100 metres freestyle relay gold on Sunday to secure her country's first Olympic title in the event in 72 years. Dara Torres, who became the first U.S. swimmer to compete in five Olympics as well as the oldest at 41, followed Veldhuis home for the silver while world champions Australia finished third. The Dutch quartet, whose Olympic record time of 3:33.76 was only just outside the world mark of 3:33.62 they set in March, were chasing their country's first gold in the event since the 1936 Berlin Games. More at
Reuters
Football: Injury time goal gives Dutch 2-2 draw with US
Gerald Sibon converted a free kick in the third minute of injury time and salvaged a 2-2 tie for the Netherlands against United States on Sunday, keeping Dutch hopes alive for advancing in the Olympic football tournament. The Americans fell into a tie atop Group B with Nigeria with four points each, two better than the Netherlands. Only two teams advance from the group stage and the Americans will face off against the Nigerians on Wednesday in the final group game for both.
Associated Press
Hockey: Australia under pressure, says Dutch player
Olympic champions Australia will feel the pressure when they begin their defence of the men's hockey title on Monday, Dutch player Teun de Nooijer said on Saturday. The experienced midfielder, who will be playing in his fourth Olympics, was talking from experience. Australia stopped the Netherlands' bid for a third straight title in Athens. The Netherlands, who finished fourth in the Champions Trophy, are in the same group as Australia and will also play Pakistan, Britain, South Africa and Canada in the preliminary stage.
More at
The Guardian
Bronze medal for Ruben Houkes
The Netherlands has won its first Olympic medal. Ruben Houkes, the reigning world judo champion in the under 60-kilo class, has won a bronze medal by beating the Israeli Gal Yekutiel. Houkes lost in the semi final to the South Korean Min-Ho Choi, who went on to take gold. The Austrian Ludwig Paischer won the silver medal.
Radio Netherlands
Dutch Olympic team chief looks to top 10 finish in Beijing
The Dutch Olympic team faces tough challenges from South Korea, Spain, Hungary and Japan in its road to a top 10 finish in the medal tally, team chief Charles van Commenee told Xinhua in a recent interview. "Our ambition is to finish in the top 10 in the medal tally. There are a few countries who are in the same bracket," the Dutch Chef de Mission said. Van Commenee has high hopes for cycling, which in his opinion will probably bring home the most medals. The Dutch cycling team abounds with world class players, including Marianne Vos, who took the biking and road racing titles in 2006 world championships and became the track racing world champion in the points race this year.
Judo is another sport where the Dutch are likely to reap medals. The team boasts Ruben Houkes, the gold medalist in the men's under 60-kilo class at the 2007 World Judo Championships, and Mark Huizinga, who won one gold and two bronzes in the past three Olympic Games. The Dutch are also strong in equestrian, field hockey, swimming and sailing. The Dutch women's hockey team is one of the favorites to took gold in Beijing, while Anky van Grunsven, 40, is looking to take her third gold in individual dressage in as many Olympic Games.
More at
Xinhua
Everything about the Olympics can be found on the
official website, including bios for all the participating countries (
The Netherlands).
07 August 2008
The New York Times does Amsterdam (as well as other cities) on a budget.
"Early last Friday evening, the sky over Amsterdam turned a cold indigo, and the uncurtained light from shops and homes glowed a vibrant yellow. A breeze rippled the water of the canals, where a few couples were enjoying the sun’s fading rays, while in the nearby sidewalk cafes, smartly dressed Amsterdammers were drinking flutes of pale amber beer. It also happened to be my birthday, and I was aimless, alone and chilly. But above all, I was thirsty.
As I walked up Weteringstraat, an unassuming street not far from the city’s most famous museums, I spotted a corner bar, the Café de Wetering (Weteringstraat 37; 31-20-622-9676), its entrance shrouded in grapevines. Inside, beyond the clumps of pale green fruit, it was narrow, the wood all burnished brown, with a low-ceilinged mezzanine and, all the way at the back, a fireplace. Soft jazz played on the stereo, a melodic counterpoint to the Dutch spoken by the dozen regulars, one of whom set down his glass and announced, to nobody in particular, “Sonny Rollins.”
I bellied up, ordered a Belgian white beer (2.95 euros, about $5.75 at $1.60 to the euro) and soon found myself discussing used-book stores with the bartender. Before long, one of the regulars was buying me glasses of jenever—essentially Dutch gin, but more complex and served alone at room temperature — and talking about the gentrification of Amsterdam’s blue-collar neighborhoods. I sipped my drink and felt a flood of warmth — and not just from the alcohol. This bar was gezellig, a Dutch term that conveys cozy conviviality, and gezelligheid was just what I needed."
Lots of addresses and information in
the article.
