Exploring the North – City Trip to Groningen

Saturday, June 15th, 11am to 8pm, Groningen

Greetings Fellow Oxbridge alumni,

Have you been looking for an excuse to explore the north of the Netherlands? Join us as the Society ventures to the Northernmost parts of the Netherlands for the first time and we start by exploring the lovely city of Groningen since “Er gaat niets boven Groningen”, which translates to “Nothing tops Groningen” 😃. We will explore the city from land, water and heights, so take this opportunity to be part of OxBridge Society’s exploration of the North.

Activities:

• Boat Tour – We will start with a boat tour admiring the city through the historic canals, take in the beautiful bridges, centuries-old towers and medieval patrician houses. This includes drinks on the boat.
• Lunch (not included in ticket price) – We will then have a pit-stop for a hearty lunch at Mr. Mofongo where you can discover the smells and flavours from different cultures in an intimate South American setting encountering attributes & stories collected during Máximo Mofongo’s world travels.
• Walking Tour – After the lunch we will also explore the city by land led by Groningers and fellow alumni.
• Forum – We will also take in the city from another perspective from the top of the Forum, a striking piece architecture bursting with inspiration opened in 2019. It is located in the heart of Groningen’s city centre with a rooftop with panoramic views.
• Exhibition (America & Trump by Andres Serrano) – At the Forum we will also have a chance to explore an exhibition by Andres Serrano consisting of a unique composition of three works by him, shown together for the first time. Together, these works act as a reflection on U.S. society and on Donald Trump, who after a career as an entrepreneur, real estate magnate and media personality, ascended to America’s highest office and is now attempting to repeat this feat.
• Martinitoren – The final stop will be the Martinitoren, the tallest building in Groningen, which over the past 500 years, was burned down, was struck by lightning and almost collapsed. We will climb up behind the bells and enjoy another unobstructed view of the city.
• Drinks – We will end the day with some drinks at one of the many cozy terraces or indoor bars based on the weather.

When: Saturday, June 15th, from 11:00am-20:00pm

Where: We Will Meet by Peerd van Ome Loeks (Uncle Loek’s horse) a typical Groningen work of art outside Groningen’s Main Station in the centre of the station square (Stationsweg 11, 9726 AC Groningen).

Prices: Member 42.50 EUR ( with museumscard 27,50 EUR) | Guest of Member / First-time: 44.50 EUR ( with museumscard 29,50 EUR)

Train travel: Direct trains run from Den Hague, Leiden, Rotterdam, Amsterdam Zuid, Utrecht every hour. But trains with connections run every 30min. Most stations have around a two – three hour travel time, less of course for those from around Zwolle. If you have never visited Groningen – this is your chance, especially considering you will also get to mingle with other alumni.

Tickets are limited due to places available for boat tour and booking closes June 11. Hence, early booking is recommended! Cancellations with a refund are only possibly up to a week in advance. Past this date only possible ticket swaps may be possible.

We hope you can join us for an amazing day out to explore the most happening city in the North of the Netherlands!

The BeNeLux Joint Alumni Weekend 

Fri, 31 May – Sun, 2 Jun | The Hague / Amsterdam, The Netherlands 

Join us as we welcome our friends from Belgium and Luxembourg to the Netherlands during this event-filled Weekend, in both The Hague and Amsterdam. A particular highlight is our joint dinner in a restaurant overlooking the Amstel, with a Boat Tour just before – dropping us right off at the restaurant. You do not want to miss this opportunity to meet alumni from across the border! See below for a detailed description of the program.

The Joint Alumni Weekend Committee

Grace, Caroline & Ruth

Please find the full program below:

Friday 31 May – The Hague

Afternoon

International Criminal Court Visit – 13:30

Join us as we unravel the complexities of global justice and gain insight into the ICC’s mission to prosecute crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide. We will uncover the inner workings of this vital institution and gain a deeper understanding of its role in promoting accountability and peace worldwide. See our schedule:

• 13:30 Arrival to the Court
• 13:45 Welcome and introduction to the International Criminal Court
• 14:00 Presentation on the Court and its current developments by Julieta Solano, Trial Lawyer
• 14:30 Q&A
• 14:45 Possibility to attend a hearing

Directions: Once in The Hague, the easiest way to reach the ICC through public transport is via bus line 22 or line 29. The meeting point is at the main entrance to the ICC.

