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Edition 19, January 2011

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Dear Suikertuin guests, Our first Newsletter of the year starts with a heartfelt wish for a healthy, happy and cheerful 2011 for you and your family. We hope to see you a lot this year, celebrating and sharing your birthdays, anniversaries and other happy occasions with us. A Very Happy New Year from Alan, Xandra, Brenda, Inge, Marjory, July, Loesinie, Maritza and myself. That said, we hereby take a final look back at 2010: a year that has established De Suikertuin as one of the coziest restaurants on the island, if we may believe everything we hear. December has been fabulous, starting with top designer Ronchi de Cuba showing his exclusive holiday designs. Once again, the models were exquisite, wearing the gorgeous outfits to perfection. New this time was the jewelry, provided by Beauty and the Beast; the latest ‘statement’ jewelry received rave reviews as well. The month continued with a surprise for our hard-working staff: a gala premiere of the movie The Tourist at the Crystal Theater. De Suikertuin’s boys and gals dressed up in their finery and greatly enjoyed the elegant evening. Angelina Jolie was stunning, but De Suikertuin ladies put her to shame! And Alan and Florencio could take on Johnny Depp any day of the week. A few great groups came to enjoy brunch, lunch or high tea at De Suikertuin: Directie wetgeving, Hotske, and her Chef’s Table employees as well as the University ate, drank and were merry. And then the year-end was almost upon us and it was time to visit an almost forgotten group of Arubans: the elderly. De Suikertuin surprised staffers and inhabitants of the Senior Citizens relief center in San Nicolas with a huge stack of ‘oliebollen’. One elderly lady could not stop eating them: she shoved three big ones into her mouth and was still eyeing them lustfully when they were handed out to the staff. We believe everyone had a great time on the 31st in San Nicolas. A bit later that day De Suikertuin’s customary pagara was lit: a deafening experience once again. Wow, our ears were ringing after all the ghosts had been expelled. So now only angels will accompany you at De Suikertuin; we promise. For the New Year, we have quite a number of exciting plans, starting with a gypsy night in February, a `play’-full evening and a Mexican night. There is a lot of brewing and we’ll keep you posted of all upcoming events. As our Newsletter’s finale, we announce that De Suikertuin postcards are available; they are free of charge and can be put in the mail in the old-fashioned milk jug that is placed near the reading table. The postcards are a nostalgic wink at former times when one would write long letters and postcards from holiday destinations to friends and loved ones; we want them back! So please come soon and write your postcards – we are going to set a trend! Willeke Volgers and staff

