"A Christmas Carol" performed by one actor only

The 18th of December was a day full of joy for the students of T4 (of Hofstad Lyceum). They have done a lot of hard work to make this day a special day. Students of the Penta College and the WAVE came to our school together with their teachers. But they weren't the only people present there. There also were people from the Europees Platform, British Council and of the STET (Stichting the English Theatre). They are very important to our school, because the Europees Platform is the Dutch Government's organization who make rules for TTO (CLIL) school and they decide whether such a bilingual school becomes a specified TTO school or not. The British Council has sponsored our school for other joint projects in school already and the STET has brought English theatre to our school. In this case they had brought an English actor called Ashley Ramsden, to our school to perform the play "A Christmas Carol" which was written by the famous writer Charles Dickens for approximately 150 people, of which the majority were teenagers. It wasn't an ordinary play, because he played all of the 25 character in "A Christmas Carol". Everyone enjoyed looking at the performance. Unfortunately everything has an ending. By guest writer Darlyne (15), student of Hofstad Lyceum

A message from Portugal

Hello Hofstadgeographers! From Lisbon a Merry Christmas and a happy new year to staff and students of Hofstad Lyceum! I truly hope that in 2007 the decision makers and all the people in the world will take care for the environment. We in Portugal are starting to suffer from the effects of the global warming. For instance, some weeks ago we had a terrible situation all over the country. Many floods and extremely high temperatures for that time of the year. People lost their houses and some died. At the moment temperatures are very low and it's abnormally cold. In the summer we had those horrible fires, which destroyed many of our lovely forests. Therefore, I think it is a good idea to pay attention to the pollution like you do on your fantastic blogsite. I wish you good luck with your geography lessons on environmental problems. Manuela Costa, teacher of the Camilo Castelo Branco High School, Portugal

The Secret Of Hook Of Holland (The End)

Last weekend Lan and I performed the play in the fortress (read the other two stories if you want to know more about this) and we enjoyed it very much! I think the visitors liked it also. The funniest part was by a bully of a sergeant-major. In the daily life, he is very kind, but as sergeant-major… He asks you (as visitor) all kinds of questions, e.g. what is the name of the national anthem and how many couplets there are in that song, etc. If you say the wrong answer, you have to do push-ups. He counted like this: 1,2,3,3,3,3,4,5,5,6,7,7,8,9,10. Instead of doing 10 push-ups, you have to do 15! Must people enjoyed that part (but I don’t know what is so funny about 15 push-ups :p).
In the beginning it was very exciting, but after I wile, you “learn” how your character is, so it is easier to play that character. This play was one of the greatest things I ever done in my life and I am really glad I took part in this play. I know for sure that Lan agrees with me. The photo is of a little part of the cast. I hope you enjoyed this story! THE END
Greetings from Fina (12) And a Happy New Year to all readers of this fantastic site!!

Christmas 2006: Dutch no big spenders!

Compared to other countries the Dutchmen spend relatively little during Christmas time. So a working American spends average 920 euros on Christmas presents and the British on the average 787 euros. Only in Singapore and Japan on the average less is spent on Christmas presents than in the Netherlands. I hope my parents are going to spend a bit more than 200,- euros as my Nintendo Wii costs about E 250,- . Furthermore we go to France and go to ski. So that’s ging to cost also a lot of money. So fingers crossed for my Nintendo……………!!! Perhaps my parents are mild after reading this contribution. MAY BE!! Dutch males spend more than women!! They spend 255,- euro and the women 196,- euro. Chocolate, sweets and candy are at the top of everyone’s list. And also books, CD’s and concert tickets. And in my case a Nintendo!! If you also like Nintendo, please let me know by pushing on comments. Do not forget your name and the country you live in. That is what I had to ask you from our editor, Geo Stork. Merry Chtistmas!! CU!! Tim (12)

The active earth

If you are interested in things like earthquakes, volcanoes and extreme temperatures, I suggest you visit this site: http://www.earthweek.com/ . Weekly a new world map is published with relevant information and useful links. If you click on the icons you get a short description of what happened on that site. Strongly recommended!!! Source: http://wereldvak.blogspot.com/ (also recommended for Dutch speaking visitors!!) Bye! Geo Stork, editor

Award for Hofstadgeographers!!!!