Speaker Bio: Julieta Solano McCausland is a Colombian lawyer. She earned her first law degree and minors in History and French language and Culture at Los Andes University in Bogotá and her Magister Juris degree at Oxford in 2001-2002 (Catz). She has worked for the ICC since the day the first Judges were sworn in, in March 2003. She was Special Assistant to the first Prosecutor of the ICC and has been a Trial Lawyer in the Office of the Prosecutor for close to 20 years. She has worked on the Lubanga, Ntaganda, Mbarushimana, and Mudacumura cases in the DRC situation, and currently serves as Head of the Unified Team for the Office’s investigation into the situation in Burundi.


Escher Museum Tour – 15:45
Join our guided tour of the Escher Museum which will lead you through the mesmerizing world of M.C. Escher, a master of optical illusion and mathematical precision. The museum is located within the former royal Lange Voorhout Palace. The price includes the ticket and the group tour. There is a maximum of 15 attendees. 

In case the tickets are sold out here, please note that you may still purchase individual tickets on the Escher Museum website directly and place yourself on our “waitlist” option. We will then notify you of any drop-outs for the group tour.
Directions: It is a 12-minute walk from Den Haag Centraal or you can take the 15 or 17 tram for 1 stop to the Korte Voorhout and then a 3-minute walk.

*NEW EVENT* – European Patent Office Visit in The Hague – 16:00-17:30

Join us for a visit at the The Hague EPO, where an Oxbridge alumnus Lorenz Steinbock will give a small tour and share more about its work. Lorenz received a BSc/MSc from Heidelberg University in Molecular Biotechnology and a PhD from Cambridge University, Darwin College. Subsequently he worked for Roche Diagnostics in the area of next-generation DNA sequencing, followed by a Postdoc at the EPFL in Lausanne, Switzerland. After one year as a consultant for a boutique consulting firm focussing on clients in the biotech and pharmaceutical industry he joined the EPO in 2016, where he examines patent in the field of agriculture and animal husbandry. He is also a member in oral proceedings and an expert for Artificial Intelligence.

• 16:30-17:15 Presentation about the European Patent Office
• 16:00-16:15 Visit of the roof on the main building
• 16:15-16:30 Visit of the roof garden besides hinge

Directions: From Den Haag Centraal you can take the 17 tram till the stop Rijswijk, Handelskade and then a few minutes walk.

Please note that spots are limited for the visit.

Evening

Informal Drinks – 19:00 – 21:00 Location TBA in due course. We will gather for drinks, offering those who work in the city to mingle with our visitors. For those wishing to grab dinner beforehand, please see the recommendations below. Note that we do not arrange dinner locations, but you are free to gather and arrange for dinner together.

Restaurant Recommendations:  ‘t Goude Hooft or Milu Bar & Restaurant

Saturday 1 June – The Hague

Morning & Afternoon

Mauritshuis Tour 10:30
The ticket includes the entry fee and an official tour of the Museum. It also includes a visit to the Prince William V Gallery. It does include a combined tour of the permanent collection and the exhibition. Ticket price: 30.50 EUR.

A small world-class museum with a formidable collection of Dutch and Flemish paintings from the 17th century; the golden age of this type of art. The museum consists of two striking historical buildings: the Mauritshuis, a city palace on the Plein in The Hague and the Prince William V Gallery at the Buitenhof. In the Mauritshuis, you’ll discover iconic masterpieces, such as the Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer and the Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp by Rembrandt, which attract hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world to our museum every year.

Walking Tour 10:30-12:45 
Join a walking tour through some of the most iconic sights in The Hague. A great way to get your steps in while learning about the city. Price: FREE (please leave a tip for the tourguide)

Panorama Mesdag Tour 11:00-12:00

Panorama Mesdag is a panorama by Hendrik Willem Mesdag. Housed in a purpose-built museum in The Hague, the panorama is a cylindrical painting (also known as a Cyclorama) more than 14 metres high and about 40 metres in diameter (120 metres in circumference).

