Dutch Resistance, Friday's at the Van Gogh, and Carnaval

Hard to believe another whole week has passed...

This past week was quite eventful. On Tuesday night Kelly, myself, our roommates, and some of our friends had a delightful taco dinner. It was a nice change of flavor from our typical meals.

A typical dinner for me.

TACOS!

 On Thursday we went with our Dutch Language class to the Verzetsmuseum (Resistance Museum) where we were given a great guided tour. The museum explores the predicament Dutch citizens were in after being invaded by Germany in World War 2 and the tough choices they had to make.

In many ways the Dutch experience during World War 2 was unique. The Netherlands was invaded and conquered in 1940 within a week of Rotterdam being bombed, even though they wished to remain neutral. After surrendering, the Dutch were not immediately effected by the war. Life basically went on as normal, at least for a short while. Because the Netherlands was not near any front lines, everyday citizens rarely came into contact with German soliders and the horrors of war were not at all visible. It wasn't until 1942 the horrors of the Nazi occupation really began to come to light. Around this time is when the Jewish round-ups began, and the Resistance really started to get organized. In 1944 the Allies managed to liberate the south, but they could not break through to the north. This led to the infamous Hunger Winter where 20,000 Dutch died due to starvation and malnutrition. By the end of the war only 30,000 of the 140,000 Jews living in the Netherlands would survive. This is the highest percentage of Jews lost by any nation (including Germany) during WW2. Much of this was due to the fact the Dutch government had extensive records on all of its citizens, which allowed the Nazis to know exactly who was Jewish and where they lived.

The museum itself is awesome. It guides you chronologically through the war, but instead of focusing on what was happening in the war at large, it focuses on everyday people and how they chose to ride out the war. Did they collaborate, resist, or merely try to survive? Of course looking back it is easy to say they all should have resisted, but what the museum makes very clear is that at the time individuals choices were not necessarily dictated by morals, but by survival instinct.

On a lighter note, here is a modified bike from WW2.

Thursday night Kelly and I were treated to a delicious, homemade Dutch meal at Martin and Peter's house (family friends who live here). Friday night we went and checked out Friday Nights at the Van Gogh Museum. Every Friday night the Van Gogh museum stays open until 10PM and turns into a modern lounge complete with comfy couches and chairs, mood lighting, a live DJ, and a mini-bar. There is also generally some kind of special event. Currently the special event is a choreographed dance that was inspired by Picasso's paintings of circus freaks and takes place amidst these paintings on display in the temporary Picasso exhibit. It was very cool. 

On Saturday Kelly and I went to FOAM, Amsterdams photography museum, where we saw a great exhibit of W. Eugene Smith's photoessays. We then went to explore the Albert Cuyp Markt, another one of Amsterdam's big open air markets. We got some delicious fresh fruit (3 mangos for 1 Euro!), some amazing chocolate, and spectacular fresh waffles with warm chocolate on top. YUMMY! 

We also had the opportunity to watch a really fun street marching band make its way down the market. 

Saturday night we took it easy because we had to get up early the next morning to make it to Carnaval! Carnaval is the Dutch equivalent of Mardi Gras, and this weekend was the final hurrah. Unfortunately it is really only celebrated in the south, so we had to go to Den Bosch. Traditionally Carnaval is a Catholic holiday (thus why it is only celebrated in the south) that allows everyone to go crazy before Lent. 

In modern times it has become a huge, crazy celebration mostly for the sake of celebration. People get dressed up in crazy, colorful costumes and roam the streets drinking until they fall down. The streets are packed, and beer is flowing from every window and store front. There is still some traditional happenings, including the unveiling of a cartoonish statue in the city square, but the significance is lost on me. Regardless, we had a great time which was made even better by the weather (which until yesterday has been cloudy and cold). 

We didn't plan well enough to have costumes, but Kelly saved the day with her awesome mascara face-painting skills.

Last but not least, here is a picture of me and my bike for those of you who have been pestering me for one.