For the Soccer Moms!

From: "USCitizenServices, Amsterdam"
Date: Mon, 7 May 2007 13:58:09 +0200
Conversation: Security Notice: Soccer Celebrations in Amsterdam TODAY, May 7, 2007
Subject: Security Notice: Soccer Celebrations in Amsterdam TODAY, May 7, 2007

This Warden Message is being issued to alert U.S. Citizens traveling to and residing in the Netherlands that the Municipality of Amsterdam has informed the Consulate General in Amsterdam that it will be honoring the Ajax soccer team for winning the Dutch national football association trophy. The celebration is scheduled TODAY, May 7, 2007 from 17:00 to 20:00 hours on the Museumplein in Amsterdam. The team is expecting about 25,000 supporters to participate.

According to press reports of a similar celebration in May 2006, held on the Leidseplein in Amsterdam, the Amsterdam police arrested 44 people after roughly 300 attendees fought with each other, committed acts of vandalism, and threw bricks and beer bottles. The Amsterdam Police have informed the Consulate General that they have made preparations for today’s event and will have additional police available for crowd control.

We advise American citizens to avoid the Museumplein and surrounding areas on the evening of May 7 if possible.

As noted in the Consular Information Sheet for the Netherlands, demonstrations and other public gatherings are commonplace in the Netherlands and may range in number from a few people to several thousand. Prior police approval is required for public demonstrations, and police oversight is routinely provided. Nonetheless, situations may develop which could pose a threat to public safety. U.S. citizens are advised to avoid areas in which public demonstrations are taking place.

April Pictures

Sorry, I've been having a few problems getting these up.

Please check them out, by clicking on the title of this blog entry.

Note, they aren't really in order, but you'll get the idea.

Friends, Flowers, Queen's Day, and a Job

Wow, a lot has been going on.
I'll let the picture speak mostly for themselves.
Maybe, hopefully, later Maureen will share her 2 Euro cents.
What do you say Maureen, the public wants you.

We've now had two sets of guests, and had a blast with all.
Marci came, and got me to go to the Van Gogh museum and the Kuekenhof (tulip gardens) with her.
It was fun to attempt to be a tour guide, as Maureen was stuck at work during the day.

Brad and Tracy came last weekend, for Tracy's birthday.
We are so happy they spent it with us in Holland.
I say Holland, because we actually got out of the city.
Well sort of, a 15 minute train ride to Haarlem, and yes I spelled that correctly.

To go along with Tracy's birthday, there was another reason to celebrate, Queen's Day.
Words can not describe what that means here, nor can pictures really.
Its not that the Dutch are that into their queen (they love their queens : ),
they really like an excuse for a good party.

One million or so, people flood into the city. no one really knows the exact total, it just gets packed.
The locals are allowed to sell anything and everything in the streets, orange is worn everywhere, and party boats fill the canals. I've never seen anything like it.

The weather has been unreal. It hasn't rained in over five weeks, which is a rarity here.

One more piece of news, I signed an employment agreement today.
There are a few more paperwork hoops to go through, but soon both Maureen and I will be at WK.

Hope all are well!

Matthew

PS
Look for a link to some pictures, in a few minutes.....

PSS
Well, it's late, I'm tired, and my computer is giving me fits. I'll try with the pics tomorrow.