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ELCKERLYCINTERNATIONALSCHOOL SUPPLEMENTARYINFORMATIONPACK FORPARENTS Elckerlyc International School - Welcoming Committee Supplementary Information for Parents 1 FOREWARD TheElckerlycSchoolhasanewWelcomingCommitteewithageneralpurposeofprovidingassistanceandongoingsupport fornewfamiliesonthreelevels:atthe“enquiry”stageand/orbeforemovingtoTheNetherlands,onthefirstdayandon anongoingbasisuntilthenewfamilyhaswellandtrulysettledin! ThissupplementaryInformationPackhasbeenputtogethertoanswerquestionswhicharenotspecifictotheschoolandas sucharenotcoveredintheSchoolbooklet.Thispackcoversquestionsrelatingtowhereyoushouldlive,whatlivinginthe areamaybelike,informationaboutlocaltownswhereElckerlycfamiliestendtolive,afterschoolactivities,daytripideas, generalinformationaboutHollandandtheDutchandmuch,muchmore! TheInformationPackiswrittenbyagroupofparentswhohavebeeninyourpositionatsomepointinthepastandwho wouldhavelovedtohavehadALLthisusefulinfoathandwhentheywereatdecisionmakingstageandorjustarrived!As suchitisnotintendedtobeanadministrativeguidetoarrivalinTheNetherlands,atouristguideoranindepthguideto DutchCustomsandCulture,justacollectionofwhatwefeelwouldbeusefulforyou. AlthoughtheWelcomingCommitteeconsistsofjustfivecommittedparents,wehavebeenfortunateenoughtobeassisted byaconsiderablenumberofotherequallycommittedparentswhohavewrittenabouttheirtownsand/orspecificsubjects whichtheyfeltwouldbeusefultonewparents.Theseparents,andmanyothershavealsoagreedtohavetheirdetails available on our Family Helpline List (a list of parents ready to answer any questions you may have by E mail/phone). Howeversmallorlargetheirparticipationhasbeen,wewouldliketothankthemall. WehopethatthisInformationPackhelpsyouinsomewayandweappreciateanycommentsand/orsuggestionsyoumay have(youmaypointouterrorsalso!).Ifyouwouldliketogetintouchwithafamilyfromourhelplinelistpleasemail [email protected] Happyreading! FromtheWelcomingCommittee Acknowledgements: WeareindebtedtoLetterlandInternationalDepartmentinAlmerewhohaveallowedustouseaWelcomePackwhichthey producedsometimeago,fromwhichsomeofthe“generalDutch”informationinourpackwastakendirectly.Thisgaveus anexcellentstartingpointforourpackandenabledustoproduceoursmakingregionalandpersonalmodificationsonly, thusallowingustodosoinaveryshorttimescale.ABIG“THANKYOU”toLetterland! We would also like to thank “Family Matters” Magazine who recently provided a list of Childcare Facilities in the Netherlands,fromwhichpartoftherelevantsectioninthispackwastaken–thissavedusALOTofresearch! Elckerlyc International School - Welcoming Committee Supplementary Information for Parents 2 INDEX FOREWARD .....................................................................................................................................................................2 Acknowledgements: .............................................................................................................................................................. 2 ABOUTTHENETHERLANDS ..............................................................................................................................................5 SomeBasicFacts&Figures.................................................................................................................................................... 5 AboutAmsterdam.................................................................................................................................................................. 5 AboutDenHaag(TheHague) ................................................................................................................................................ 5 AboutLeiden.......................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Aboutotherneighbouringtowns(whereElckerlycFamiliestypicallylive) ........................................................................... 6 Leiderdorp........................................................................................................................................................................... 6 Oegstgeest.......................................................................................................................................................................... 7 Warmond............................................................................................................................................................................ 8 Voorschoten........................................................................................................................................................................ 8 Voorhout............................................................................................................................................................................. 9 Wassenaar .......................................................................................................................................................................... 9 TRAVELINGTOANDFROMSCHOOLandPARKING! ........................................................................................................10 NATIONALHOLIDAYSANDMAINFESTIVITIES.................................................................................................................10 NATIONALHOLIDAYS ........................................................................................................................................................... 10 MAINFESTIVITIES................................................................................................................................................................. 10 TYPICALDUTCHFESTIVITIES...........................................................................................................................................11 Carnival–February .............................................................................................................................................................. 11 KoninginnedagTheQueens’sBirthday:April30 ............................................................................................................... 11 LiberationDay:May5th........................................................................................................................................................ 11 Pakjesavond/Sinterklaas:December5and6 .................................................................................................................. 11 ChristmasDay&NewYear’sEve ......................................................................................................................................... 12 DutchAnnouncements!....................................................................................................................................................... 12 SPORTINGEVENTS.........................................................................................................................................................12 DUTCHCUSTOMSANDBIRTHDAYTRADITIONS..............................................................................................................13 DUTCHCUISINE .............................................................................................................................................................13 PEOPLE&CULTURE:GETTINGTOKNOWTHEDUTCH .....................................................................................................14 TIPPINGGUIDELINESINHOLLAND..................................................................................................................................15 TRAFFICSAFETY.............................................................................................................................................................15 Cars ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 15 Bicycles(fietsen) .................................................................................................................................................................. 16 Scooters(brummers/snoorfiets).......................................................................................................................................... 16 HEALTHinHOLLAND......................................................................................................................................................17 Huisarts(FamilyDoctor/GeneralPractitionerGP)............................................................................................................. 17 Emergenciesoutsideofficehours........................................................................................................................................ 17 Healthspecifictochildren ................................................................................................................................................... 17 Consultatiebureau............................................................................................................................................................. 17 SchoolGezondheidszorg................................................................................................................................................... 17 Hospitals .............................................................................................................................................................................