07 August 2008
Dutch people are less negative about the presence of Muslims in their midst. That's the significant finding in a survey of 1100 Dutch adults carried out by TNS NIPO. But at the same time, there are also fewer and fewer Dutch people who believe that the integration of Muslims into Dutch society will ultimately be successful. NIPO has carried out similar surveys in recent years. Particularly in 2005 and 2006, shortly after the murder of Dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh and the attacks in London and Madrid, a large percentage of Dutch people appeared to regard Islam as a threat, and the presence of Muslims as disagreeable.
A major reason for the reduction in fear and unease about Islam is of course the fact that no large-scale attacks have taken place in the EU since 2005. But fatigue probably plays a role too. The hysteria surrounding Islam seems somewhat to have subsided. Notably, contact between Dutch people and Muslims has actually increased. The number of those surveyed who said that in their daily lives they mix with members of ethnic minorities, including Muslims, has doubled since 2006 (26 percent in their personal circle of friends, 40 percent in a work environment). Fewer Dutch people say they would move house if a lot of foreign children came to live in their neighbourhood. Furthermore, since 2004 a growing number of Dutch people say they have a reasonable knowledge of Islam. But the NIPO survey also tells another side of the story. Despite the more positive image of Muslims, fewer and fewer Dutch people believe in the possibility of Muslims integrating into Dutch society. No less than 71 percent of those questioned think that integration will never be entirely successful. Strikingly few Dutch people display any interest in maintaining contacts with Muslims or other members of ethnic minorities. The number was always low - 21 percent in 2005 - but it has now dropped to a new low point of just 14 percent.
Read the entire article at
Radio Netherlands
05 August 2008
From
The Guardian:
Why go now?
There is nothing quite like spending a hot summer's day in Amsterdam. The moment the first rays of sunshine come out, the locals hit the city's terraces in droves, take to the canals with their boats or hang out at the travelling theatre festival De Parade (
deparade.nl). For the first two weeks of August, this runs in the Martin Luther King park, featuring theatre and musical performances in a setting that is best described as a quirky mix between a circus (the series of performances take place in tents) and an old-fashioned funfair (complete with Ferris wheel).
Amsterdam is a small city and most of the sights are within walking distance of one another. The De Jordaan area, with its cobbled streets and tree-lined canals, is the picture-perfect Amsterdam that both visitors and locals love. Following the canals from Central Station you're bound to hit the busy Leidsestraat, which ends up in the equally crowded Leidseplein. Too busy for your liking? A mere stone's throw away is Vondelpark, the lungs of the city, where hippies, dog walkers, joggers, tourists and suits coexist happily.
More tips and addresses in
the article
-
Next Archive
Shop Only in Holland
» Dutch police ground flight after threat
Airport police evacuated a passenger plane that was grounded for hours Tuesday due to a telephone threat. Three passengers were detained in connection with the incident, a spokesman said. Police spokesman Joost Wezemer said it was not certain whether the threat of a hostage-taking or hijacking aboard the Transavia flight to Bodrum, Turkey, was a hoax. The plane sat on the tarmac at Rotterdam Airport for more than five hours with more than 110 passengers about before the passengers were taken off.
Associated Press
» Amsterdam to host Hirst's skull
British artist Damien Hirst's human skull encrusted with 8,601 diamonds will go on show at the Rijksmuseum in November. The artwork named "For the Love of God" was unveiled last year at London's White Cube gallery and later sold to an anonymous investment group. Encased in a layer of platinum and covered with diamonds, the skull will be exhibited at Amsterdam's Rijksmuseum for six weeks starting on November 1 before embarking on a world tour, the museum said.
Reuters
» Dutch soldiers to testify for Karadzic
A legal adviser to Radovan Karadzic, the former Bosnian Serb leader now facing war crimes charges at the Yugoslavia tribunal in The Hague, says at least 15 former soldiers who served with the Dutch battalion Bosnia are willing to testify for Mr Karadzic. The lawyer claims that two Dutch soldiers have already been interviewed about their testimony in favour of Mr Karadzic. Many of the former Dutch soldiers who served in Bosnia are still experiencing problems as they have been blamed for the fall of Srebrenica.
Radio Netherlands
» Dutch judge off Karadzic case
The preparatory phase of the trial of former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadzic at the Yugoslavia Tribunal is now in the hands of British judge Iain Bonomy. Dutch judge Alphons Orie was to oversee the initial stages of the case but on Tuesday Mr Karadzic challenged Judge Orie's position. He referred to the severe sentences that the Dutch judge had imposed on Bosnian Serbs in the past and argued that he was biased because of the Netherlands' involvement with
Srebrenica.
Radio Netherlands
» Dutch govt scraps planned rise in VAT tax
The Dutch government abandoned a one percentage point increase in value added tax (VAT) planned for 2009, the Dutch Finance Ministry said on Friday. The government will scrap the plan altogether, making it unlikely that there will be an increase after 2009 as well.
