Anglo-Netherlands
Society
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Forthcoming Events

Please scroll down to view a list of recent events

The following Anglo-Netherlands Society events have now been arranged and announced in the Society’s quarterly Newsletter; please use the application form included with your copy of the Newsletter to book your place(s). Some events are open to non-members, who may either join an event as the guest of a member or (if sufficient places are available) ask to be a paying guest. Please e-mail our office to find out whether this applies to an event that you are interested in. 

March 2010

    Unilever Lecture - Guest speaker Sir Colin Budd KCMG on: “UK/Netherlands Relations since Margaret Thatcher”. On a Tuesday evening in the second half of the month, London Blackfriars, 6 for 6.30pm, drinks, lecture and buffet supper. 

    The Real Van Gogh: the Artist and his Letters. An Introduction and private viewing to this Extraordinary exhibition. The Real Van Gogh: the Artist and his Letters brings together some of over 800 letters together with the paintings to which the writers refer, thus we gain a new insight in Van Gogh’s person. At the Royal Academy, Burlington House, Piccadilly, London End of March, members only

April 

     Bletchley Park - Of British World War II fame. Coffee, tour, lunch, tour, tea and opportunity to view selected parts once again. On a Sunday in late April.

May 

    Waltham Place - a garden trip to White Waltham, Berkshire, in the middle of the month.

September 

    “The Other Holland” - Lincolnshire - following on from the 2009 “Unilever Lecture“, the Anglo-Netherlands Society is planning a three day Tour in the cities and polders of Lincolnshire in the middle of the month.

Future Events (some tentative!) at a time to be finalised:

    Globe Theatre - an evening performance in June or early July is mooted.

    90th Anniversary Dinner - Carpenters’ Hall, speaker to be confirmed, on a Tuesday evening in late November.

    Proposed Society Trip to Edinburgh   The Anglo-Netherlands Society has explored a possible trip to Edinburgh and surrounding area, on a long weekend basis (probably Friday to Monday) to take place during September 2011 - after the Edinburgh Festival has taken place. The programme will include a mix of art galleries, Palaces and houses, gardens and Churches which have some form of Dutch or Flemish connection. The venues could include National Gallery, National Portrait Gallery of Scotland, Holyrood Palace and Hopetoun House.

 

Recent Events

Anglo-Netherlands Society events fall in the following categories:

Please scroll down to see the complete list, or
click a link above to view the section of interest
 



Dinners (Annual and Celebratory)

  • March 2006: Reception and Celebratory Dinner to commemorate the Society’s 85th anniversary. On a Thursday, at the Institute of Directors, Pall Mall.
  • October 2003: Annual Dinner in Grocers' Hall, with Guests of Honour HRH Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and Principal Speaker mr Pieter van Vollenhoven.
  • 2001: Annual Dinner at Drapers Hall, with Guest of Honour and Principal Speaker Admiral Sir Michael Boyce GCB OBE ADC, Chief of the Defence Staff.
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Major Art exhibitions

