Recently my parents moved to a senior citizens apartment. While cleaning out the attic of their old house, we came across a big plastic box that had been hiding behind some cardboard boxes for over a decade. It turned out to contain a hidden and almost forgotten treasure from my childhood years: my enormous collection of plastic toy soldiers, tanks and other vehicles.
Nowadays these kinda toys are hardly available in toy shops anymore, but when I was still a boy (during the 70's/80's) these toy soldiers were a very popular and common toy for kids to play with. In time, after stashing them in my parents' attic, I forgot about them... until we discovered them again recently.
Everything was still in excellent condition and I was astounded by the number of toy soldiers I had collected over the years... I counted 50 military vehicles, but the soldiers were too many to count... I estimate the total number around 3500 to 4000 soldiers, containing the following nationalities: Russian, English, German, American and even Australian.
As a kid I had an obsession for history (still have actually), especially world war 2. I was reading everything about ww2 I could get my hands on. With the toy army I used to re-enact famous battles from that era, like D-Day, the battle of Stalingrad or the fall of Berlin. I always liked to play the Germans, although they - like in real life - they lost because they were outnumbered by the combined allied forces.
Since I'm too old now to be playing with the toy army, I decided to try to sell them on marktplaats.nl (the dutch version of ebay so to say). Alma helped me make some nice pictures to make my ad more appealing to potential buyers :-) I want at least 50 euro for the whole bunch and if nobody is willing to pay that, I'll just keep the army myself... Maybe we'll have a son in the future who would like to play with daddy's army.
If you need your documents to be legalised by the dutch embassy here are the steps you need to do. Follow these step by step and Im telling you, you will have your legalised documents in no time.
1st: NSO office and request for the documents you need. Here's the easy way to do it eCensus but for walk in applicants the Birth certificate will be released on the same day, Legalised certificate of civil status (Cenomar), Marriage Contract and other documents will take at least 2 weeks. Make sure you fill up the application form correctly. Middle name should be completed as the guy from the dutch embassy told me, they dont approve middle initials. This is your 1st step, one mistake will ruin everything.
By the way, if the birth certificate you've got from the NSO is a bit blackened, meaning the letters are too dark and can't hardly read. You should go to the municipal hall where you were born and request for the original xerox copy of your birth certificate. It will be release after 30 minutes if it's not busy. Then attached it to the birth certificate you've got from the NSO .
2nd: DFA for authentication or Red Ribboned. Processing period is 4 working days, but since I've got an early appointment from the embassy, I talked to the supervisor and she agreed that I can pick up my authenticated documents after 2 days. 100 pesos per document, they accept applications from 9-11 am Mon-Fri.
Here's a tip for you: after you submitted your documents at the DFA, set an appointment at the embassy right away. Dial one of the following phone numbers:
For PLDT/digitel/smart subscibers
1-909-101-3456
For Globe/ Innove/touchmobile subscribers
1-900-101-3456
For Bayantel subscribers
1-903-101-3456
While the DFA is processing your papers the waiting period for your embassy appointment is moving as well. Less waiting...But if you got an early appointment from the embassy you can ask the supervisor from the authentication department to get your legalised documents as early as 2 working days.
3rd: Dutch Embassy for legalisation. Prepare 1,840 pesos per document. Processing period is 3 working days. You can either pick up your legalised documents or sent to your home address via courier service.
If you have any questions or comments just leave a message here or check this link for more info.
*posted by: Alma
Alma is right. If you inquire about the procedure before submitting your documents, everything will work out just fine. So if you want to legalise your documents, just follow Alma's advice step by step ;-)
After 14 stressful days of waiting, finally my visa has been granted. I am so excited to go back in The Netherlands. This is the best christmas bonus from Pieter. A trip to Europe again. Nice ah?! Pieter and I are planning to visit Eastern Europe this time. I am looking forward to visit Prague specially Poland. Why am I interested about Poland? You might want to check the entry I wrote and the link. I will be posting photos soon.
*posted by: Alma
We never experienced any problems with the embassy applying for Alma's visa so far, but still it's always stressful to wait for their approval. Especially since you can't book the tickets until you've got the visa. Thank god everything worked like a charm again this time. Alma and me always make sure to follow the right procedures and submit the right documents. I'm looking forward to spend the holidays together with my sweetheart!
Yesterday I had my visa appointment at the Dutch Embassy and since this is my 2nd time the interview went smooth. The embassy was so quiet yesterday, not crowded, I didn't even waited too long for my turn. It was the same person who interviewed me, this time she was smiling and even spoke to me in tagalog. She's in a good mood I guess. She did asked me few questions and recalled all the remarks made during my 1st application.