Forbes
» In the land of cheese, tulips and biometrics
There is a quiet revolution taking place in the Netherlands. It is an innovation that is revolutionary in terms of the impact it will have on society, commerce and civil liberties. Yet, this revolution is taking place with scarcely any detectable public discussion of the issue. In May, Schiphol International Airport in Amsterdam announced a trial with iris scans and fingerprints for identification on flights between the Netherlands and the U.S. Like most European countries, the Netherlands has strong privacy protections -- protections that were put in place to guard against abuses that occurred during totalitarian regimes of the recent past. A person's biometric data, be it his fingerprint or iris scan, would certainly qualify as personal information and would be subject to the provisions of the European Union's Data Protection Act.
Read the entire article at
Computerworld.com
» Starbucks plans to go Dutch in spring
Next stop for Starbucks: the Netherlands. In spring of 2009, Starbucks plans to open its first nonairport store in the country at Centraal Station in Amsterdam. The company is joining with Dutch firm Servex, a food and beverage concessionaire in Dutch railway stations. The company said it would focus on railway stations while considering other ways to develop its presence in the Netherlands. In the Netherlands, Starbucks already has a roasting plant and support center, which opened in 2002. Located in Westpoort, the plant roasts, packages and ships coffee to more than 1,200 cafes in Europe, Middle East and Africa. It is the only roasting plant located outside of the U.S. and employs about 150 people. The plant has a Starbucks store on site for employees. Starbucks' three locations at Amsterdam's Schiphol Airport are operated by HMSHost through a licensing agreement.
SeattlePI.com
» Scientists use technology to help detect fake van Gogh paintings
Vincent van Gogh's masterpieces have inspired both young artists and prospective forgers seeking to recreate his vivid landscapes and portraits. Those forgeries are inspirations, too. But in an ironic twist, scientists are turning to modern technology to give art experts better tools to answer an expensive and age-old question: Is it an original van Gogh painting or a fake? A unique collaboration of artists and scientists forged by Cornell University professor C. Richard Johnson uses computer screens as canvases. While the project focuses on van Gogh's classics, the outcome could have an impact throughout the art world.
23 authentic van Gogh paintings were used by a computer system as a training database for van Gogh's brushstroke styles. Statistical models were created to capture the unique style, or "handwriting" that became the artist's signature in those scans. Detailed images could be blown up in size, allowing researchers to analyze intricacies of brushstrokes. 78 other paintings, which were composed of works of van Gogh or van Gogh's peers, or paintings at one time attributed to him but later deemed inauthentic - were compared with the statistical models generated by the 23 authentic paintings. The findings were compiled into an online system that can be used to help sort out discrepancies between authentic and forged paintings. They found that copies tend to have more brush strokes.
Read the entire article at
Canadian Press
» Dutch premier tells China he's concerned about human rights
Dutch Prime Minister Jan-Peter Balkenende has told his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao he is concerned about human rights violations in China, Dutch newswire ANP reported Sunday. Balkende said he discussed freedom of the press, the position of human rights activists, minority rights and the situation in Tibet. He said his Chinese colleague said the issues ought to be discussed further. This may happen in late October, during the Dutch prime minister's official visit to China following the Asia summit.
Monsters & Critics
» Utilities drive Dutch inflation to 6-year high
Higher gas and electricity prices drove Dutch inflation to a six-year high of 3.2 percent in July, data showed on Thursday, although it remains at one of the euro zone's lowest levels.
The rise was almost entirely due to higher gas and electricity prices -- up by 6.9 percent and by 3.2 percent respectively from a year earlier, Statistics Netherlands said. More at
The Guardian
» Dutch mountain climber tells harrowing tale of deaths on K2
Dutch mountain climber Wilco van Rooijen, who was plucked off K2 by a rescue helicopter Sunday, tells a gripping tale of an ice avalanche that swept some climbers to their death and cut off a descent route for others. He recounts his harrowing ordeal on the mountain, located in Pakistan near the border with China, in interviews with The Associated Press and Reuters. Rooijen tells Reuters that falling ice sheered off the lines his group needed to get down from the mountain, causing panic among some in the group he was leading. He says "people were running down but didn't know where to go, so a lot of people were lost on the mountain on the wrong side, wrong route and then you have a big problem." More at
USA Today
» Amsterdam Gay Pride boasts record turnout of 500,000
Organisers of Amsterdam's 13th annual Gay Pride festival which ended on Sunday said the annual canal parade on Saturday drew a record crowd of more than 500,000. According to reports, 80 boats took part, including a police boat and a government boat which included Education Minister Ronald Plasterk, Interior Minister Guusje ter Horst and Development Cooperation Minister Bert Koenders as well as several deputy ministers. Amsterdam Mayor Job Cohen also took part as a passenger on the council boat. Minister Plasterk had invited soldiers to take part in the parade in uniform, but Deputy Defence Minister Jack de Vries put a stop to that, saying: "We want to respect the dignity of the uniform, which is irreconcilable with an exuberant party like Gay Pride". More at
Expatica.com