  • April 2009: Bruegel to Rubens: Masters of Flemish Painting, The Queen’s Gallery, Buckingham Palace. It is said that much of the greatest art is produced during periods of strife. In the mid-16th century, the Netherlands – the United Provinces in the north (modern Holland) and the Spanish-ruled south (modern Belgium) – was the most sophisticated society in Europe, but its learning and luxury industries were all but annihilated by the so-called Dutch Revolt and by the Eighty Years War that followed (1568-1648). Two thirds of the works on show here were painted during this turbulent period, including Pieter Bruegel’s Massacre of the Innocents of 1567. Other highlights include works by his son Jan Bruegel, while the Twelve Year’s Truce (1609-21) is celebrated by a group of landscapes (including three by Rubens) depicting the blessings of peace and the fertility of the region.
       During the Renaissance the Low Countries attained a flawless technique of painting and the highest standards of craftsmanship. This tradition survived during even the worst years of the war. Everyone is familiar with the Golden Age of Dutch Art; this is an opportunity to explore its no less glorious Flemish counterpart. The Anglo-Netherlands Society have organised a group visit, with an excellent introduction and very knowledgeable guides. On a Wednesday in the middle of the morning.  
  • September 2008: Visit to the de Bray Exhibition at the Dulwich Picture Gallery. Members enjoyed a fantastic reception, an informative introduction by director Ian DeJardin, and an unparallelled opportunity to view the works in relative quiet. The Society thanks the member who sponsored this occasion.
  • July 2008: “Turmoil and Tranquility: the sea through the eyes of Dutch and Flemish masters 1550-1700”  Private viewing of the exhibition in the Queens House at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich. We were fortunate that Dr Pieter van der Merwe gave an introductory talk. The event was organised in co-operation with the Royal Netherlands Embassy. 
  • July 2007: Dutch Portraits: The Age of Rembrandt and Frans Hals. We met from 5.30 pm for drinks (alcoholic or not) at the cash bar, attend lecture on: Seventeenth-century Dutch Portraiture: What does Clothing tell us? by Dr Emilie Gordenker, a Senior Curator, Early Netherlandish, Dutch and Flemish Art, at the National Gallery of Scotland. She has lectured and published extensively on her speciality, 17th-century dress and Anthony van Dyck at 6.30 pm, and had timed entry tickets to the exhibition at 7.30 pm, making this effectively a private view.
  • July 2006: Uylenburgh & Co : Dealing in Masterpieces. Private Viewing on a Thursday evening, comprising Reception in the garden, Introductory Talks by the Gallery’s director, Ian Dejardin, and by the Netherlands Ambassador, Count Jan de Marchant et d’Ansembourg, an opportunity to view the exhibition and all other galleries at leisure, or alternatively enjoy the company and/or ‘drinks & canapees’ in the central galleries.
  • March 2006: Jacob van Ruysdael Exhibition - Evening Reception and Private Viewing at the Royal Academy. On Wednesday evening 1 March from 6.30  till 8.30. Members’ room open at 6pm, reception with wine, orange juice and canapees from 6.30, introduction and guided tour by Graham Wakefield from 7.15 - 8.15 Last members left by 8.45.
  • April 2005: "Enchanting the eye" Private evening viewing of paintings by Dutch masters in Her Majesty the Queen’s collection. With the Anglo-Belgian Society.
  • January 2003: "Madame de Pompadour", private evening viewing at the Sainsbury Wing of the National Gallery, organised by the Franco-British Society.
  • 2002: "Inspired by Italy", Dutch Landscape Painting 1600 - 1700, an evening Reception and Private Viewing at Dulwich Picture Gallery, together with the British-Italian Society.
  • 2002: "Aelbert Cuyp", Evening Reception and Private Viewing, in cooperation with the Royal Netherlands Embassy, at the Sainsbury Wing of the National Gallery.
  • 2001: Private lecture, visit to "Rembrandts Women" at the Royal Academy.
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Concerts

  • EU – UK Societies New Year Concert, in the Britten Theatre at the Royal College of Music. On a Wednesday evening near the middle of the month.
  • Concert with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, Mahler’s second, with Dutch soprano Christianne Stotijn.
  • Bernard Haitink 80th birthday concert, with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra and Murray Perahia, piano, at the Barbican. This concert was not organised by the Anglo-Netherlands Society, we booked a number of tickets, arranged for a specialist introduction, and coordinated members who wished to take a light lunch at a nearby venue.  
  • UK-EU Societies New Year Concert Thursday 8 January 2009, 7pm
    The Britten Theatre Royal College of Music, Prince Consort Road, London
    The programme included :  The Piatti String Quartet who will play music by Haydn and others.  Jonathan Parkin on the clarinet with piano, playing Vaughan Williams’ Folk Songs and the Messager Solo de Concours.  Paula Poppa, the Romanian harpist, playing Parlando Rubato - The Legend of a Flight by Felicia Donceanu (a contemporary Romanian composer).  Soprano Sarah-Jane Brandon and baritone Vojtech Safarik accompanied by Alisdair Hogarth on the piano performing arias from popular operas.  The Elysium Quartet (four terrific saxophonists) playing jazz including Gershwin.  Plus a solo pianist.
  • November 2007: Concert with the Bar Musical Society and the Anglo-Dutch Piano Platform, at the Old Hall, Lincoln’s Inn. Followed by buffet supper. The Inns of Court have always had strong musical traditions. In the 16th and 17th centuries their musical entertainments were lavish and an important part of the life of the Inns. The Bar Musical Society was founded in 1952 to foster these long musical associations and to bring leading musicians of our time regularly to the Inns. The Society normally arranges some four concerts a year, and its members and their guests have the opportunity to hear acclaimed artists perform in the four Inns of Court or sometimes in the Temple Church. The Society’s concerts are usually followed by a supper reception, which enables members and their guests to meet together and to meet the artists. The two young Dutch musicians Karolinka de Bree, piano, and Mathieu van Bellen, violin, were both winners of the Prinses Christina Concours 2001, where they met for the first time, and are now pursuing their musical studies in England.
  • November 2005: Bas van Bommel, Piano Recital, on the occasion of the tenth anniversary of the Anglo-Dutch Piano Platform. Works on the programme are by: Haydn, Brahms, Debussy, Willem Pijper, and Kees van Baaren. The cost of a glass of wine -offered during the interval- was included in the price. Bas’ debut in England was at the Brighton International Festival, aged 14, having won the prestigious Prinses Christina Concours in the Netherlands. Venue: Steinway Hall, 44 Marylebone Lane, London W1.
  • October 2005: Rubens Quartet - a young professional string quartet from the Netherlands gave a special, and highly regarded performance for members of the Anglo-Netherlands Society and Friends of the London Festival Orchestra at The Warehouse Waterloo. Contrary to what some might have feared of a converted warehouse, the acoustics were well suited to the programme featuring Haydn, Kurtag and Tchaikovsky. This event was open to guests.  
  • November 2004: Storioni Trio Amsterdam at Wigmore Hall. After a sold out concert at the Netherlands Embassy in March 2001, we attended anothr sterling performence of these three young Dutch musicians.
  • March 2004: Pianist Ana Maria Vera at Middle Temple Hall, with the Bar Musical Society.
  • Mid October (annually): Glyndebourne Touring Opera, with the Sussex Branch.
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“Off the Beaten Track”
  ‘Voyages of Discovery’ in the Netherlands