Edition 18, December 2010

December 1, 2010 In Latest News No Comment Read More

Happy Holidays, everyone! Gearing up towards a glittering, sizzling and bubbly Christmas season, De Suikertuin is in happy spirits, getting decked out in festive decorations. Outside you will see welcoming Santa Claus socks wafting in the wind; inside will be a haven of quietude and serenity with elegant, home-made wall hangings with deep and sincere wishes for De Suikertuin’s guests. No gaudy, plastic Santas and flickering lights in all the colors of the rainbow for us this year. De Suikertuin has two Christmas specials for you, beside the options for Cocktail Receptions and Private Functions during the Season. These are the Christmas Lunch, with a mini sandwich, turkey, ayaca and a salad, with a finale of chocolate fondue with fresh fruit for AWG. 35,– per person, or the Christmas High Tea menu with a Christmas ham with pineapple, pumpkin soup, a turkey sandwich, ayaca pie, mashed potatoes and a potatoe salad, various brochettes and a dessert of a scone, carrot and choco cake for AWG. 45,– per person. Reservations for both options should be made at least one day in advance. Looking back, we can tell you about Sunday, 28 November, when De Suikertuin closed a bit earlier than is customary to get everything shipshape for a festive Christening luncheon. 8-week old Allegra Mya Maria, sister of 2-year old Vida and daughter of Kyle Bennett and Shurby Maria was the star of the day, even though she slept part of her party away. Admittedly, it was a tiring day for her, as she had been baptized in the church of Santa Cruz earlier that morning. Guests were welcomed with a mimosa and treated to keshi yena and nasi goreng: an unusual combination with a history. Both parents, rehabilitation physician Kyle and well-known musician Shurby are both from Curaçao (that is the keshi yena leg) and both of them have roots in Surinam (nasi goreng). Of course there was live music: Juancho Tromp played the guitar and Shurby sang. The party went well, it was a lot of fun and De Suikertuin looked absolutely gorgeous; just like the glowing, happy family. Ronchi de Cuba’s Holiday Preview Christmas Fashion High Tea on December 5 was once again a hit! His clothes were terrific, the models real super stars and the applause kept coming. Ronchi is undoubtedly one of Aruba’s top designers; his store Trash is a treasure trove of fantastic clothes for all sizes and shapes and they are very reasonably priced, as we found out ourselves. The so-called `statement jewelry’ that the models showed, came from Beauty and the Beast; giant pieces are the latest in fantasy jewelry. Guests had to divide their attention between the delicious High Tea, also a kind of preview, and the stunning show. Wow! On with the introduction of Brenda, whom you have met already, we presume. Brenda Wildschut is her full name; she is 36 years old and greatly enjoying working at De Suikertuin. Although you might not have noticed, this is her first waitressing job. Brenda has worked in an administrative top job in Holland, but partner Barry enticed her to come along to Aruba for three years. Brenda is into sports: she ran Rondje Aruba, she trains at Healthy Living in Piedra Plat and she loves her new job. Bon bini! As the last month of the year is speeding past, we are starting to look towards 2011 and future events at De Suikertuin. Well, Dr. Carlos Viana is going to give a lecture again after his successful speech last October. This time he will speak about losing weight with the right food choices, taking the Blood Type Diet as his guideline. After carnival a spinning marathon and a bike ride have been put on the calendar of events. Both are fundraising activities which provide a double benefit: keeping your body healthy and in shape and it helps the charity of choice. Terrific! We shall keep you up to speed about any happenings, of course. This is it for now. I just need to wish all of you the best Christmas ever, the most fantastic Holiday Season and a splendid, prosperous, healthy and very happy 2011. Best wishes and many thanks to our patrons from all of us at De Suikertuin. Masha danki! Willeke Volgers

Edition 17, November 2010

November 1, 2010 In Latest News No Comment Read More

Hello everyone, Here we are again, already getting ready for Christmas, full of ideas and plans for a wonderful festive season. Yes, the early bird catches the worm! This year De Suikertuin is offering great Christmas baskets, filled with home-made goodies: check them out, they are unusual! For those who wish to celebrate with a group of employees, colleagues, co-workers or friends there is the possibility of a Christmas cocktail party at De Suikertuin, complete with hors d’oeuvres and `mini oliebolletjes en appelflapjes’ (Dutch treats). And if you do not want either of the above, you can rent De Suikertuin as the location of a party of your own. We’re here for you! Recapping the month of October, there is a lot to tell you about. First of all there was the lecture of relationship therapist Diana van Hulten, who spoke about the wide range of emotions, expectations, actions and reactions that make up a relationship. It’s an intricate subject, different for everyone involved because of differences in character, background and interaction. Some twenty people listened intently to Diana’s lecture – hopefully they left a bit less befuddled! Our other activity was the Bike Ride through Arikok National Park. An early, 8.30 am start preceded a great ride. Some twenty people, among them four tough kids, started off in a downpour. They then cycled, wet to the bone, via San Nicolas, Lago Heights and the north coast to one of the caves. The idea was that an early lunch would be waiting for the tired athletes, but no such thing happened: the catering team of Gaston and Isabella got lost! Fortunately they surfaced after a while and provided the group with a super lunch and awa di lamoenchi, so everyone was enough revived for the hot, high and heavy return trip to the Marinierskazerne, our starting point; the amazingly beautiful scenery made up for any hardship whatsoever. Everyone was really enthusiastic, even afterwards, and we are sure that another De Suikertuin bike ride will be in the planning soon. Arikok National Park is stunning, especially after the unusual amount of rainfall of recent weeks. If you missed the ride, plan a hike through the park soon. And now our activities: an interesting, fun idea has come up: send your picture postcards to your friends via De Suikertuin. Joa Beke is designing the postcards, Willeke will be providing the stamps and a real post box will shortly be placed at De Suikertuin to post your messages to your loved ones the `old-fashioned way’. What a great, almost `retro’ idea. On Sunday, December 5 Ronchi de Cuba will be showing his Holiday Collection during a high tea. His previous showing was a sell-out success, with rave reviews for our local designer Ronchi and his Trash label as well as for the festively decorated De Suikertuin. December 5 will be super special as well, so make your reservations early! Quite a few people had to miss Ronchi’s event, so they will be the first to put their names down, we expect. And before we wish you a great pre-holiday November, we would like to mention that we are talking to Dr. Carlos Viana and to Anton Isaac about their sharing a bit of their vast knowledge regarding health, food and the human body (not in that order) in upcoming lectures. We hope you are fine, see you soon at De Suikertuin. Best wishes, Willeke