Applying for a tourist visa is so easy. As long as you have clean and proper documents, there is no reason you'll ever get deny. But be prepare to answer few questions and some of them might be a tricky questions though. Be honest! Make sure you have all the documents or the application will not be processed, if documents are incomplete.
Make an appointment in time. In some periods during the year there can be a waiting time of three to four weeks before an appointment can be made. You can ask your travel agent to arrange the appointment for you. I've done it twice and paid 1,700 PHP for every appointment my travel agent made for me.
Here are the required documents for tourist visa: For the purpose of visiting family/friends:
Visa application form, duly completed and signed by the applicant
1 recent and resembling photograph, passport size (3.5 by 4.5 cm), light background.
International passport with a validity of at least 3 months after the scheduled return
Travel insurance for the whole period of travel covering medical treatment and/or repatriation to an amount of at least EUR 30.000 and valid for all countries in the Schengen area
A legalised letter of invitation of the sponsor in the Netherlands (to be obtained at the municipality of the sponsor) including a copy of his/her passport. The legalised invitation is valid for six months after issue and should cover the whole period of travel.
Proof of income of the sponsor (which must be equal or higher then the minimum wage for an adult in the Netherlands) such as the 3 latest salaryslips of the host. For information about the minimum salary a referent should have, we would like to refer to the following link: http://www.ind.nl/en/algemeen/begrippen/Tabel_normbedragen.asp%22
Return flight reservation. Please be adviced that only a photocopy of your FLIGHTRESERVATION is needed. Purchase your ticket only after the visa has been issued.
Proof of employment, which is for employees: a recent employers’ statement that should mention salary, date of entree and duration of absence; for private businessmen: a photocopy of SEC or DTI business registration of your company, Mayor’s business permit + tax-paying certificate "ITR"
For students: registration from a school or university and if travelling during study period, certificate from school or university with permission of absence
For minors travelling without both parents: DSWD Travel Clearance
Non-Philippine citizens have to present: Philippine visa or residence permit + registration valid 3 months after scheduled return
The embassy will also ask you to submit these additional documents so make sure you'll have it too:
Bank certificate from your bank
3 months previous bank statements
Job contract of your host in the netherlands
The letter of invitation from the municipality of your host should beoriginal copy.
Processing time will take at least 14 calendar days. I am confident that I did a good job during the interview, I completed my documents (with additional information and documents from my lawyer, also my host and partner, Pieter) but it's up to the embassy people if they will grant or deny my application. (until then...pray and cross fingers for me) Wish me luck! :-)
This is the apartment Pieter bought in Amersfoort. I've got the furnitures idea from my pc game The Sims 2IKEA stuff
It has a floor area of 100+ square meters. 3 bedroom, 1 bath, 1 toilet, 1 pantry, 1 kitchen, balcony and a storage downstairs.
I got the table runner from Kultura. Originally I bought one from baguio but his mom fell in love with it. So Pieter and I decided to give it to her and I bought much bigger size which is perfect for our huge dining table. We are scheduled to varnish the table once I get back on december.
Love, love, love the kitchen. So spacious. I spent most of my time here. We have a huge fridge, washing machine and dishwasher now.
One of the three rooms. Pieter's study room. Second is the baby room, no baby yet so we are using it as a multi purpose room. (my ironing and laundry room and pieter's workout room)
These books are all about Dutch Laws. I called him "The notorious eviction lawyer" because he never lost a case.
Our bedroom.
Kingsize bed also from IKEA. I told Pieter to switch the bedroom and study room since the study room is much spacious. But the bed and the wardrobe are assembled in this room already. No chance after all :-(
After I graduated from law school, I had a hard time finding a job, even though I graduated with honors. Unlike other countries, like the USA, Germany or China, the Netherlands doesn’t have a competitive society, meaning that excellence, talent or perseverance are not considered relative features. Students over here are generally satisfied with just passing the exam with a minimal grade and minimal, employers select their employees based on presentation and personality rather than skill. The Dutch will consider you a show-off if you’re trying to achieve better than mediocre. A strange idiosyncrasy, which has its roots in the Dutch Calvinist religion disapproving of everything that makes a person stand out from the crowd. That’s why everywhere I applied I got denied. I either lacked experience or I was ‘overqualified’ (which by the way, is in my opinion impossible: how can you be too good for a job?). Coming from a working class back ground, I didn’t have a rich daddy nor the right connections who could pull some strings for me. Just when things started to look hopeless, I got an unexpected call from The Hague: Mr. Joost Eerdmans, member of parliament, told me he had a job opening for a personal assistant and he wanted me to apply. Sure I did!