  • 2007: “Holland off the Beaten Track“ - once more a five day tour. This time we visited the North and the Wadden Eilanden (islands along the north coast).
  • 2005: "Fairway of History and Commerce" - the Rhine from Leiden to Kleve.
  • 2003: "Achterhoek Uncovered" - the Hanseatic Cities in Gelderland.
  • 2001: "Discovering the Delta" - in the South-west.
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Multi-day Tours in the United Kingdom

  • June 2008: Three Day ‘Gardens and Historical’ Trip to Suffolk   Confirmed Tuesday 10 to Thursday 12 June. There are a few places available, and members who would like to join the tour after all are advised to contact the Administrator at the earliest. Please refer to the “Multi-day Tours in the United Kingdom” section below for an impression.
  • June 2006: Chichester - Thursday to Saturday, including the Rolls Royce factory, West Dean gardens, the refurbished (yet to be opened officially) Pallant House Gallery, Goodwood House, Chichester Cathedral, Chichester Festival Theatre, and a boat trip around Chichester Harbour. As is often the case, local friends arranged for our party to view what is not normally open to the public ...
  • May 2004: St Albans, Hatfield, and more ...
  • Spring 2003: Salisbury, another in our series of long weekend breaks.
  • 2002: Norfolk, members explored the city, and Dutch links in the county.
  • 2001: Worcestershire and Herefordshire.                                      Return to top of page


Prominent Lecturers

  • September 2007: Arnhem Lecture, Arnhem Room, Moor Park Golf Course, Rickmansworth. Third time. Moor Park was the headquarters of the British forces which landed at Arnhem in ‘Operation Market Garden’ - an attempt to gain control of three bridges spanning the wide Dutch rivers Maas, Waal and Rijn. The third lecture - entitled “Beyond a Bridge Too Far” - was delivered by Professor Reinier Salverda, Director of the Frisian Academy in Leeuwarden (a research institute of the Dutch Royal Academy of Sciences). He was Professor (now Honorary Professor) of Dutch Language & Literature at University College, London from 1989 to 2006. Born in Arnhem, Reinier’s subject included growing up in Arnhem after the war, the Battle of Arnhem, and its impact on civilians.
  • September 2006: Encore of the successful Golf Day / Arnhem Lecture / Buffet Dinner at Moor Park Golf Course.
  • October 2005: Arnhem Lecture - by Laurie Milner, historian of the Imperial War Museum, and a three-course dinner afterwards. It was here at Moor Park Golf Club that Operation Market Garden (the 1944 attempt to capture bridges across the three wide Dutch rivers) was planned in what is now appropriately called the Arnhem Room. 
  • March 2005: "Britain and Europe - what’s the problem?" - by Chris Patten, organised by the joint UK-EU Societies at the Royal Geographical Society, followed by a reception. Thursday evening event, open to members only.
  • October 2004: "Where is Europe Going?". Dr Denis MacShane, Minister for Europe, kindly agreed to address the joint UK-EU Societies in the Locarno Rooms at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, due to circumstances, he was ably represented by the FCO’s Director for Europe.
  • 2002: The Rt Hon. Peter Hain MP, Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, talk, organised by the joint UK-EU Socieites.     To top


