DutchNews.nl - Books Archive

David Hewson

British author David Hewson is better known for writing two novels based on the hit Danish television show, The Killing, but this time, he’s in Amsterdam, with his new novel, The House of Dolls, which will be part of a series. The book follows a retired police detective who is brought back to work after the purported kidnapping of a young woman under circumstances similar to those of his own daughters three years before. Like Hewson’s other work, The House... More >

The Harbour Master

Daniel Pembrey

The latest novella from British author, Daniel Pembrey, is a thriller set in modern day Amsterdam. The Harbour Master escorts readers into the seedier parts of the Dutch capital in this fast-paced tale of prostitution, murder, human trafficking and police corruption. Amsterdam police detective, Henk van der Pol, is on the downhill run towards his retirement. During an early morning patrol, he discovers a woman’s body floating in the Amsterdam harbour. Henk becomes overtly suspicious of the police investigation into... More >

The Hague and the best of the Netherlands

Violetta Polese and Blake Evans-Pritchard

Published in 2013, The Hague and the best of the Netherlands by Violetta Polese and Blake Evans-Pritchard, elects The Hague, and not Amsterdam, as the focus city of the book. The rationale behind this choice is that many expats relocate to The Hague. Although a valid explanation, curious readers may suspect the additional motive behind choosing The Hague is that it was the adopted home of the authors during their time in the Netherlands. The book is written in three... More >

The Dutch: Prelude to their Golden Age

Richard E. Shultz

A historical novel about the time before the Dutch Golden Age? ‘This could be hard work to wade through,’ I said to myself. But as often happens when I judge a book by its cover, I was completely wrong, and it was well worth the effort. Author Richard E. Shultz has woven a huge amount of historical information into his book, which European history buffs should find very interesting. It also tells a good story, and what I found particularly... More >

The Mobile Life

Diane Lemieux and Anne Parker

The Mobile Life – a new approach to moving anywhere by veteran global citizen Diane Lemieux and Anne Parker targets individuals embarking on their first expatriate experience. Knowledgeable about the topic from both a professional and personal basis, the authors have tackled the subject with an extremely detailed interpretation of what is required to conscientiously make the decision to uproot and resettle in an unfamiliar country. REVIEW: On a university curriculum The Mobile Life would find its place on an... More >

The Low Sky: Understanding the Dutch

Han van der Horst

Fully updated and revised, this book is considered a classic guide to getting to grips with the natives. And yes, that big sky does have an impact! Doe maar gewoon dan doe je gek genoeg ? Act normally, that?s crazy enough. Nine out of ten people in the Netherlands will quote this well-worn saying if asked to come up with a basic trait of the Dutch character. At times Dutch people will ignore you politely at others they will go... More >

The Dutch, I Presume

Martijn De Rooi and Jurjen Drenth

All the cliches are here. This book deals with the forty best-known Dutch features and stereotypes, from windmills to Cruijff and from Rembrandt to the typical toilet. Were the clog and the infamous cheese slicer really Dutch inventions? How come some Dutch masters went bankrupt in the tulip trade? And why have most Dutch never heard of world-famous Hans Brinker? Providing the facts and unraveling the myths, this book gives you the essentials on living in the polders, and is... More >

The Dutch Golden Age

Hans Goedkoop and Kees Zandvliet

A beautifully illustrated book about the Golden Age of The Netherlands. Produced to Accompany the Dutch documentary series De Gouden Eeuw. Buy this book More >

Whipped Cream Architecture

Niek Biegman

It might sound like an odd title, but once you read the first few paragraphs it makes perfect sense. Whipped cream is a book of photography with a few pages of information about the origins of the white painted stone ‘wigs’ that grace the gables of the grachtenpanden (canal houses) in Amsterdam. If the subject matter floats your boat and you are curious about, or interested in the history of Holland_s distinct architectural style then this is likely to appeal.... More >

Walk & Eat Amsterdam

Cecily Layzell

This dinky little guide book is perfect for anyone already familiar with Amsterdam who wants to see more, and feast as they go. If you’ve seen the sights, visited the museums and experienced the delights of this fair city – and you enjoy troughing, then Walk & Eat Amsterdam is a bit of a treasure. Food writer, Cecily Layzell has produced a: light-hearted introduction to Dutch cuisine and eating habits, and combined it with different walks (including a night yomp),... More >

Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds

David C. Pollock & Ruth E. Van Reken

Third Culture Kids (TCKs) are, as the title suggests, children who have grown up among worlds, living in other countries during their formative years. This might not seem like a demographic worthy of a 300 page book, but the expat experience for most of us will have a profound impact on our emotional resilience and world outlook, and children are no exception. In Third Culture Kids: Growing Up Among Worlds, Authors David C. Pollock and Ruth E. Van Reken examine... More >