Our beautiful blogsite has been awarded by Kennisnet/Digischool.nl with a gift voucher of E 10,-!! Furthermore our original initiative has been added to a list of good practices in modern teaching! All thanks to you! Congratulations!!! The jury must have been impressed by your nice and interesting contributions. The gift voucher will be disposed by lottery on 31 01 2007 among all contribuants (Guest writers and editor excluded). So read the "Rules for writers" published in November 2006 and give it a try. If you are doubting about the issue you want to write about I suggest you send an email to SMT@hofstadlyceum.nl. Good luck folks!!

Geo Stork, editor

2006, the year of the weather records

July 2006 was the warmest July month of the past three centuries! The month had two heat waves, what is very peculiar. Since 1948 it has not been occurred that there were two heat waves in one year. The record stands on 1947, when in an extremely hot summer four times a period of very high temperatures was registered. In 2006 also the heavy rain fall ensured a record. In the summer fell on no less than thirteen days more than 50 mm precipitation. Furthermore, the month august has been the wettest august since the beginning of the measuring in 1906. With 184 mm precipitation it has been the wettest months of all times. The warmth continued. The KNMI exclaimed September up to the warmest September month in the past three hundred years. I really like this because I love it when it’s warm. You can go to the beach and to the swimming pool. But cold is only fun when it snows outside so you can glide on the snow with your sleigh. I enjoy it when you can have a snowfight and all kind of that winterstuff. Also in the autumn the mercury raised to high values. With average temperatures in the months of September, October and November of 13.6 degrees Celsius we speak of the warmest autumn of the past three centuries. According to the KNMI we can count also the arriving winter not on cold. And that is not good, it’s not fun when it doesn’t snow in a year!! So we have to prevent the greenhouse impact that is ruining winters! Keep the world clean ! By Jeffrey (12)

Remembrance Day

Remembrance Day is celebrated yearly on 11 November. It is a day when we remember the people who fought in both world wars and other wars. We don’t only commemorate the people who fought in the war as a soldier but also people who suffered from that. Originally this memorial day was called Armistice Day but we renamed it to Remembrance Day after World War II. Remembrance Day is also known as Poppy Day, because it is traditional to wear an artificial poppy (a kind of rose as you can see in the picture). Poppies are sold for charity purposes. Like what in Holland is common on May 4th we keep a two minute’s silence on this day. Most English speaking countries celebrate Remembrance Day(Poppy Day). By Alexandra Katanaev (12)

The best street party of The Hague

We, Mieke and Pamela, live in the same street in The Hague. Every year in the last week of the summer holiday, we have got a big party in our street. The name of the street is Viandenstraat. You can do all kind of little games and there is also a barbeque, an air cushion, music, a bar and a big fire and sometimes they even light fireworks in the evening! You can also eat a lot of things such as; kebabs, steak, hamburgers, bacon and French fries. We think that it is very much fun. It is every year fantastic and the organisation is very good. Every year the day after we attend the BIG party, which is also a little party because then we eat the leftovers from the day before and everyone helps cleaning up. Come along in the Viandenstraat in August 2007. We are sure you will enjoy yourself!!
Bye, bye! Mieke and Pamela (13)

There are dunes of 114 metres high!

In Physical geography a dune is a hill of sand built by eolian processes (wind erosion, it blows the sand hill like it is). Actually there is more… Twenty-thousand years ago was the last ice-age. The North Sea was almost dry; you could walk from Holland to England. Approximately 1300 years ago the sea level was rising slowly. In the middle ages the climate changed, but the temperature was low and there were a lot of storms. A new dune complex was formed: the young dunes. During storms the dunes started to walk . They became higher with aid of helmet grass and the wind that throws the sand on the top of the dunes. Now the dunes are quite bigger. In France is a dune called Dune Du Pila, near Basin the Arcachon. They are the highest dunes of Europe. The dunes stretch 500 metres from east to west and 3 kilometres from north to south. The dunes are 114 metres high. The name of the dune is inferred of the word pilla. Pilla means battery in the language Gascons.
My opinion is that dunes are great. I like to run on it and roll of the dunes (It is forbidden to walk on it so don’t do the same as me!). My tip is: Take a look at Dune du Pila, I’ve been there and it is really cool, it looks like a desert when you’re standing on it. I haven’t roll of those dunes because my parents forbid that.

From Richelle, class T1B

Why I feel European?