Mr. Eerdmans was at the time one of the most well known members of parliament, who appeared on television shows and radio programs all the time and made headlines in papers and magazines. He also won an award for most eloquent speaker in parliament. He’s a young man, only 4 years older than me, and known as a right wing hardliner whose main focus is to reform the Dutch judicial system. The Dutch judges are often incompetent and much too lenient when it comes to punish criminals. He’s also very involved with the rights and interests of crime victims. A man I can sure rely to! How he knew me? That’s easy to declare. During the time I was still a law student, I had mailed him several times whenever I thought I had a good idea for new legislation. He, or his former personal assistant, always responded kindly and with interest. When his former PA was offered another job, Eerdmans had to look for another PA and remembered me. I wasn’t the only applicant though, so I still had to battle some other applicants. The first hurdle was a job interview with Mr. Eerdmans and his (other) PA. Usually that’s not my strong point, but I still went through to the second round. The second round consisted in writing an essay in a very limited time of 800 words max, about a given topic and which had to contain certain given elements. An unusual procedure for Dutch job applications, but Eerdmans wanted to make sure to select the best. So I got the job. I had a great time there, working in a monumental building right across the parliament building, sitting right behind him whenever he had to vote or deliberate in parliament. It was a hectic time, but I learned much in a short time, delivered good work and got very well paid by Mr. Eerdmans.
Unfortunately, at the elections of November 22, 2006, Eerdmans didn’t get enough votes to be re-elected in parliament, meaning we both lost our job. It’s really a shame, since there are so many jokers now in parliament who never contributed anything nor desire to make any serious changes to make this country a better place. But like they say, the people always get the government they deserve. Just hope they will use their vote more wisely next time. Nowadays, Eerdmans and me both found new jobs. I work as an administrative lawyer, while he’s in local politics and also started his own agency for public relations and lobbying. We are still in touch though. He still appears in the media quite often, works as a talk show host on tv and also has his own program on BNR radio. He still has quite some influence, since he has such a huge network of contact people in the media. If he wants to bring something to the attention of the public, he’s very capable to do so. Recently he started a foundation for people who, or whose loved ones, have been a victim of serious crime. The foundation aims to point out injustice, caused weak-hearted and ignorant judges who ignore the victims and prefer to cuddle the criminals.
I really hope he will run again for the 2011 elections, so he can take his rightful place in parliament again and continue his good work. That’s where he belongs, that’s his destiny. If I will join him again as his PA? Who knows? Let’s see what the future will bring us…
When I was in the Netherlands I used to tuned in to 100% NL. It's all Dutch and these are a few of my favorite songs. Want to sing with them? Nick en Simon - Vallende Sterren
Als geheel onverwachts, al je dromen uitkomen Maar je wordt door de wekker gestoord Laat jou dat dan weerhouden, want geloof dat je droom wordt verhoord
Begin deze dag niet zo teleurgesteld, maar onthoud dan juist goed wat de nacht heeft verteld Want wie ben jij in dit leven? Om je droom op te geven?
Jij, kijkt naar de maan En een vallende ster met haar stralende licht komt eraan Jij ziet ze gaan Alle vallende sterren, die weer doven in het licht van de maan
Als de krant van vandaag, die van morgen zou zijn Zou jij dan die krant openslaan? Om dan stiekem te lezen of je dromen van morgen doorgaan
Maar wees dan vandaag, niet zo teleurgesteld Wat de kranten van morgen, je hebben verteld Want wie ben jij in dit leven? Om je droom op te geven?
