My many years living on the canals have been a delight ! Funnily enough not for the obvious freedoms that Amsterdam so plentifully offers but more for the overall fun, generous and creative spirit of the locals and in these upcoming 10 days from Sept 10 to 20th if in NY you’ll be able to get more than a taste of that spirit at the New Island Festival on Governor’s Island. Our good friends from the hilarious BOOM CHICAGO comedy troupe with their Holland Globetrotters improv show are just one of the many highlights in this multi-faceted 10 day Celebration of the dynamic music, arts and theater scene from Amsterdam and throughout the Netherlands.

The New Island Festival is the latest event as part of the many ongoing NY400 activities in celebration of 400 years of cultural and social exchange between the USA and Holland and more specifically Nieuw Amsterdam aka NY and Amsterdam. Blame it all if you will on young Henry Hudson who aimed his vessel for other parts but luckily for us landed in New York Harbour and the relationship between Holland and the USA is going strong at 400.

After your many chuckles with Boom Chicago, stop in for a dance at Silent Disco, the sounds of the provocative Ellen ten Damme and explore the multitude of actvities from the performers from the wonderful annual ‘Oerel’ and ‘de Parade’ Festivals.