In most European countries we use the same coin; the Euro. When we go on holiday in Europe we never have to change our money, except in a few countries. The intern market has grown. There is free traffic of goods, services and persons. Holland is a trade country. We use this free market to increase Holland’s prosperity. All the citizens profit from the increase of Holland’s prosperity. We, as students, can study in Europe. Europe helps students who want to study abroad with all kinds of programmes and activities. For example, you can get an Erasmus-scholarship. We can also work and live anywhere we want in Europe. You can get medical treatment, when the waiting time is too long in Holland, in one of the countries of Europe. The insurance company has to compensate for the costs of the treatment if it isn’t more than in Holland. Holland is a little country when you look at the world map. With the help of Europe, Holland’s participation is improved. Europe is more able to face problems world-wide, with the help of all the countries of Europe. And because of all this I feel European!
By guest writer Iris Sengers (18), student of Hofstad Lyceum, The Hague, Holland

We love the seals!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The seal créche Pieterburen takes care about seals, when they are hurt by fish nets or when they could drown. The seal créche Pieterburen helps this seals and make them better. When they are better they put them back in the sea. The seals are living in the Wadden Sea. This créche is in the North of Groningen. There are 19 species of seals in the world and 2 of them are living in the shallow waters of the Wadden Sea.The Seal asylum excist 35 years! That is a really long time so they have make a new logo and change the name. Now it is : Lenie 't Hart. Lenie 'tHart started to take care the seals. The first time she had a weak seal shetook him in a bath in her own back yard. So started Seal créche Pieterburen .The site you really should visit is: http://www.zeehondencréche.nl/ . Then you click on English. You can give money to Pieterburen or Lenie 't Hart. So they can help the seals better. I think the seal créche is really good because we can save the lives of a seal. Christina vd Lelie (13)

Clinton goes for Rotterdam

Bill Clinton founded the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI), a group of forty metropolises that work together to bring down the CO2-expulsion. On the 7th of December, he came to the Netherlands to discuss the changing weather situation and the global warming. Clinton chose Rotterdam to take part of this project, because of its impact of Rotterdam-Rijnmond and it’s harbour.
The forty metropolises are responsible for 75% of the expulsion of all the greenhouse gasses in the world. The CCI tries to solve the problem by its roots. I think that, if they work together by combining the best techniques and the highest educated people, we can change the weather situation in time. The CCI is a huge project that shows the world that we must do something before it is too late. The most important of all is to show the world that we can do something.

By guest writer Denise Meijer (18) student of Hofstad lyceum, The Hague, Holland

The secret of Hook of Holland (2)

If you want to make a stage-play, the first thing to do is to make a good story and find and a nice place for the performance. The last thing was easy: the fortress of Hook of Holland. Now my father and his friend wrote the story. They found out there was a problem. In the story, there is a girl, but she must be on 2 places! With other words: 1 person on 2 places at the same time!! I am that girl so there must be a Fina-look-a-like. We choose for Lan: because she is of the same length, has brown hair and she looks like me. Her parents gave permission so that’s okay. Because we are the same person (our name is Barbara), we must wear the same clothes. It s a brown/white dress, pair of "klompen"(wooden shoes) and also a funny hat. All the things that we wear are in the theme of the Middle Ages. We read the story over and over again until we know what to do. This is because we have no script. So we have to do it by heart. We do not mind: we love playing those roles. It is really fun!!. Greeting from Fina and Lan ! We are looking forward to reading your reactions. Please click on comments!

Royal family celebrates Amalia's anniversary

Our lovely princess Amalia has reached 3 years of age! The crown prince Willem Alexander (her daddy) made nice pictures of her anniversary, which were published in the newpapers and a different one now also on our blogsite. Amalia’s anniversary was celebrated together with her younger sister Alexia and Maxima, Willem Alexander’s charming wife. The four of them had a wonderful day, I guess. But Maxima is pregnant again!!! We don’t now if it will be a girl or a boy... I hope that it’s a girl because I’m a girl myself and then they would have 3 daughters. I have two sisters too and I am fond of them! But a new prince would be good as well, of course! ;-))) Love and greetings from Holland from Beaudine(13)

All Dutchmen walk on wooden shoes ;-)))))

If you think: in Holland everybody walks on clogs you are completely wrong. Neither do we all live in windmills or have only tulips in our back yard! But in the 18th and 19th century, wooden shoes were quite normal. And even now quite a few farmers wear them. The oldest clog ever found is +/- 1250 years old. They where made to protect one’s feet in the muddy streets and in the marshy lands. Sometimes small boards were attached to the wooden shoes, in order not to sink away in the wetlands
Originally clogs were worn by women. Around 1700 it was slowly going to be popular among men. Clogs were always made of the wood of the willow. Nowadays you can buy many types of klompen everywhere in Holland (in souvenirshops). From tiny miniatures to nicely decorated big ones. I like them very much because they are so special for the culture of Holland. Please let me know, whether wooden shoes also exist in your country!!! Bye, bye! Dennis (13)