The building that incorporates this panorama was constructed specially for the painting. In the centre of the building, an artificial dune has been created on a roundabout. From a viewpoint above the dune, visitors will see the same panorama as if they were standing on the Seinpost dune levelled off in 1881, as the canvas hung around it shows an impressively painted beach and seaside scene. Ticket price: 17 EUR

Directions: From Den Haag Centraal, you can take the 22, 24, or 28 Bus to Den Haag Mauritskade with a 6-minute walk; you can take the 9 tram to Dr. Kuyperstraat, or the 15/17 tram to Buitenhof with an additional 13-14 min walk.


Lunch 12:30-14:00
We will have lunch together (pay-as-you-go) before we head of to Amsterdam. Location TBA closer to the date. 

Evening Activities (in Amsterdam)

Boat Tour (will drop off at restaurant) – 17:00

Join us for a boat tour – what better way to enjoy the views of the city while socializing with alumni, in hopefully summery weather. The tour will take us from Amsterdam Centraal and will drop us off at the restaurant location. It is possible to purchase a drink on the boat, but this is not included in the ticket. Price: 19.50 EUR.

Joint Dinner – 19:00

Conveniently for those arriving by boat, we will meet for the joint dinner at the Ode aan de Amstel Restaurant, where we will be served a three-course menu with some wine (estimated at 1.5 glases per person). The restaurant has great views over the Amstel, and this is guaranteed to be a great evening for our alumni to come together. Additional drinks may be purchased individually. Ticket price – 72.90 EUR

The menu will be made available soon – you will be sent a link to confirm you menu choices then. 

Sunday 2 June / Amsterdam

Van Gogh Museum Tour – 9.30
Step into the vibrant world of one of history’s most celebrated artists with our guided tour of the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. During this special guided tour, a museum guide will introduce you to several famous paintings of Vincent van Gogh. The ticket inlcudes the entrance fee and tour: 30 EUR.


Walking Tour of Amsterdam – 10:30 
Together with a local guide, you will discover the most noteworthy highlights of the city. Please leave a tip with the tour guide. Price FREE.

Nature walk in Amsterdamse Bos (11:15 – 13:15) led by alumnus
Escape the city clamour and delve into the serene embrace of nature with our upcoming adventure in the magical Amsterdamse Bos, or Amsterdam Forest on 2nd June led by our committee member Xuan Wang. Imagine leisurely strolling amidst verdant foliage with a short meditation session, enveloped in the gentle melody of birdsong. Discover the hidden treasures of Amsterdamse Bos as you wander its winding trails. Admire Heuveltje, a scenic hill offering panoramic forest views, and cross charming wooden bridges that beckon exploration. Challenge your balance on playful stapstenen, adding a touch of Dutch whimsy to your nature escapade. Our adventure begins promptly at 11:15 am at the Visitors’ Centre “De Boswinkel,” easily reached by bus 357. Don’t miss this chance to escape the ordinary and embark on an unforgettable Dutch experience in Amsterdamse Bos! FREE


Museum of the Canals (Grachten Museum) 12:00 
Step back in time and immerse yourself in the captivating history of Amsterdam’s iconic canals with a tour of the Amsterdam Canal Museum! Consists of a multimedia tour about the origin of the Amsterdam canal district where you will be guided through five rooms by an audio guide. This takes about 45 to 50 minutes. Tickets will be €17.50

Followed by:

Closing Lunch & Drinks: 13:30
Join us for an informal Lunch in Vondelpark at the ’t Blauwe Theehuis tasting room from Brouwerij ‘t IJ. This is a pay-as-you-go lunch.


Cancellation & Refunds: Please note that cancellations with a refund are only possible until 13 May. After this date, we may be able to help with informal swaps from waitlists but this cannot be guaranteed. 