Uit Kijk Punten/ Scenic Points Amsterdam

Eelco van Geene and Marijke Mooy

If you’ve ever stood on top of a building looking out over a big city and wondered what you can see in the distance then Uit Kijk Punten might tickle your fancy. Eelco van Geene and Marijke Mooy have created an alternative guide book that instead of leading you around the city at ground level, views Amsterdam from above and nicely presents it in photographs. Uit Kijk Punten shows panoramic shots of the Amsterdam skyline in every direction from 30... More >

The Bee’s Tour of Gouda: Buzzing Through Vinita’s Lens

Persephone Abbott & Vinita Salom, Maps & Illustrations by Kathy Nida

Cheese. Hard, tasty, bright yellow cheese. That’s what appears in many people’s minds when they think of Gouda. But of course the cheese gets its name from a very historical little city in the South of Holland that’s featured in The Bee’s Tour of Gouda: Buzzing Through Vinita’s Lens. Author Persephone Abbott and photographer Vinita Salom have lovingly researched their hometown and created a suggested walking route that takes in the beautiful city of Gouda in a historical, cultural and pictorial... More >

Stuff Dutch People Like

Colleen Geske

Based on the successful blog of the same name, Stuff Dutch People Like is a very funny look at ‘all things orange’. Without the slightly sour taste of some books which poke fun at the Dutch, SDPL explores the world of white leggings, the way Dutch men (including the king) pick their noses in public and the strange world of fries and liquorice. Author Colleen Geske, a Canadian national, has lived in Europe since 2004. A communications and social media... More >

Sunshine Soup

Jo Parfitt

The life of an expat wife in a far-flung destination has all the classic ingredients for a jolly good chick-lit novel and who better to pen the story than someone who’s lived the life and turned it into an art form? Sunshine Soup: Nourishing the Global Soul, is the first foray into fiction for renowned author, publisher and Expat Entrepreneur Jo Parfitt, and tells the story of a group of friends (and trailing spouses) living in Dubai in 2008. Maya... More >

Complete Dutch

Gerdi Quist and Dennis Strik

If you can master a combination of some basic English, German and a guttural noise akin to clearing your throat, then you’ve taken your first steps to learning Dutch. With this in mind, you will also need some patient tuition, but in the absence of that, you could do a lot worse than Complete Dutch and the two accompanying CDs. It covers a range of topics that most people new to these shores will find useful and chapters are set... More >

The Anatomy Lesson

Nina Siegal

In 1632 serial thief, Adriaen Adriaenszoon (known as Aris Kindt), was sentenced to death by hanging in Amsterdam. The Anatomy Lesson is based on the events that take place on the day of his death and dissection as depicted in Rembrandt’s famous painting, The Anatomy Lesson of Dr Nicolaes Tulp, an artwork commissioned by the Amsterdam Surgeons’ Guild. This second novel from American writer, Nina Siegal, is contrived from historical records and coloured by prose. The narrative chronicles Kindt_s life,... More >

The Art of Living in Amsterdam

Melanie van Ogtrop

Amsterdam’s historic network of concentric canals earned UNESCO World Heritage status in 2010. The impressive architecture and facades of this elegant town centre are mirrored by the luxury and chic of the building’s interiors. Italian photographer Listri and author Van Ogtrop take the reader on an indulgent photographic tour of this refined environment, where the Dutch Golden Age past meets with contemporary interior design and technologies in the homes of artists, collectors and antique dealers. Buy this book More >

The Dutch and their Bikes

Shirley Agudo

Books about Dutch biking culture continue to grow in popularity, with more titles appearing on the bookshelves each year. Four years ago, American photojournalist and long-term resident in the Netherlands, Shirley Agudo, published Bicycle Mania, receiving rave reviews from international readers. Continuing on this same theme, Agudo has recently released a new extended version of her first book, titled The Dutch and Their Bikes: Scenes from a Nation of Cyclists. This new coffee table book exhibits about 700 photographs of Dutch... More >

The Dutch and their Delta: Living below sea level

Jacob Vossestein

Jacob Vossestein XPat Media: €24.95 Buy this book It’s a little known fact outside of the Netherlands that one third of this tiny country – if it weren’t for a couple of great big hulking dijks - would be submerged under rather a lot of water. Left to Mother Nature, Schipol Airport would in fact be a lake (it’s 3 meters below sea level), and rural North Holland – where I used to live – should actually be reclaimed by... More >

The House of Dolls