Crossroads update

The following update was sent to Crossroads’ mailing list subscribers on Sunday 3 December 2006:

Dear Crossroads reader,

Welcome to a new update on recent developments on Crossroads, the web magazine for expatriates in Maastricht published by the European Journalism Centre.

New homepage layout
All news stories are now displayed under a general News header. Each news item however is still filed within three separate categories – Maastricht area news, Dutch national news and European News – on the sidebar menu.

Crossroads now regularly offers reviews of seminars, lectures or cultural events under Agenda tips and Reviews.

Our latest feature story now appears on the sidebar menu.

News items and agenda tips are updated every day. Reviews and Feature articles depend on the amount of submissions. I am usually able to post a new item every five days, so please keep checking!

I hope that this new layout will give you a better overview of all new postings on Crossroads. Don’t hesitate to let me know what you think about it or if you have other suggestions for improvement.

Most read articles
Would you believe that our most read stories are “Do you know A Dog of Flanders?” and its sequel “A Dog of Flanders revisited”? In these two articles, Japanese journalist Masaki Takakura examines why the story entitled A Dog of Flanders became famous all over the world, except in Belgium, where it is set, and the neighbouring Netherlands. Masaki explains why this sad but inspiring Christmas tale brings thousands of tourists every year to Antwerp, only an hour away from Maastricht.

Through Masaki’s articles, A Dog of Flanders has also brought hundreds of visitors from all corners of the earth to Crossroads and continue to do so. They have been translated and republished in a leading Kosovo newspaper.

Our third most read story is “Famous in Maastricht”, a humourous and enlightening list of Maastricht ’s many illustrious movers and shakers throughout history.

These statistical results lead me to reflect that our region’s rich cultural heritage is undoubtedly one of its biggest assets.

Whenever I receive guests from abroad, I know that I seldom fail to take them to admire Maastricht’s beautiful old walls, which I by the way will never see in the same way again since reading Anke Scheeren’s short story “The Five Heads”. I also enjoy showing my friends the magnificent statue of D’Artagnan, the famous French musketeer whose death in Maastricht will soon be the central theme of a new feature article on Crossroads.

It is interesting to notice that although Crossroads mainly targets Maastricht ’s international community, a large part of our readers comes from abroad. It looks like many people around the world are eager to find out more about this small corner of the world . The International Women’s Club Newcomers Handbook for example attracts a high number of viewers!

Recent feature stories

All lights on Lumière cinema

The Five Heads

What do a life jacket and the Maastricht International Playgroup have in common?

Selexyz Dominicanen opens in Maastricht

From Vancouver to Maastricht: Working Holiday Problem

Reflections on a student’s year abroad: savouring the differences between home and Maastricht

Limburg winemaker at work: the bison droppings give the wine a certain ‘je ne sais quoi’

Jazz Maastricht brings yet another bridge to Maastricht

‘What on earth is a sofi-number?’ wonders a German expatriate in Maastricht

The steep and thorny way to Naturalisation Day

Recent reviews

Making bad decisions, a lecture by Dr Anthony Daniels, also known as Theodore Dalrymple

The transformation of the Netherlands, a lecture by Simon Kuper

“La Convivencia” aan de Maas

Links

Our lists of links are regularly updated. Suggestions are welcome. Please contact me if you would like to submit new relevant links.

Call for contributors

Crossroads warmly accepts new freelance writers! Articles can cover a wide variety of subjects, such as the work of international organisations and academic institutes in the Maastricht area or cultural aspects of life in South Limburg . Articles can also present publications, websites and social clubs that can be of interest to foreign nationals.

Photo submissions for our “Through the lens” category – are also welcome. The European Journalism Centre offers a small compensation for articles and photographs.

If you are interested in writing for Crossroads, or if you have any comment or suggestions, please contact me at crossroads.news@gmail.com. I’ll be happy to hear from you.

Best wishes and good reading!

Sueli Brodin
Crossroads editor

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