h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Many years ago I travelled to Holland with a London amateur choir comprising doctors and nurses from St Bartholomew's ('Barts') Hospital, plus various hangers-on such as myself, to sing Verdi's requiem with a Dutch youth orchestra, possibly the NHJO. There were two performances, one at the Westerkerk in Leiden and one at the Westerkerk in Amsterdam, just along the canal from the Anne Frank house. The young musicians were very good and very enthusiastic. A thoroughly enjoyable experience. (And I love Dutch food. I hope someone does an entry on Dutch cooking.)

The mention of Alkmaar reminds me I have a number of records of music played on the organ at the St Laurenskerk there. I did visit Alkmaar some time ago, but seem to remember it as a pleasant but ordinary sort of town. Perhaps I missed something?

Youth orchestras rock!

Hi Belshazzar.
If you had performances in Leiden and Amsterdam, I suspect it must have been a student orchestra from one of those universities.

Alkmaar is worldfamous for its cheese-market, but that's only one day in the week, as far as I know.
It was also the first city that did not fall to the spanish army during the 80 year war.

Thanks for reminding me about the cheese market. Most brits think of Holland in terms of windmills and tulips and dykes. I think about cheese markets and cheese shops Mind you, last time I was in Holland I ran into the annual flower festival in a small place near Doorn - magnificent.

Regarding student orchestras, I think there's a very good one at Delft university.