Foxton goes Dutch again with games, culture, music and food

The Dutch Big Day will be held in Foxton on Saturday April 27 at De Molen from 10am to 3pm. The event kicks off a national series of events celebrating Dutch culture, games and food.

An Origins art exhibition can be seen in the Dutch Museum De Oranjehof in Te Awahou Nieuwe Stroom, which opens at 11 a.m. During the day there is food, games and music. Mayor Bernie Wanden and Dutch Ambassador Ard van den Vorst will be present.

Come and taste Gouda cheese, or croquette with Zaanse mustard, or taste a salty herring. Two street organs, one of which dates from 1880, will provide the music.

There will be plenty of Dutch games such as clog throwing and stilt walking. In addition to an art competition for the whole family, there will be a festive opening of an Origins exhibition in the Mapuna Kabinet museum that day. Participating artists can show their ethnic roots in their works.

These artists are competing for three prizes in Origins – The Directions of our Cultural Winds, and one of the judges is “Dutch” MP Ingrid Leary from Dunedin.

“Foxton, with its Dutch windmill and museum, has a special place in my heart,” says Ingrid. “When my mother passed away a few months ago, I wanted to spend the Waitangi weekend at Foxton Beach. And I reminisced about her arrival in our country – along with all the thousands of other immigrants who arrived by boat and plane.

“The story of Dutch arrivals is a story of ‘invisible immigrants’. There are many of us, but people don’t realize that – or how challenging it was. They came all the way here after World War II to be “pepper-potted” across the country to work in factories and on farms.

“The New Zealand government at the time had a non-assimilation policy, which caused suffering and hardship for immigrant families as adult siblings were separated. The newcomers would be employed far away from family and friends. Most did not speak the language and had no money upon arrival. These were not easy times.

“It’s great that we have a city where younger generations can learn about that history while enjoying a cup of coffee and tasting Dutch delicacies, in a space that celebrates colorful art and heritage.”

The Origins — The Directions of our Cultural Winds art competition features artists from Dunedin to Auckland. It shows works of art that combine the imposing windmill De Molen and its four sails with the artist’s whkapapa, their ethnic origin.

“Over the centuries, the winds have brought waka, sailing ships and planes across the wild oceans to Aotearoa New Zealand,” says Arjan. “They accompanied our tūpuna on their long journey.

“So our question to the artists was… What original wind direction drives your cultural ‘sails’? They will reflect that in their image of De Molen, and we will see a Dutch Stellingmolen in ways we have never seen before.”

Three art exhibition prizes will be awarded for Most Original Mill – Combined with Culture of Origin, presented by the ambassador.

People who come to the Big Dutch Day Out can also create a work of art and win as many as 10 smaller prizes, sponsored by civil construction company Higgins.

For the first time in Foxton, cycling enthusiasts will dress up in cheerful orange to take part in the Orange Bike Rides that take place in many towns and cities as part of Dutch Week.