Edition 16, October 2010

October 1, 2010 In Latest News No Comment Read More

Dear reader, There is never a dull moment at De Suikertuin, it seems, certainly not with the exciting happenings of September just behind us and more coming up. We hope you were there, but for those who missed it, here is a short re-capping of events: Dr. Carlos Viana‘s Blood Type Dinner, based on the original book by Peter d’Amado, was a sell-out. The lecture was riveting and the buffet choices sported cards on which the different blood types of the guests were written: some food options were good for O Positive, but bad for their counterparts and so on. A most interesting evening, with dr. Viana in a starring role. The next happening took place on Sunday afternoon, September 19 – life coach Petra v.d. Berg talked about communication and the pitfalls which we all encounter when talking and listening to each other. The workshop included a terrific, healthy lunch. And last but certainly not least, there was Ronchi de Cuba’s fashion show. His latest designs for his Trash label passed the review, expertly modeled throughout our restaurant. Guests greatly enjoyed this fashionable Sunday afternoon, sipping cups of tea and splurging on cakes, wraps and finger sandwiches while eyeing Ronchi’s ultimate couture designs. The models were gorgeous, their outfits stupendous. Even a downpour could not spoil the fun. September was chockfull of successful events, but we are planning even more: upcoming events for October include a lecture on relationships taught by Diana Hulten on the 20th (from 7.30 until 9 pm). Therapist Diana will talk about the pitfalls of having a good relationship with your partner. How do you keep it an ongoing, dynamic process that is part of your most important relationship: namely with yourself. The lecture will be in Dutch. Start making your reservation early! The much-anticipated fun bike ride to the Arikok National Park is held on Sunday, October 31. The start will be in Savaneta at 8.30 am, with lunch `on location’. Bikers pay an AWG. 25,– registration fee and proceeds will go towards the Cas di Glas fundraising for a mobile breast cancer screening unit. By the way, you don’t need to be an expert mountain biker to join the Suikertuin group! Register as soon as you can for this athletic Sunday morning activity on the last day of this month. And now on to some hot news: De Suikertuin is opening on Sundays! After having been begged for a long time, Willeke has relented and De Suikertuin will be open for breakfast/brunch on Sundays from 8 am until 3 pm. Weekday opening hours will now be from 8 am until 4 pm. And for those people who need a place for meetings or functions: De Suikertuin is for rent. The only requirements are a two-hour minimum and self-service of coffee and tea. We don’t know if you have noticed the change behind our bar: it’s Alan who holds sway there. After doing a stint in the kitchen, he has realized that tending bar is what he is best at. Alan is doing a fantastic job! And although it is early days yet, it is never too early in the year to start planning your Christmas parties and gifts. For 2010 De Suikertuin is going to come up with very attractive baskets and please also remember our gift certificates, catering options, and parties at De Suikertuin or on location. We hope you will have a terrific month of October. See you soon at De Suikertuin! Willeke Volgers

