Catch a movie!

What?
Art-house films for € 4.00 
Where?
Cinecitta, Willem II Straat 29
When?
Every Monday. Tickets from 18:15h
Why?
Cinecitta offers quality films, in the most beautiful theatre in Tilburg, for those who are (temporarily) tired of the blockbusters of the world. What about Lars von Trier’s dark Antichrist with Willliam Dafoe? Or see Maria Carey and Lenny Kravitz in Precious, about an overweight, illiterate African-American teen mum. Reservations are not possible.
Info: www.cinecitta.nl (Dutch site)

Grande Finale Tilburg 200

The year Tilburg turned 200 has been an eventful one. There was a spectacular opening with music, a light show, and fireworks on 1 January. A Hollywood-like Walk of Fame was created, an opera about Willem II performed, concerts were held, and more. Yet, the City of Tilburg still has one event up their sleeve and that is the grande finale on 19 December at the Pius harbour. Key words are multicultural, music, performance art, and Christmas, but the show will be centred around the four elements: water, wind, fire, and earth. The happening is directed by Jos Heijs, who was also responsible for the opening on 1 January, and that means expectations are high. In other words, dress warm, be on time if you want a good spot, and come celebrate the end of a year of festivities.

Grande finale Tilburg 200
19 December, 20:00 – 21:00 hrs
Pius harbour

Winter Efteling

Walking through a winter wonderland will soon be possible in the Efteling becasue on 12 December, the Winter Efteling is opening its doors. The famous theme park in Kaatsheuvel (bus 137 or 169 from Tilburg station) has donned its fairytale figures in wintry colours, built a 1200 m2 large indoor ice rink and langlauf course, and at the end of every day mascot Pardoes will make it snow. Most of the rides (apart from the Python rollercoaster, the rowing pond and the Piraña water course) are open as usual. The steam train will also stop at a new station called ‘The East’ where you can buy all kinds of exotic, Eastern foods hopefully forgetting you’re in cold, wet Holland for a while. But of course, you can also buy yourself a cup of hot chocolate and a bowl of Dutch pea soup ‘snert’. Just one tip: you might not want to go the first few weekends because you’ll be standing in some very long queues…

Winter Efteling, 12 December 2009 – 31 January 2010 from 11:00 to 20:00 hrs.
€ 28.00 (€ 2.00 discount when you buy online) www.efteling.com/en
Oh, and at Albert Heijn you can save for a € 6.00 discount.

Music for Free

Forty Euros is about the least you pay these days for a musical. Theatre or concerts? Pull out your wallet! Even a cinema ticket starts at € 8.50. Entertainment is expensive indeed. But it doesn’t have to be! For the music lovers among us, here are three musical performances, three nights in a row … all of them for free.

1 December in Paradox, 21:00 hrs.  Jazz session led by drummer Mark Schilders.

2 December in De NWE Vorst, 22:00 hrs. Another musical session, this one with double bass player Ludo van der Winkel and the Gé Bijvoet Trio. The atmosphere in theatre De NWE Vorst is always heartwarming, but some free bass lines and beats make you forget the cold outside completely.

3 December in Paradox, 20:00 hrs. Students from the Conservatory have their so-called ‘ensemble night’. Meet tomorrow’s star performers tonight.

Pubquiz

Yesterday, Studium Generale and 013 held the annual student pop quiz. That’s always great fun … if  you speak Dutch. So where do international students or employees go for their fix of trivialities and sense of competition? They go to Clancy’s pub. It’s pretty safe to assume that most internationals have already found this Irish pub in the city centre. It’s certainly not cheap, but you’ll find a very international crowd, are able to order your drinks in English without being shot a few strange looks, and they show high-profile football matches on the big screen. What you may not know, is that they also have a pub quiz. Go to Clancy’s on a Monday night to join in, but go on time because the quiz starts at 20:00. For many, this may be something you’ve always wanted to do, but never really got round to. Why not next Monday?

Clancy’s pub, Korte Heuvel 44-45, Pub quiz on Mondays at 20:00 hrs.

Arrival of Sinterklaas

There are some weird and/or interesting traditions in the Netherlands.

We eat raw herring, carry cheese across markets, go crazy in orange for Queen’s Day and … we all stand in the cold at the Pius harbour to catch a glimpse of Sinterklaas. Sinterklaas, or Saint Nicolas, is the old bishop who hands out gifts on 5 December to children who behaved the past year. Those who have not been good ‘get the rod’ or are carried off to Spain in one of the empty gift bags.