Our beautiful dunes

Hello, I’m Casper (12). I’m going to tell you something about our dunes. The Dutch coast is mainly built up out of dunes. The dunes protect us from the sea, because our country lies below sea level. The dunes are natural shapes, but they’re very handy. They clean most of our drinking water, you can walk really nice in it, or ride a horse or bike, they protect us from the sea and so on. There live many animals in the dunes, rabbits, birds (mostly sea gulls and ducks), foxes, lizards and much more. You mostly see the birds, because they live in the middle of the day. The rabbits live in the evening, so you don’t see them very much. There are also many plants. The dunes are very rough and there isn’t much water at some places. The plants that there live are mostly plants that can really good stand drought. The plants must be very strong, because there are sand storms and sometimes salt storms. Too much salt on the plants isn’t good. The salt absorbs water of the plant, so the plant dries out. The Dutch dunes are beautiful and I like them. Sometimes I’m going with my mountain bike to the dunes and that’s fun (and good for your condition).

Callum's collage

Hi folks!

I made this collage especially for our beautiful blogsite. The ship in the front is the one we took to our trip to Colchester. It is a high speed ferry boat from Hook of Holland to Harwich, England. Unfortunately the service will not be continued... By the end of the year it is over and out!!! So if you live in GB and you want to visit Madurodam or the peace palace I'm afraid you have to swimm after January 1st. So sorry! Callum Austin, 13

Korfball: for boys and girls

Hello everybody,
I want to write something about my favourite sport korfball. I play it together with me girlfriend Lan. It is a very nice sport because you have to play together because it is a team sport. Unlike ather sports boys and girls play together in the same team!The meaning of korfball is to shoot the ball in the basket and so you score a point.Here are some rules: you have to defend you antagonist very good otherwise they score a point. You play with 8 players in a team 4 of them going to defend and the other 4 going to attack. You have to shoot from the ground to above the basket and not from downstairs! One game is 2 times 25 minutes with 10 minutes time out. If you score the most points in 50 minutes you win! After the time out you have to stand in the other part of the field and if you have defended you have to attack and the other way around. I have written something about korfball because it is not a very popular sport. I hope that you maybe going to play it with your friends and I am sure that you will enjoy it!!.
Greetings from Susan (13)

HELLO WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

WE ARE THE HOFSTADGEOGRAPHERS!!







Please lut us know what you think of our site and our contributions!! Push the comment button and respond to our information and opinions!! Do not hesitate but write!!

We do hope to get in touch with you!

Drop a line and we'll feel fine!!

CU around!

Tot ziens in Holland!!

Do you want to be my pen friend?

Hello, my name is Pamela Baarda. I’m thirteen years old and I live in The Hague, Holland. I am a student of Hofstad Lyceum
I like it to mail with my friends, but now that I am in a bilingual class I would also like to mail with a child from another country of twelve/thirteen years old. Somebody in Spain would be great! Or from another country. I like to play with my younger brother and sister.But I like it the most when I do something with my friends. If we get in touch I will tell you more about my hobbies and my life. I hope so that you like too to write with someone from another country!!
When you would like to be my pen friend please send an email to our editor, Mr. Smit, and than I hear that from him. I hope it very much! This is his address: SMT@hofstadlyceum.nl. You can also click on ‘comments’ below this message

Pamela Baarda (13)

Madurodam: see Holland in two hours

Hello everybody. My name is Vito and I would like to tell something about Madurodam. Madurodam is a very special place in The Hague , where Holland is made in mini format. So the people in that miniature country are only about 5 cm talland the biggest building is maybe 2 or 2.5 meters high!Sometimes there's also an exhibition about something like ice sculptures! When I was 7 years I visited Madurodam together with my grandmother it was very beautiful! Iwas impressed by the airport, the harbor and the trains. You really feel like a giant, when you walk along the paths. I hope that when anybody who reads this and ever visits the Netherlands goes to Madurodam because it's really worth to see it!By Vito (12)

The hottest autumn ever!!