Jij, kijkt naar de maan En een vallende ster met haar stralende licht komt eraan Jij ziet ze gaan Alle vallende sterren, die weer doven in het licht van de maan
Alle vallende sterren, die weer doven in het licht van de maan
Jij kunt niet leven zonder wens, want jij bent gewoon een mens En ieder mens heeft een droom
Jij, kijkt naar de maan En een vallende ster met haar stralende licht komt eraan Jij ziet ze gaan Alle vallende sterren, die weer doven in het licht van de maan
Alle vallende sterren, die weer doven in het licht van de maan Die weer doven in het licht van de maan Alle vallende sterren Die weer doven in het licht van de maan
Guus Meeuwis - Geef Mij Angst
Je zegt ik ben vrij maar jij bedoelt ik ben zo eenzaam Je voelt je te gek zeg jij maar ik zit niet te dromen Want die blikken in je ogen zegen alles tegen mij Ik voel me precies als jij dus jij kan eerlijk zijn Je voelt je heel goed zeg jij je mond begint te trillen Ik weet dat ik jou kan helpen maar je moet zelf willen Elkaar nu een dienst bewijzen dat is alles wat ik vraag Zet weg nu die angst ik wist het al het is mijn dag vandaag
Geef mij nu je angst ik geef je er hoop voor terug Geef mij nu de nacht ik geef je hem morgen terug Zolang ik je niet verlies vind ik heus wel de weg met jou
Kijk mij nu eens aan nee zeg maar niets je mag best zwijgen Het valt nu nog zwaar maar ik weet dat ik jou kan krijgen Dit hoeft nooit meer te gebeuren als je bij me blijft vannacht Want dan zal je zien als jij straks wakker wordt dat jij weer lacht
Geef mij het gevoel dat ik er weer bij hoor voortaan Ik ga met je mee want ik laat je nu nooit meer gaan Geef mij nu je angst ik geef je er hoop voor terug Geef mij nu de nacht ik geef je hem morgen terug Zolang ik je niet verlies vind ik heus wel de weg met jou
Geef mij het gevoel dat ik er weer bij hoor voortaan Ik ga met je mee want ik laat je nu nooit meer gaan Geef mij nu je angst ik geef je er hoop voor terug Geef mij nu de nacht ik geef je hem morgen terug Zolang ik je niet verlies vind ik heus wel de weg met jou
Guus Meeuwis - Dat Komt Door Jou
Ik laat vandaag de mensen lachen Tot de nacht zal komen Heerlijk dromen dat jij hier bent En ik jou kan voelen Naar jou kan lachen Voelt het soms alsof ik zonder Veel te leeg en veel te kil ben En niet echt meer adem Ga vandaag een berg beklimmen En de top bereiken Met jou in m'n hart Waar ik jou wilt houden Vast wil houden Ik ben bang dat ik straks zonder Veel te klein en veel te kil ben En me niet kan vinden Zou vandaag de storm bedwingen En dan laten razen Tot ze stil is met jou bij mij kan ik alles Wil ik alles en ik weet dat ik straks zonder Veel te klein en niks meer waard ben En geen dag meer door kan
Dat komt door jou Dat komt gewoon door jou Je hart zit heel dicht bij mij Jou hart zit heel diep in mij
Ik wil vandaag de lucht versieren En haar kleuren geven En net zo mooi zijn zoals jij En ik roep de regen En de zonnestraal en ik fluister dat ik zonder Heel alleen een heel klein mens ben En geen weg kan vinden Ik zal vandaag een liedje schrijven En ze woorden geven Die van jou alleen voor jou zijn Zing je zacht met me mee Onze woorden en ik weet dat ik straks zonder Veel te bang en veel te min ben En niet door wil zingen Ik ga vandaag van alles kunnen Tot de dag voorbij is En ik weet dat ik maar 1 ding wil Dat je mee gaat met mij Bij me blijven want ik weet dat ik straks zonder Niets meer wil en niets meer kan Dan alleen maar huilen
Dat komt door jou Dat komt gewoon door jou Je hart zit heel dicht bij mij Je hart zit heel diep in mij Dat komt door jou Jou oogverblindend zijn Je hart zit heel dicht bij mij Je hart zit heel diep in mij
Als ik vandaag de dag met jou mag Zo 1 die zacht voorbij gaat Terwijl de wereld weg lijkt en ik naar je kijk Naar jou blijf lachen voelt het soms alsof het wonder Veel te mooi en veel te groot is En nooit bestaan heeft Als ik vannacht de nacht met jou mag Zo 1 die zacht voorbij glijd Alsof de wereld weg lijkt en ik naar je kijk Naar jou blijf lachen voelt het weer alsof het wonder Veel te mooi en veel te groot is En nooit terug keert
Als ik de dag en nacht met jou mag En die 2 voorbij gaan Terwijl heel de wereld weg kijkt Dan hou ik je vast En we zweven voelt het nog alsof het wonder Veel te mooi en veel te groot is Te mooi voor mij is
Dat komt door jou Dat komt gewoon door jou Je hart zit heel dicht bij mij Je hart zit heel diep in mij Dat komt door jou Jou oogverblindend zijn Jou hart zit heel dicht bij mij Jou hart zit heel diep in mij