Receptions

  • April 2006: Evening Reception aimed at bringing together Children of members of the Society and others who are ‘Young at Heart’. On a Thursday evening, in the Netherlands Ambasador’s residence.
  • May 2005: Reception at, and Tour of, the House of Lords, to celebrate the 85th Anniversary of the Anglo-Netherlands Society. On a Friday evening.
  • July 2004: Reception at H.E. the Netherlands’ Ambassador’s Residence. Members made a contribution to the Netherlands Benevolent Society, the Koning Willem Fonds.
  • March 2003: Royal Reception on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the Coronation of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, with other 'Anglo-European' Societies.
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Theatre, Shows and Musicals

  • November 2009: Magic Convention Gala with special performance by Dutch magician Tonny van Rhee for members of the Anglo-Netherlands Society. On a Saturday at the end of the month. 
  • July 2009: Open Air Theatre in Regents Park - “The Importance of Being Earnest” - all places have now been taken.
  • March 2008: Deep Blue Sea   Matinee Performance of Terence Rattigan’s play at the Richmond Theatre.
  • May 2007: Nederlands Dans Theater II - formerly known as NDT2 - at Sadler’s Wells, on a Friday evening. Included a talk by director Jet de Ranitz and a glass of wine.
  • April 2007: “For Services Rendered” - Issy van Randwijck in William Somerset Maugham’s play, directed by Edward Hall. The Watermill Theatre, Bagnor, near Newbury, Berkshire. Saturday matinee, preceded by luncheon.
  • February 2006: Matinee Performance of “Once in a Lifetime”, at the National Theatre, with Issy van Randwijck, directed by Edward Hall. On a Wednesday, early in the month. By George S Kaufman and Moss Hart. From the great masters of American comedy comes an irresistible comic treat with all the visual extravagance of Hollywood’s golden age.
  • October 2004: Much appreciated and well attended, a Matinee Performance of the Musical 'High Society', at The Richmond Theatre. It proved to be a  good opportunity to see the stage production of Cole Porter's classic musical 'High Society'.
  • June 2003: A Midsumer Night's Dream, Open Air Theatre, Regent's Park, preceded by picnic.
  • 2002: Vincent in Brixton, at Wyndhams theatre, after acclaimed summer at the National Theatre.                                                         Click here to return to the top of this page


Unilever Lecture Series

  • 2009: Lord Taylor of Holbeach, Shadow Minister for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Director of Taylor Bulbs in Lincolnshire and a member of the Society kindly agreed to speak on: “Links across the Sea - the other Holland”.
  • 2008: John Julius Viscount Norwich, on “The Miracle of Venice”. The Lecture and the dinner - hosted by Unilever - took place on the top floor of 100 Victoria Embankment - formerly ‘Unilever House’.
  • 2007: no lecture held as the venue was not available at the time.
  • 2006: ”A European Perspective” by Nick Clegg MP, spokesman on European Affairs for the Liberal Democrats, who served in the European Parliament and at the time the representative for Sheffield-Hallam.
  • 2005: "The Flemish Bond - the Dutch in Norfolk", by Christopher Hanson-Smith, author of the eponymous book. At the former City of London School.
  • 2004: "Sustainable Development, Sustainable Business", by our member Karen de Segundo, a director of Royal Dutch-Shell.
  • 2003: Eden Project, by Tim Smit CBE, at “Shakespeare's Globe”.
  • 2002: Hell and High Water, BT Global Challenge Yacht Race, by Robert Brooke.
  • 2001: "Queen Wilhelmina, her time of exile in England, and the British", by the historian and ‘official’ biographer, Professor Cees Fasseur.
  • 2000: Books and Other Ingenious Devices, by David McKitterick.
  • 1999: Reflections on Russian-Dutch Connections, by Zoia Belyakova.
  • 1998: Dutch Realism, by Baron van Dedem.
  • 1997: Chinese Ceramics of the British Museum, by Jessica Harrison-Hall.
  • 1996: Johannes Vermeer, by Dr Christopher Brown.
  • 1995: 1945 and 1995, by Mr Robbert Fack, former Dutch ambassador.
  • 1994: Amsterdam in the 17th Century, by Pieter Jongbloed.
  • 1993: Rembrandt’s Landscapes, by Harriet Bachrach.
  • 1992: The Dutch at Deshima, by Eddie Brouwer.
  • 1991: The van der Veldes - Father and Son, by Prof. Fred Bachrach.
  • 1990: What use was the Dutch Resistance? by Michael Foot.                              To the top