It was in all the newspapers. It has been very hot in Holland this year, also in the autumn. Many people think it’s because of the greenhouse impact (broeikaseffect).I think that’s true, because of all the industrial crap. The kind of smoke and gases that are in the air, are blocking the atmosphere and then the heat of the sun will come in but it won’t let the heat out, so that’s the reason. If we won’t stop with expelling those annoying gases, the ice on the North Pole will melt, and a quarter of the worlds land will be flooded. I hope that this won’t happen, as we live below sea level!So it is the hottest autumn ever! The KNMI has measured that the average temperature in September and October is over 1.5 degrees higher than normally is expected! The highest record before this was about 12.5 degrees Celsius, in 2005! Last year!!That record is broken, the New Record is……………………………….14 DEGREES CELSIUS!!!!It’s becoming warmer and warmer…By Kaj (12)

Randstad rail

Within a couple of months the light rail called Randstad rail will stop at some 100 meters from our school! We will just have to pass the shopping mall! I selcted a nice picture of the tram/train for you. Love and kisses, Anna van Dijk.

About our new light railway system

Hello. My name is Wouter Hartog van Banda and I am 11 years old. I am going to tell you about my experience of the Randstadrail. On the 5th of October I was going with my brother, grandmother and aunt to open station Ternoot in the district: Bezuidenhout-West. My grandmother is the president of the occupant committee of the building the “Witte Anna” (White Anna). As such she was asked to participate in the coming about of the new station. Eventually she was asked to open the randstadrail station Ternoot. She asked me and my brother to open the station! Even the alderman of The Hague was there! He arrived in a nostalgic street car (see pic)
We opened the station by pulling a large cardboard plate off the wall. The plate was attached to the wall by Velcro. Then there where a few pictures and our grandmother did an interview and some other things. It was even on our own The Hague TV channel, TV-West and in the papers!. It was a very nice day!

Kind regards,

Wouter Hartog van Banda
Class: T1A
Teacher of GEO: Mr. Smit!!! YAY! BEST ONE IN THE WHOLE WORLD!
The Netherlands

Nesestrelles celebrate membership of EU in 1986

Dear Hofstadgeographers!

In the picture our partnerbloggers in Asturias, Spain. Meanwhile you know them as Nes estrelles and I beleive that some of you are in contact with them.

They have made a "horreo", a traditional Asturian store for wheat. This horreo is made of all kind of reclycable things, like milkboxes. Our Spanish friends are very concerned about the environment. In fact this environment project iss a present for the European Union, as Spain and Portugal are celebrating the membership of the EU, that started on November 25th, 1986, so excatly 20 years ago. If you want to congratulate nes estrelles I suggest you visit their site www.nesestrelles.blogspot.com and add your wish after clicking on "comments". If you prefer an English translation (by Babel Alta fish, so with plenty mistakes!!) please click on "comments" below this contribution.

Good luck, Geo Stork

Elections in Holland are good for the animals

On the 22 of November the elections found place in The Netherlands.
The CDA (Christian Democrats) remained the biggest party, but the SP (Socialist Party) showed the biggest change from the last elections; plus 17 seats!! Very special was that we have a political party for the animals. This is unique because it is the first group representing animals in Europe that comes into the politics. The leader of this PVDD is Marianne Thiemen and her group won 2 seats. Seats or chairs mean that each group has a number of deputies in the Chamber where they discuss about The Netherlands. The political party who has got the most chairs is still the CDA. The Labour Party (PvdA) lost 10 out of her 42 seats!

I think it is very important to have politicians who represent the interests of animals, and my teacher of Dutch, Mr. van der Schaaf says: somebody who is good or ‘social’ for animals is good for the people.
I think he is right.

By Elodie (13)

For a pen friend go to www.prkorea.com !!

Hi! I`m Lan, a 13 year old girl and I`m going to tell you about how I got a pen pal from Korea.

My geography teacher, who went on a study tour to Korea, gave us a site address. He asked us if we wanted to subscribe on this site well I thought getting a new pen pal would be very nice. I tried lots of times but all the time didn’t get a reaction. I was quite disappointed about it but then at last I got a mail back from RenoAicio. It`s a boy who is 14 years old and is interested in Holland. So we started to mail quit often. His first mail was :
Hi Lan, nice to meet you. I`m interested in your country. Can you give me a daily story about
you and about Holland? I will tell about my self and I think it`s nice that we mail. Greetings, Reno Aicio.
We did it is very nice! So I say that you should do it to. I think it`s nice that we do this because we are like good friends! And just being able to communicate with some one at the other side of the globe isn’t it amazing how you just become friends with some one at the other side of the globe. Just getting to now him or her and getting to no his/her culture.

In my opinion this is something wonderful to do!!! And I advice you to do it as well (you won`t be disappointed) you will get more info about Korea. So just do it and go to http://www.prkorea.com/.

