We came back from a really nice game-demonstration. The shop we were in -boekhandel de Vries- is a big bookshop in the center of Haarlem. There were a lot of people coming in, and we explained many games.

I learned how to explain In De Ban Van de Ring today; I played it once with Jerry and Marjolein but that was a long time ago. We didn't bring the game ourselves, but a girl came by who asked if we could explain it. I told her I couldn't because we didn't have it, but then she went home and fetched her own.

Petra also came to see us; she played a game De Hobbit. After all this games we really want to play ourselves... so when Steven comes, he'll have no choice :)

Another game-weekend! Tomorrow there'll be a demonstration, Sunday both a tournament and demo. And Monday we'll see Marjolein & Jerry for a Steden & Ridders.


Sasha and I will be working both days, it's all here in Haarlem! So we don't have to leave at 7:00 (like when we left for Amersfoort or Leeuwarden). Ettie and my parents will play on Sunday.
There's also a third event, the WK qualifications in Weesp. Rob and Jerry will do that one.

Saturday:

Sunday:

Jaap & Mieke just left, back home. I'm afraid they didn't win again, they were beaten by the ultra-powerful Hooimarkt Posse... Sasha & Guus rule!

We had a really nice evening again, perhaps with a little bit more Grimbergen than good for us, but very cosy.

I am so very happy I won a game! We didn't make an appointment for next week. Sasha and I will stay in Haarlem for the demonstration and tournament on Saturday and Sunday, both in Haarlem.

I won!

I won I won I won!

Today there was a Kolonisten tournooi in Amersfoort, a Dutch Championship Qualification (NK).



The event was organized together with the SpellenWinckel a very nice game shop.


Now Jaap and Mieke came for -yet again- a Steden & Ridders... I'm looking forward to it, but at the same time a bit afraid that I won't be able to win again :)

I'm at 999 Games now; it's a very pleasant evening with many friends. I've only played one game, Carcazonne. I became 2nd (Rob was first).


I haven't seen 999 Games' new building before and I'm quite impressed -- a real improvement. We've been talking about the Spellenspektakel, the annual game fair in Eindhoven.

We'll never play Steden & Ridders again!

Somebody (whose name I won't mention here) has been winning the last six games in a row, without giving the others any chance.



Well, in fact we will play it again, we already made an appointment for next weekend. My parents came after dinner, and we played 2 games. I was so close in the last one... really very close but you know how it is: just not enough cards. Anyway, we had a very pleasant evening. Now quickly to sleep, tomorrow studying again.

Marjolein, Daniël, Jerry and I played a new game: Wongar. It's a boardgame from the German company Goldsieber, based on an Aboriginal theme. The game is a bit similair to El Grande.

We played from 20:30 till 23:00, and... I won! After that we played my all-time favourite game, Koehandel. Jerry won that one. had to run for my connection at Centraal Station, but the train guys were so kind to wait for me.

Picture: Goldsieber Spiele

One of the mayor game companies in Holland is Hasbro. They've made a website 'Ga toch spelen.nl' (Go out and play), to promote playing boardgames to kids. Funny thing is though how the filename of their website is called: it's http://www.gatochspelen.nl/hooftmenu.html, that is with a T yes, instead of with a D...

No doubt quicker than all other game websites like Spelmagazijn or Kolonisten.nl, I have the results of today world championship qualifications online!

1. Hans Baert
2. Antje Klaassen
3. Jeanette Boele
4. Jelle Oosterveen
5. Sylvia van Welie
6. Hans den Dulk
7. Ronald Rietveld
8. Erik Hendriks

They'll all compete September the 28th in Weesp to find out who will represent the Netherlands on the world cup Kolonisten van Catan.

My parents were 14th and 18th, next time better! But anyway, they told me they really liked it; which is obviously the most important.