Alkmaar

On Sunday, November 9th we will gather and join each other on a 14 km hike.

This time we will discover the dunes around Castricum and Heemskerk.

We will start and finish at Castricum train station. We will meet at 12.45 hrs to meet and greet so we can start at 13.00 hrs.

Castricum station is easily reachable by intercity train from
Amsterdam (25 mins) and Alkmaar (10 mins).

From the back of the train station, we immediately dive into the dunes.

We will start off with climbing a staircase of 149 steps to reach a watching tower with a fabulous view on the surroundings.

After approximately one hour we will reach Gasterij de Kruisberg, a restaurant right in the middle of the dunes and forest. Let’s get together around the campfire for a hot chocolate or anything you like.

After that, we are heading towards the countryside and castle Marquette. This is now a luxurious hotel, and unfortunately not open to public, but it really is a stunning sight to see.

Through the countryside amongst horses and cows, we will continue our hike back to Castricum station.

I hope to see you all there and join me on his hike.

To make it easier with paying for a group in a restaurant, we send you a payment request for five euros beforehand. If you have to cancell you will receive a voucher.

I’m looking forward to it!

On Sunday December 14th we will visit Museum Kranenburgh.

Museum Kranenburgh is a museum for modern and contemporary art in the green artist village of Bergen, 10 km from Alkmaar.

Many artists, from around 1900 to the present, feel attracted and inspired by the landscape of the polder, the dunes, the forest and the beach in and around Bergen. Museum Kranenburgh maintains an extensive collection of the Bergense School.

I hope you are also very excited to see the three new exhibitions that are opened this month.

Over the Top! by Dirk Filarski:

Known as a painter of the Bergen School, Dirk Filarski (NL, 1885–1964) was above all an artist who carved his own artistic path. Over the Top! follows the travel-loving Filarski from his first visits to Bergen to his many journeys across Europe and into parts of North Africa.

Hidden Stories by MaritTörnqvist:

Poetic, fairy-tale-like, and stimulating illustrations.

All Ends by MeetDan Zhu:

Chinese artist Dan Zhu (Jiangxi, 1985) creates refined drawings, paintings and murals in which everyday observations, memories and daydreams merge with the infinite dynamics of planets, organisms and microscopic structures.

After visiting the exhibitions, we will gather for a coffee or a drink in the museum café, where we can overlook the garden with the many sculptures. If weather permits, we can also have a walk in the garden and even climb in the trees.

Are you joining me? Hope to see you there.

The museum is easily reached by bus from Alkmaar train station or by OV fiets. There’s a small car parking free of charge.

After signing up, you will receive a payment request for five euros to be able to settle the bill after the drink. If you can’t make it, you will receive a voucher for our next event.

Let’s meet at 13.45 hrs, so we can start our tour at 14:00 hrs.
I’m looking forward!

Are you ready for Christmas?

On Saturday, December 20th we will definitely get into the Christmas vibe.

For the first time the city of Alkmaar will turn into a cosy outdoor living room, with fire pits, wooden benches, warm blankets and twinkling lights. We can roast marshmallows over the fire, enjoy mulled wine, hot chocolate and poffertjes.

Get ready for the Christmas sing-a-long, where we sing along with local choirs with Feliz Navidad and Let it Snow. Throughout the center there will be musicians and creative street acts.

Let’s celebrate together! I hope to see you all there.

We will meet at the cheese museum (Waaggebouw) at 13.45 hrs to gather and start to explore at 14.00 hrs. Afterwards we will get together for a cosy drink.

Maarten will send you a tikkie payment request (in your meetup mail) of five euro to cover the social drink.

Please only rsvp if you are willing to pay and are sure about your reservation.

Spaces are limited.