Greetings and kisses from Lan from Holland

Dog almost died of starvation

I felt very sad when I read in the newspaper that a 7 years old undernourished Danish dog was found in a house in Capelle aan den IJssel. She was left behind with 3 cats. The poor cats died because there was no food. The name of the dog was Cyra and she weight 32kg. The normal weight of such a big dog is 60- 70 kg. She must get stronger for 2,5 weeks and then she can move to a good person.
Her original boss left the pets behind because she decided to live together with her ‘lover’ and she didn’t like the pets anymore. She had taken 2 little dogs with her.
I think: this is criminal so the woman who did this must be strictly forbidden to have pets.
There are more and more pets being left behind. The pet-safety is falling down and down.
I hope that it is going to stop quickly. Perhaps now we have a political party for the animals in our parliament (the PVD)

Dennis van Viet, T1B

We live below sea level!

You may know that a great part of Holland is below the sea level. Maybe you don’t understand what I mean. Let me explain. A great part of Holland lies lower than the sea. For example: a part of The Hague, the city where I live, lies below the sea level too. Our city is protected by the dunes (natural hills). Other parts of our country are protected by man-made dikes.
The Dutch people have always fought against the water. That is why the best dike builders are Dutch! In 1953 the province Zeeland was flooded. Many people died. Such a disaster should never happen again. The Dutch people designed a system of huge sea barriers and called it the Delta Works. It took a long time to finish the Delta Works.
I think that the flood of 1953 has made the Dutch people the best dike builders of the world and I am very proud of that!!
By Rianne (13 years old )

Try these Sinterklaas sites

Dear visitors,

I selected two sites for you with plenty information of Sinterklaas. The first one is in Dutch only. As you will see, you can design your Sinterklaaspoems, play games, find out how the steam engine of his nostalgic boat works, etc.
The second one is for our international friends, as there is also an English version.

Have fun!

Geo Stork

http://www.sint.nl/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sinterklaas

I am the story teller in a musical

In the Netherlands there are many schools. In The Hague, where I live, are there more then thirty! There are primary schools and secondary schools. In the primary schools there sometimes are more then 400 children! From all those children there are 40 children at least, who are last year students. Those children play in a musical. I did two musicals: www.weetwatjewilt.nl and the Lion King. The first one was at the primary school, the second musical in my secondary school, Hofstad Lyceum. We are still rehearsing. It's really hard, because we practice 7 hours a week (not during school time)! On the primary school, we practiced during school time. Then I was a mum, who didn't know anything about computers. In de Lion King, I'm the storyteller.
It's really nice to play in a musical, because on the evening of the musical you get make up on your face and really nice clothes. Then you walk on the stage and play your role. I hope you visit Holland once, and see the musical ,Beauty and the beast'.
By Rebecca Niese (12 years old)

Trainer leaves footballclub after being threatened

ADO Den Haag is the name of our footballclub. Last weekend the trainer of ADO Den Haag (Frans Adelaar) has been threatened by a lot of Ado hooligans who where not happy with the results in the national competition. The hooligans came on the field with the intention to hurt Frans Adelaar. Before the match he warned his wife and two daughters not to come to the match because he was afraid. After 66 minutes the score was 0-3 and the guards advised him to stay in the dug-out. Otherwise he could be hit by the hooligans or even killed! At that moment he took the decision to quit ADO Den Haag as there were also rumours that the hooligans would hurt his family. The arbitrator stopped the game because the hooligans were shouting mean things about Adelaar. Yesterday the main sponsor DSW stopped supporting ADO Den Haag, as because of what happened they might get a bad name. What a shame!
By Tim (13)

The North Sea is just around the corner

Hi folks!

Just CTRL + Click on the links below and you’ll find out where our school is located. As you may discover, the North Sea, the dunes and the beach are just around the corner! Hofstadgeographers are invited to go to http://nl.quikmaps.com and add their own map with the red flag on top of their home via ‘’comments’’. Do not forget your name! Visitors from abroad: please send us your map so we can find out where you live!
All the best, Geo Stork (ed)

http://nl.quikmaps.com/show/17522

http://nl.quikmaps.com/show/17525

Europe games

Hi Hofstadgeographers!

Difficulties with studying the topography of Europe? I suggest you visit the blog site of our Spanish partner school (http://nesestrelles.blogspot.com). Read the contribution with the title Aprendo jugando (I learn by playing games). More interesting games can be found in this European website: http://europa.eu/europago , English version!! Try to discover more geographical games on Internet, report it on this site and you will be rewarded!

Good luck!!