Visits not classified above

  • ‘Moctezuma: Aztec Ruler’ exhibition at the British Museum. On a Tuesday afternoon, preceding the AGM in a venue nearby, on an early evening in the beginning of December. Regretfully limited to members only.
  • Hannah Peschar Sculpture Garden - Lecture and Tour, followed by picnic lunch. 
  • Tour of the Old Bailey   A private ‘After hours’ tour which was followed -for those so inclined- by drinks in the ‘Haunted Pub’ opposite. The tour was quickly fully booked, and the Society arranged a repeat for the many who were disappointed when their application could not be honoured at the first time.
  • Lullington Castle   An all-inclusive trip to Lullingstone Castle and Gardens, near Sevenoaks in the Weald of Kent. 
  • Kew Palace, Kew Gardens and Queen Charlotte’s Cottage.  Meet for coffee, guided tour of Kew Palace (‘the Dutch House’), optional lunch in Orangery, visit to Queen Charlotte’s Cottage and a day pass for ‘The Explorer’.
  • RAFA Dutch Day. Annual event at Royal Air Forces Association home. Usually three small planes fly from Lelystad aerodrome in the Netherlands drop small Edam type cheeses in commemoration of ‘Operation Manna’, the Allied food droppings in 1945 over ‘Vesting Holland’ - the still Nazi occupied part of the Netherlands where the occupying forces had stopped food for the civilian population being brought in.
  • Foundling Museum, London’s first home for abandoned children, now a museum, tells the story of three major figures in British History: Thomas Coram, philanthropist and founder; William Hogarth, artist; George Frederic Handel, composer.
  • AGM and private guided visit of the ING art collection.
  • Golf Match, Arnhem Lecture, and Buffet Dinner. A unique day at the world famous Moor Park Golf Club. For golfers a match in the afternoon preceded drinks, the Arnhem Lecture, given by Laurie Milner, historian of the Imperial War Museum, and a three-course carvery dinner in the Dining Room.
    Moor Park Mansion is a magnificent example of classic English architecture and has in past centuries housed Archbishops, Queens and Peers of the Realm. In recent years it was restored to the best of its former glory. It was here that Operation Market Garden (the 1944 attempt to capture bridges across the three wide Dutch rivers) was planned in what is now called the Arnhem Room. 
  • October 2005: “Nelson and Napoleon”, “River Cruise”, Lunch, Talk, and self-guided visit (with audio guide included) to the exhibition at the Mational Maritime Museum, Greenwich.  We were fortunate that Dr Pieter van der Merwe, maritime historian at the museum, gave an introductory talk in front of the famous Turner painting  “The Battle of Trafalgar”, in the Queen’s House. The River Cruise was a journey by scheduled river boat from Embankment Pier, and lunch was enjoyed at the Regatta Cafe. Please note that neither boat nor lunch were included in the cost quoted on the application form. 
  • July 2005: Guided Tour at Sotheby’s on the occasion of the Dutch masters sale, followed by drinks.
  • September 2004: Saatchi Gallery, lunch and ‘flight’ on the BA London Eye.
  • June (annually): ‘Cheese Dropping’ by the ‘Edambusters’. Three small aircraft from the RAFA 1077 (Amsterdam Branch) squadron drop miniature Edam cheeses to commemorate ‘Operation Manna’, (the food parcel droppings in still occupied ‘Vesting Holland’ towards the end of the second world war). At RAFA home ‘Sussexdown’, in Storrington, West Sussex - by invitation.
  • April 2005: Uppark House near Petersfield, of 'William and Mary' style.
  • December 2003: Wimbledon Tennis Museum.
  • November 2003: Westminster Abbey Musical Tour accompanied by the renowned Purcell Club, followed by supper at St Johns, Smith Square.
  • September 2003: Viewing of a large private Contemporary Art Collection.
  • December 2002: Visit to the Guildhall Art Gallery, followed by the AGM.
  • 2002: Low Countries Sculpture at the V&A, organised by the recently founded Low Countries Sculpture Society.
  • 2002: Henley-on-Thames, the River and Rowing Museum, and Fawley Court.
  • 2001: British Library tour, talk by Dr Jaap Harskamp, curator, on the Dutch and Flemish collections and the Indonesia Merdeka collection.                                               To the top

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