Edition 15, August 2010

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Hi dear readers, It has been a while since our previous newsletter. This had a reason: many patrons were on holiday, living it up abroad or on their island. We did not have any Suikertuin activities lined up, so we did not wish to bother you. But now we’re back! With a vengeance! Your days of fun in the sun are over and it is back to the grindstone with quite a lot of Suikertuin action coming up. We do not want to waste another second, so get out your diary. Here goes: on Sunday, September 12, Ronchi de Cuba is showing his latest lines of fashionable wear during a sizzling High Tea event. Models will parade throughout the restaurant and garden, showing off their great bods, dressed in couture. Expect finger sandwiches, a mountain of cakes, scones with whipped cream and the tea variety of your liking. The cost: AWG. 35 per person; reservations for this event need to be made in advance. And this was just the start. September is going to be one busy month, as on Friday, September 17 there will be a `Blood Type Dinner’, hosted by Dr. Carlos Viana who will explain the ins and outs of the blood type diet during a buffet of meat, fish, and vegetables with various side dishes. Dinner starts at 7.30 pm and the entertaining and educational evening costs AWG 37.50 And on we go: Petra van den Berg is teaching a workshop on September 19. The topic is communication; we believe that everyone would benefit from recognizing the certain behavior, actions and reactions, so do come and learn. `Do you really understand someone or are you thinking for that person? Can you listen without judging?’ These, and many more are the topics of Petra’s workshop, which is held from 12 am until 4 pm, lunch included. The workshop will be taught in English unless only Dutch-speakers are present. The price is 45.- Phew, we’re done; only just a few news items to divulge. Xandra is going on holiday; she will leave on Sunday, August 22 to help celebrate her father’s 80th birthday. Our terrific waitress will be back on September …… when we will heave a sigh a relief. More holiday news: Willeke is leaving for Holland as well to see for herself how her daughter Natalie is doing. Nathalie has started her studies in the meantime and she is doing great! On August 14 De Suikertuin catered in downtown Oranjestad for the VIP section of a new game of mini soccer, called Pannabol. Minister Richard Visser, his family and a number of colleagues as well as a good crowd came to enjoy the fast-paced, action-packed event; Mr. Visser and his friends even tried their hand at the sport. De Suikertuin served salmon wraps and saté sandwiches to the guests. We did not want to leave you all stressed and hyper from all of our activities, so we hereby show you a photograph of our bird feeder in De Suikertuin’s garden. In the morning you can see frolicking `buikie heel’ and trupialen, enjoying a treat. We hope that by looking at it you will feel as much serenity and joy as we do. Have fun and see you soon at De Suikertuin, Best wishes, Willeke Volgers

Edition 14, June 2010

June 1, 2010 In Latest News No Comment Read More

Hello everyone! Big news: it is final! Gaston and Willeke are getting a divorce! Yes, it might be quite a surprise to you, but the business relationship between the two is over and Willeke is going to be on her own from now on. They are still very, very good friends, of course. Gaston is spreading his wings towards another direction: he is going to open a spectacular Bed & Breakfast, geared towards wellness, serenity and happiness. We shall keep you posted about his progress. In the picture Willeke raises her glass to the future success of `her’ Gaston and Gaston toasts to Willeke’s continued prosperity and happiness at De Suikertuin. Cheers! That said, we have lots more news to tell you about. First of all there is Dineke, a new face at De Suikertuin; she will be assisting Willeke, Xandra and Inge behind the counter and `on the floor’. De Suikertuin team is very happy to welcome Dineke. By the way, have you noticed the spectacular new decorations at De Suikertuin? These are from Home & Nature, and they are for sale. So take another good look at the stunning book stands, the art on the wall near the door, the candle holder and the boat-cupboard in the garden, the Buddha’s and the other items as they might be gone soon! Last month, on April 30, De Suikertuin organized a tapas/rosé afternoon called We Go Rosé on an Orange Day in close cooperation with the Arion Wine Company. It was just great: very relaxed, nice orange decorations, lovely wines, delicious tapas and lots of good company. One group stood out: the lively gathering around Karin Swiers, who is leaving the island to follow the love of her life to Holland. De Suikertuin wishes Karin all the best! Her friends will sorely miss her gay presence! A Bridesmaids’ breakfast was held a bit earlier in the month: bride Megan Tobin thanked her lovely assistants Katie, Kara, Barbara, Christina, Nicole and Emily with a super special breakfast. They were there for her all the way throughout her 18-month engagement, helping her suppress her nerves at her wedding day and dancing up a storm afterwards. Megan wrote that they had never had such a good breakfast in their lives, which was great to hear. And now on to a new topic for the upcoming newsletters: a herb, root, plant or vegetable will be put in the spotlight. Read about its qualities and healing characteristics. For June we have picked ginger, and ginger tea will be our June Special Tea. This root is very special with its 17 medicinal properties. Ginger helps with a variety of ailments, among them hypertension, nausea, blood clots, the flu, infections and more. Read all about ginger’s magic on the information card on De Suikertuin’s tables. Best wishes and see you soon, Willeke