Geo Stork, editor

The secret of Hook of Holland

A couple of times a year, the year of 1914revives in the fort of Hoek van Holland. It is a great event! This time there is a huge problem and you and the other soldiers most solve the mystery. A ghost tortured the fort… Is this fort cursed, is there a message? And, there is a strange 12 year old girl and she’s got no parents… She is an abandoned child; she was growing up in this fort. But who is she and what is her real name? Is it a link? Who knows…You must find all the clues in this spooky fortress…, but be aware, there is a soldier that became crazy because of this ghost. You could be the next victim…
If you go to this event, you will have a wonderful evening! I have seen many events in this spooky fortress and for me, it is always a wonderful spectacle. This year I am a member of the cast (I am that strange girl), so it is very exiting! We act without script and by heart, so it is a little bit difficult, but it is very funny too. I hope you will come to this event! (In the picture my father, playing the role of captain of the fortress)
Fina Verbeek (12)

Holland goes warmer

The climate changes, that’s because all the wrong gasses damage the ozone layer. In that layer come substances. The warmth of the sun can come in the ozone layer, but it can’t come out because there are substances. That effect we call a greenhouse effect. All substances come by cars, factories and other things with carbon dioxide. Especially in Holland is that greenhouse effect, so we’re busy with invent petrol that isn’t detrimental for the ozone layer. We want to purify the exhaust of the factories, but that is almost impossible. Until Man has a detrimental patrol we can hold the climate like it is now (or better) when we cycle when it is not too far, and when it doesn’t rain to hardJ. Frequently people think ‘I use my car because the climate doesn’t get better when I don’t use my car’. I think that is really a wrong thought. You can make the climate better, it begins by yourself. When everyone who’s thinking it doesn’t help when I don’t use my car because I’m the only one, really don’t use his car then there are thousands and thousands of people who help the climate. I hope so that the climate’s getting better because other wise there is no good, pure world concerning.

From Richelle van Capelleveen
T1B

Our homework class

The homework class is a place at school where you can do your homework if you have problems with your concentration.
There are some rules:
-No talking
-No shouting
-No running
-No games
But you can eat and drink. However, if you go on the computer you can’t eat or drink. It’s in our reading place with an oval table where you can make your homework on. I think it is a lot better than at my home because there it is noisy and my sister is shouting all the time with her friends. And I am distracted by my computer or TV.
So I’m very happy that I’m on homework class because nobody distracts
me. And there are nice teachers to help you if you have problems.
By Colin Marshall (12)

Halloween at school

Actually in the Netherlands not so many people go out with Halloween. But we all know that its on the last day of october and some of dress us up like monsters or something and go along the houses to collect sweets and candy.
At our school, the Hofstad lyceum in The Hague, we had a school party called SOOS (short for society). The theme of that SOOS was Halloween. It was a nice party and we had a lot of fun. The music was nice too. There were not so many people as I had thought. But almost everyone was dancing and it was really fun. I liked it when there was soap and smoke coming out of the ceiling . The party ended at 23.00 PM. Quite late but I wasn`t tired, so strange…
I`ve heard that more places here in the Netherlands are thinking of celebrating Halloween. I really hope it!!

By Zainab Ashraf (12)

Our day trip to Colchester

On November the 10th T1a and T1b went to Colchester. The most of us woke up at 5:00 o clock, and then we had a little breakfast and were brought by car to Hook of Holland. After we had checked in, the boat was ready to take us to Harwich. Most of us felt sick on the boat (like me). After three hours sailing we were finally in England. In Colchester we had +/- three hours to do the treasure hunt, after that we met at Colchester castle. A nice lady showed us the castle. Then we were free to have a look around the castle. But most of us wanted to shop. Shivani found a Chinese manga book, I found postcards with a stone, like rose quarts or Jasper. There was also a little explanation of your sign of the zodiac. I bought four postcards: the Aries, the Taurus, the Capricorn and the Libra, and I have bought a really nice postcard with a fairy on the front. So did Zeynep. Ashley bought some nice games.
After the shopping we were taken by bus back to Harwich, where we had to wait a long time for the boat to take us back to Hook of Holland. We thank our teachers for organising this fantastic trip. It was really great!!!!
By Elodie

Sinterklaas

Here in Holland we celebrate "Sinterklaas" on the fifth of December. "Sinterklaas" is a good man. He brings Surprises for all the kids in Holland. That's what they tell the little kids. They believe that "Sinterklaas" is still alive, but in the history he comes from Turkey. With the name St.Nicolaas. He was very rich. One day St.Nicolaas meets two kids. They are very poor. At one night St.Nicolaas gives those two kids shoes and money. Because that is what they wanted. Some people like the story and they make surprises for each other of the family. And that is what they celebrate. They sing a song like "Sinterklaasje Bonne Bonne Bonne" or "De zak van Sinterklaas" and they eat special cookies called speculaasjes and pepernoten. I think it is great that only the Dutch and the Flemish celebrate Sinterklaas. It is really our own festival, unique in the world.