Accommodation Options for our Neighbours:

“Stay with alumni” Scheme. Let us know if you would like to stay with alumni opening up their home. We will do our best to match you up, if space allows. You can let us know by emailing secretary.ocnl@gmail.com (Subject: Joint Event Housing Request) and provide us with the following information:

1) Name, Society Affiliation (Univ, graduation year)

2) Optional: Gender and preferences regarding host (if applicable, e.g. I prefer to stay with same gender only) 

3) Dates and city of preference

Recommended Hotels in The Hague

3 Star – Ibis Styles, Residenz Stadslogement, La Paulowna
4 Star – Hotel Indigo, Hotel Voco
5 Star – Hotel des Indes

Recommended Hotels in Amsterdam

3 Star
The Craftsmen (6 min by tram/ 12 min walking from Centraal Station)
Hotel The Noblemen (14 min by tram/ 25 min walking from Centraal Station)
Max Brown Hotel Canal District (10 min walk from Centraal Station)
Museum Square (20 min by tram/ 40 min walking from Centraal Station)

4 star
Hotel Jakarta (15 min by tram/ 30 min walking from Centraal Station)
The Hoxton (12 min by tram/ 20 min walking from Centraal Station)
Zoku (11 min by metro/ 30 min walking from Centraal Station)
Ambassade Hotel (15 min by tram/ 20 min walking from Centraal Station)

5 star
Pulitzer (10 min by tram/ 25 min walking from Centraal Station)
Pillows Maurits at the Park (21 min by tram/ 40 min walking from Centraal Station)

Other
Sweets Hotel Amsterdam (aparthotel in various locations across Amsterdam in historic bridge houses)

Alumni Book Presentation: 

“Telling the Resistance Story to an Anglophone Audience – Under Nazi Noses”

Thursday, April 25 date, 4:30 to 7 pm, Verzetsmuseum

An Oxford Alumnus is presenting his book in the Netherlands – all alumni and guests welcome!

The Translator-Editor-Annotator of “Under Nazi Noses”

The speaker, John Tepper Marlin, is a graduate of both Harvard (where he majored in European History and Literature and wrote the first edition of Harvard’s “Let’s Go” Guide to Europe) and of Oxford. He has written a book about Oxford College Armns. He is related to Walraven van Hall, who is the subject of Erik Schaap’s Dutch book. Walraven’s mother and wife were independently  cousins of Marlin’s Dutch mother and Boissevain grandmother.

Description of the Event

Marlin has a slide show with 20 slides to illustrate the different phases of the Nazi Occupation and Walraven van Hall’s role in it. Van Hall raised $1 billion for the Resistance, in gifts, loans, and… mostly from removal of financial assets from the Dutch State Bank. How he did it will be explained. He was betrayed and caught and, after waiting as a Todescandidat, he was executed near the end of the Occupation. The book has 750 endnotes to explain historical and place allusions that are in Schaap’s book that might be difficult to appreciate for someone not brought up in the Netherlands. Dr. Marlin wishes to hear from the audience and will ask questions. He would also like to sell the book (a percentage will go to Erik Schaap).

Ticket Cost:  Attendance is 11 EUR. Books will be available for sale for equivalent of $20. Those buying an admission ticket can obtain a book for 16 EUR prepaid. 

The book was on the Oxford alumni March Booklist—one of only seven books—in the QUAD online alumni magazine.

Guided walk in Leiden – Pilgrim Fathers and Jewish Monuments by Dawn Macfarlane

Sunday April 21^st – 14:00 (Approx 1.5 hours)

Explore the stories of Leiden with a local alumna

Leiden has a well-documented connection with the Pilgrim Fathers, who lived in Leiden for a number of years before sailing to America. Dawn will show some of the places connected with the Pilgrims and also 4 of the 5 locations of the Jewish Monument, Bagage related to the Nazi occupation. The two topics being loosely linked by the theme – Religious Persecution.

Dawn will tell the stories of these 2 different events in Leiden’s history and show other points of interest as we go.

We’ll meet outside Rijksmuseum van Oudheden (National Museum of Antiquities) Rapenburg 28, 2311 EW Leiden a short walk from Leiden Central Station. 

After the walk you are welcome to join Dawn for a drink (courtesy of the Oxford & Cambridge Society).