Edition 13, May 2010

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Hi, dear guests of De Suikertuin, This is a combined April/May Newsletter for a reason: we have a lot of activities coming up and a few of them are still in April. To begin with, there is Anton Isaak’s follow-up to his lecture about the differences between women and men in handling stress: this will be held on Wednesday, April 28, starting at 7.30 pm… Those of you who were present at his previous fun lecture are invited to come again and resume the lively discussion of a few weeks ago. And then there will be our special `Koninginnedag’ event on April 30th. Called `We go Rosé on an Orange Day’, this is a super deal to let you get better acquainted with three of the Arion Wine Company’s excellent rosé’s, tapas and meet new friends. For just AWG. 15,– you will get a glass of sweet or dry rosé or a glass of White Zinfandel with two tapas that enhance the taste of your personally selected rosé. A varied menu of tapas is available as well, so order as many as you want: their price is AWG. 3,– each. No reservations are needed for the Arion/De Suikertuin event on the 30th. By the way, De Suikertuin is open for business as usual on Friday (30) and on Saturday (May 1). Expect coffee or tea with cake as an extra daily special; in the afternoon you can make a toast to the Queen’s health with a glass of wine and a slice of quiche. Judging from reactions, our new breakfast specials are a big hit, so start adding a weekly breakfast outing to your schedules! Especially the `verwen’ breakfast is irresistible. Maybe a good idea for May 1st, when you are recovering from our Go Rosé happening? Starting today you can participate in a contest: tell us what kind of plant or flower this is and you might win a free lunch for two. The contest runs until the day that the bulb will burst in bloom, so don’t wait too long to put your name down. The plant/flower is gracing the long table to your left when you enter De Suikertuin in case you wish to see it `live’. E-mail us the answer (or come by). Our next charity for our quarterly Special for a Cause will be the Red Cross of Aruba. Part of the proceeds of the Wente Morning Fog Chardonnay or the Southern Hills Cabernet Sauvignon (both AWG. 9,50 per glass) and of the daily Suikertuin Special goes towards this organization, which helps people in need. Your donation will go to the people of Haiti, who are still living in terrible circumstances after the earthquake. So by ordering our daily special with a glass of wine, you are killing two birds with one stone. In this Newsletter, we also wish to announce our upcoming Mother’s Day happening: De Suikertuin will be open from 9 am until 3 pm and Mothers will be in the spotlight the entire day from breakfast to tea time. For our special Mother’s Day menus, please view them on our website www.desuikertuin.aw. Reservations are required. Last but not least is here the recipe for an outstanding risotto. Although the perfect risotto is often thought to be difficult to achieve, Chef Margery explains that it is all in the stirring: “Don’t leave a risotto to bubble away on its own; you have to stand guard and keep on stirring,’’ she says. The recipe is as follows: ingredients are 1 onion, 2 cloves of garlic, butter, sundried tomatoes, oregano, basil, a glass of white wine, one carton of risotto rice, Parmesan cheese and a beef cube. Fry the onion and the garlic in butter until glassy, then fry the uncooked rice for a few moments before adding the dissolved beef cube in hot water. Add the wine together with the sundried tomatoes and constantly add water so that the rice remains smooth. Cook on low gas, keep adding liquid until the rice is completely done. Add the basil and oregano and serve with Parmesan cheese on top. Phew, I wanted to tell you about a number of upcoming activities at De Suikertuin, but I believe that this is good enough for now. I’ll keep you posted of new happenings. I hope to see you on April 28, 30, May 1 and May 9 or any time in between. Best wishes, Willeke Volgers De Suikertuin