By Annebregt Treling

Halloween and Sint Maarten

There is not much difference between Halloween and the Dutch celebration of St. Maarten on November 11th each year. Halloween means that you want candy and that is the same for St.Maarten. This year I won't do St.Maarten. I can't on that day. AtHalloween you say: Trick or three and at St.Maarten you sing a song. Like:Sint Maarten, Sint Maarten, De koeien hebben staarten, De meisjes hebben rokjes aan daar kom Sinte Maarten aan! In English:Sint Maarten, Sint Maarten, The cows have tails, The girls have skirts and there comes Sinte Maarten! And we also sing Elf november is de dag dat mijn lichtje branden mag. In English:Eleven november is the day that my light may shine. Those are the songs you can sing for St. Maarten. By: Christina van der Lelie , 12 years

Operation shoebox

We are doing a project with Mrs. Hand (or bilingual English teacher) called: Operation shoebox. Operation shoebox means that someone like you (a school kid) puts nice stuff that an African kid wood like as a Christmaspresent in a shoebox. Things like:
-soap or shampoo
-school stuff
- a t-shirt
-a Christmas card
-toys that don't run on electricity (wooden toys, barbie's, etc.)
-an English book
-if you have it African money
The stuff has to be new or in a good condition. If you have enough presents you can decorate your shoebox with what ever you like. You also have to write on the box if it is for a boy or girl and for which age. You have to put elastic around it to keep it together in the airplane. After that you give the box to your English teacher andthan it will be send to Africa. I think it is very good idea to send a shoeboxbecause you only have to spend a few euros and than you can give anAfrican kid a beautiful Christmas.By Iris van der Zwan (12 years)

My geography teacher

Our geography teacher is very nice, he’s not that quick angry.
It’s too bad he’s leaving us when we get in the fourth class.

My mother has been at sailing camp with him when she was one of his students.
Mr. Smit was very delighted when I brought him some pictures of that sailing camp.

There are rules, and one of them is called the eight s’s.
That rule is:
Senior speaks, students silent,
Student speaks, other students silent.

Mr. Smit is also the maker of this site.

He’s always very enthousiast, like when we had Hogwarts Lyceum.
He was the head of the House of Raven claw.

I hope you enjoy our site.

Bye.
Wouter Zonneveld

About the trapped flood horses in the Waddenzee

I think the pictures have gone all over the world about the 150 poor horses stranded on a tiny patch of land, surrounded by flood water. And how 19 horses drowned before help arrived. Fortunately the surviving animals were saved in a combined action of firefighters and 4 brave young women on horseback, who guided the animals through the water to the dike. In my opinion these rescuers are really heroes. I agree with the Dutch political Party For The Animals, which has lodged a complaint with the police against the horses' owner in connection with the death of the 19 animals. I think this is a clear case of neglicency and mishandling, as they failed to move the horses to safety despite an official warning about the heavy storm. By Anna van Dijk (13)

Rules for writers

If you want your writings to be published in this site, these are the rules:

- 200 words maximum (in English)
- you must be a bilingual student of grade 1 or 2 of Hofstad Lyceum
- the subject must be related to geography, sociology, politics or economy (use newspapers and news sites); contributions about daily life (school life included) are also most welcome, as long as the information is interesting for students in other countries!
- write about your own neighbourhood, city, region or country. Or about European integration.
- always add your own opinion in a couple of words
- finish off your contribution by giving your name
- send your contributions to Hans Smit (editor): SMT@hofstadlyceum.nl (as an attachment to your email)
- one picture can be added, but must be sent to me as a seperate (JPG)attachment!!!!!

Who is Geo Stork?

Geo Stork is the nickname of our editor, Mr . Smit. Geo means earth, our planet. A stork is represented in the weapon of The Hague (de Haagse ooievaar). So Geo Stork is a combination of what he and we are interested in (the Hofstadgeographers) as well as the city we live in.

About the Hofstadgeographers

The Hofstadgeographers are students of the Hofstad Lyceum in The Hague, Netherlands. Their objectives with this site are to publish contributions about issues they are interested in and to come in contact with young people from all over the world. So if you react, please don not forget your name and nationality! See you along in our site!!