If you happen to be an organic food junkie, well, you're in luck. The trend toward healthy eating is taking over the Netherlands, and more and more supermarkets offer organic food items and produce. Others specialize in everything organic - down to their name.

Take for example EkoPlaza, which boasts locations in the Hague, Bussum, and Veenendaal. I've only visited the Hague location (in fact I've never heard of the other two cities) and I can definitely recommend stopping by.

Located on the Grote Markstraat (115) quite near to the Central Station, the Hague's EkoPlaza is large and cheerfully lit. It contains everything you'd expect from a supermarket, and everything's organic. They have a produce section, fresh breads and pastries, cheese, canned and boxed goods and even a section with some clothing items and household cleaners.

I have to warn you - the bill will run considerably higher than at a normal supermarket. But sometimes organic is just the way to go.

Image taken from the EkoPlaza website.

Pardon me while I fast-forward 10 years. I've been watching a video from a recent meeting entitled 2020 Vision Forum on creative ideas for how Amsterdam could look and feel in 2020. Which, not to disturb you too much, is not that far away if you ask me.

As always with such designs and vision there are some pretty lofty goals for futuristic parks, buildings, and what materials will be gone from the urban landscape. Among the things I did enjoy was the idea that there would be a zeppelin service going from Museumplein (center of Amsterdam) to Waterland (traditional marshlands that the Netherlands is famous for). In addition, taxi's would all be electric by then.

I guess if you consider 10 years to be a long time, and 2020 seems so far away, its easier to imagine huge advancements in technology and design that would introduce all these radical changes to the city. Me, I think 2020 is closer than you think.

(here's a video from the event)

It's hard to imagine that Book Week (Boekenweek) has been around for 75 years, and I've only just heard of it this year! Well, from 10-20 March 2010, a huge number of bookstores in the Netherlands will offer lectures, debates, and other activities honoring the media item that keeps them in business: the book.

This year's theme - roughly translated - is Little Titans: Growing Up In Literature. Unfortunately there aren't offerings available in English. At least not that I've been able to find. But if you can read Dutch, feel free to jump in. If not - well, be comforted to know that Dutch culture is still very much open to celebrating all things literary!

The Book Week poster was created by Piet Parra, a Dutch graphic designer and illustrator.

In cooperation with the University of Amsterdam, Leiden, and Wageningen, a new Center for Biodiversity (NCB Naturalis) was launched last week. As part of the Netherlands Year of Biodiversity, the center will focus on preserving and furthering research into the Netherlands' collection of natural history; in other words, the nation's part within the earth's biodiversity.

Along with the Netherlands, 168 countries are now participating in this initiative since 1992. Their collection consists of around 37 million objects, making it the 5th largest in the world. These objects include geological, zoological, and plant collections. Still expected to join these collections are insects from the University of Wageningen, and fish from the University of Amsterdam.

The goal of the center, which is now part of the National Museum of Natural History is for both national and international researchers to be able to make use of its content. A large part of its information will therefore be available online to both researchers as well as the general public. However, that part isn't available yet, nor is an english translation on their website.

On January 21, 2010, Leiden's expat center officially opened to the public. If you're contemplating a move to Leiden or have just settled here, the dedicated expat officer on staff can answer questions and give advice on topics such as immigration formalities, living issues (like taxes, insurance, working, finding a house and schools), and well as tips for an active social life and information about Leiden as a region.

The expat center is located in the Visitor Centre Leiden, just across from the central station. They are open Monday to Friday from 8.00 to 18.00 hrs.

Who doesn't love brunch. It's a chance to relax and enjoy a tasty meal while the sun (hopefully) shines. This Sunday, February 7, and every first Sunday of the month, is the Kok In Een Zok Brunch Café, where a variety of organic, vegetarian (with vegan options) foods are on offer. There are fruit, salads, sandwiches, waffles and more.

The cost of the meal is €12.50 per person, including drinks, and the opening hours are from 12-15:00. This monthly event is held at Stowis on Boothstraat 8, in Utrecht.

It's Cultural Sunday time again here in Utrecht, and this month's theme is jazz. There will be swing, bebop, big band, soul jazz and even some blues. You can catch the Tropi-jazz stylings of De Nazaten at various spots around town as they perform at the Neude (12:00), Stadhuis (13:15) and Domplein (14:15). Frommermann, a music and vocal ensemble with a sense of humor will be performing songs from the 1930s, including works by Duke Ellington, The Ramblers and The Mills Brothers, at Ottone (Kromme Nieuwegracht 62). At the Winkel van Sinkel, you can see the Hardest Swinging Orchestra in the Netherlands perform arrangements by Benny Goodman, while dancers do their best lindyhop.

There will be performances all over town, most free, this Sunday, February 7, so check the official Cultural Sunday website for a full list of events, times and locations.

January is just about done and so the city will once again awaken from its seasonal slumber.

Friday - tonight

Pipslab at Paradiso. Drop everything and go see an act that is music, art, science.. all in one and not to be missed. Door open at 7pm, 15€ + membership.

Saturday

The Student Choir of Amsterdam doesn't get much press, but they sing their hearts out and they've got talent. So check them out at the Dominicus Church, 7:30pm, 12€ (5 for students).

Sunday

Bimhuis has gone wine crazy. Normally known throughout the world for their jazz, Bimhuis café has expanded their wine selection big time and are having a tasting with snacks, starting at 5pm. 6€ entry.

I don't usually complain about NL-related experiences on Trippist. Well, occasionally - but I do think this is the first time I've written a negative review about a restaurant.

Actually, it's more of a negative non-review, since we never even got to try the food. Here's the story: After rave reviews from an expat friend who lives in the Hague, we decided to take a special trip to Baklust, a cozy, cutely decorated little place that offers ecological vegetarian fare. That combination being rare in Leiden, I was excited to find a moderately close place to get my health kick on.

We arrived, and the place was as nice as it looked on the web. There were a few tables occupied, so we made ourselves at home and perused the delicious sounding menu.

Ten minutes passed, and the waiter with the long blondish dreads seemed unaware of our presence, though we had made eye contact several times. I finally went up and asked if we should order at the counter. He said no; he'd be right over.

Other customers came and went. A woman entered, ordered food for takeaway, received her order and left again. Customers approached the counter to pay, and packed up to head into the rain. Soon, the place was almost deserted. And we still hadn't been asked for our order.

We gave the guy almost half an hour, and gave up. We left hungry and very disappointed. Sorry, Baklust. That's the last chance you'll get from this expat.

The talent show phenomenon isn't just for television or school these days. Here in the Netherlands, Talent Night is an extravaganza of singing, dancing, rap and stand-up comedy that visits Amsterdam, Rotterdam and Utrecht in order to find the best representative of Dutch talent to then send to New York for Amateur Night at The Apollo. Since each act is judged on entertainment value, there are no separate categories for each style of talent.

The Utrecht portion of the contest is taking place this Saturday, January 30, at 19:30 at the Stadsschouwburg-Utrecht (Lucasbolwerk 24). Entrance is €7. Previous winners have gone on to do well in the American portion of the contest, taking top prizes.