The Sint arrives in Tilburg on Sunday 15 November at noon. He’ll enter the harbour on his ship and follow a route on his trusted grey horse, Amerigo, towards the Willemsplein. Come and soak up the atmosphere of this typically Dutch tradition, sing along with the easy ditties, and decide for yourself whether his aid, ‘zwarte piet’,  still belongs to this day and age.

Arrival of Sinterklaas, Sunday 15 November, 12:00h at the Pius harbour

A (Des) Unique Feeling

Musicals have become immensely popular over the past decade or so in the Netherlands. And ever since Korenslag, a television programme in which choirs compete, it has been proven that choirs have transcended their dull image.

I should know because I sing in one myself: the Tilburg, all-women vocal group Des Unique. Therefore, this time on my blog, I will take the liberty to promote our upcoming performance: Het gevoel van … Des Unique (The Des Unique Feeling).

We will bring you more than a dozen musical songs, from the classics of West Side Story and Chicago to modern tunes from Wicked and Witches of Eastwick and everything in between. In between songs, we will grant you a glimpse of the inner workings of the vocal group. Des Unique promises a dynamic, must-see show filled with humour and girlpower.

Het gevoel van … Des Unique
14 November at 20:00
15 November at 15:00 and 20:00
Centrum voor Amateurkunst (Kunstbalie), Ringbaan Oost 8-17
Tickets: € 10 click here or send in your order to desuniek@gmail.com

(photographs: Karlijn Heeregrave)

Winter walks

 To me, walking is simply a way to get from A to B. Taking a stroll to get some fresh air can be great, especially on your lunch break in the Warande, but I never quite understood those people with their Nordic walking sticks or people taking long hikes up the heath.

Yet, at this moment, when autumn has just set in, the weather’s soft and the leaves are bright red and yellow, and even I regularly feel like taking a walk. If you enjoy a good walk, Hart van Brabant organizes special winter walks on 7 November. They cover distances of 40, 23, 13 and 5 km and start at Boerke Mutsaers, opposite train station West. For €3 (40 km) or €2 (other distances), you can join them.

Can’t make it? Your next opportunity is 13 December. Who knows, it might just snow by then!

 Winter Walks, Saturday 7 November, Boerke Mutsaers, Vijverlaan 2

40 km starts at 9:00, other distances start between 9:30 and 12:00

Info & registration: www.wsv-hartvanbrabant.nl

Lunchroom & restaurant Prins Heerlijk

In the Nieuwlandstraat in Tilburg, number 16 to be exact, is a small and cosy-looking lunchroom called ‘Prins Heerlijk’. A bar, white tables, flowers in the windows, people enjoying lunch or a high tea: nothing seems out of the ordinary. Yet, this is a place where youngsters with learning problems and/or a mental disability are trained to work in the catering industry by a team of professionals. The food is good (biological, Fairtrade coffee, fresh juices), but what is most striking is the friendly and pleasant atmosphere.

From October, ‘Prins Heerlijk’ is also open for dinner on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. Every last Friday of the month from 19:00 to 23:00h, there’s a surprise night with hors d’ouvres and a 4-course menu.

Having lunch or dinner at ‘Prins Heerlijk’ is an experience that goes beyond merely enjoying a good meal, so do go and enjoy the ambiance at this truly unique place.

Lunchroom & restaurant ‘Prins Heerlijk’
Nieuwlandstraat 16, Tilburg
www.prinsheerlijktilburg.nl (Dutch only)

Open:
Monday: 12:00 – 17:30h
Tuesday & Wednesday: 10:00 – 17:30
Thursday – Saturday: 10:00 – dinner (reservation recommended)
Sunday: closed

Dido & Aeneas

Yes, we know the stereotypes about opera: only visitors over 50, fat women in Viking helmets, expensive, and completely out of date. Nothing is less true for Opera Zuid’s performances. This southern opera company is highly innovative and tends to place classical operas in a modern context. They are now performing Purcell’s Dido & Aeneas which they have adapted to integrate two other works by Purcell. It’s sung in English with Dutch subtitles.

Dido & Aeneas tells the story of queen Dido who is left alone with her kids after her husband is killed. A new lover enters the scene, but she causes the budding relationship to break up, thereby sabotaging her chance to be happy again.

And… the opera is even affordable! People under 25 pay only €12.25 for a first rank ticket (instead of €30.25), so why not try something different for once?

Saturday 10 October, Schouwburg Tilburg (Schouwburgring), 20:15h.
Tickets from €12.25, purchased on the site, at the shop on the Schouwburgring, or by phoning 013-543.2220.