Edition 12, April 2010

April 1, 2010 In Latest News No Comment Read More

Hello dear friends, De Suikertuin is getting ready for spring! Lots of new ideas and brain waves are swirling around and taking shape. More information about these plans is coming up. In the meantime, we are getting rave reviews about our new menu and the caterings and daily deliveries are on the rise. De Suikertuin is also getting popular for coffee mornings, committee meetings and tea parties. Great! And now for some news: our terrific waitresses Inge and Xandra celebrated their birthdays last month. Although their passports might show that they are no spring chickens anymore, they both look years younger than their real ages. Working at De Suikertuin must be what makes them look so good! By the way, we need a few more part-timers, so if you wish to undergo a rejuvenation treatment through working at De Suikertuin, let me know. And you get paid on top of it! Marjorie is disclosing one of her secret recipes in this Newsletter: a Sweet and Sour Fish Dish for 4 persons. It is quite easy: you need 4 tilapia filets, a large onion, a sweet pepper, 2 carrots, 3 stalks of celery, sweet and sour sauce, flour, an egg and a teaspoon of All Seasoning, pepper and garlic powder. Season the tilapia filets with the All Seasoning, the pepper, and garlic powder. Dip them in flour and afterward in the beaten egg. Fry the fish in olive oil. Cut the vegetables in thin, one-inch long strips and fry them before adding the sweet and sour sauce and a little bit of water. Add the fish and voilà: you have your Sweet and Sour Fish Dish. Serve with rice and broccoli. And now we come to Upcoming Events! Our first activity will be a repeat performance by Anton Isaak. His lecture on the differences in handling stress between men and women was so successful that many people who missed it, have asked for another chance to hear him speak. His follow-up lecture will be held shortly after. New subjects that will be tackled are The Definition of Love and the War on Drugs, which addresses the influence of drugs on our society. For the Queen’s Birthday (April 30) we are planning a rosé and tapas night with lovely wines from the Arion Wine Company and terrific tapas. A fun bike tour through the Arikok National Park will be held in combination with 080 in Noord in May. In our next Newsletter, we shall tell you about our next charity for our Special with a Cause action. For now, we hope you are up to date. Best wishes and see you soon, Willeke

Edition 11, March 2010

March 1, 2010 In Latest News No Comment Read More

Hello, dear Suikertuin guests, Carnival has come and gone in a vividly colored flash, delighting everyone with its cheerful abandon. But we have come back to earth and here we are, now with our brand new menu. We hope to receive a lot of feedback from you so that we will know your favorite and least favorite dishes. Last week Anton Isaak held a fabulous, very funny lecture in our garden. A great mix of people attended and they learned how men and women differ in handling stress. Taking stereotypical anecdotes as examples, Anton illuminated why many relational problems occur: the chemical processes in a male brain are different from those in a female brain. As men need to de-stress in silence and solitude, women need to talk. Yes, we all laughed, but in the meantime, we learned a lot about the other sex. Anton and Willeke would like to invite those interested to register for the follow-up session to his lecture to check whether his ideas, tips, and hints have fallen onto the fertile ground. Anton also wants to know whether the fact that we now realize why certain situations occur, will make a difference in our behavior and reactions. So please: if you were present last week and you want to continue, let Willeke know via email or phone. Also if you missed Anton’s lecture and you are tearing your roots out because of it: do not worry. If enough people let us know that they want a second chance, Anton will surely be willing to come to De Suikertuin again to get you up to speed. And now onto something else: our chef Marjorie will disclose two of De Suikertuin’s secret recipes in this Newsletter. Awa Lamoenchi en Oreo Surprise will be what your guests will rave about as much as they do at our place: we’re not stingy, as you might notice! The Awa Lamoenchi is so easy that everyone can make it: squeeze 10 lemons, mix the juice with 200 grams of sugar and a liter of water. Stir well and taste the mix to see whether it is too sour. If so, add a bit of sugar. The Oreo Surprise will surprise you: buy `oliebollen mix’ at the supermarket and prepare the mix as indicated on the package. Then hide an Oreo cookie into the dough ball mixture, fry in scalding hot oil and serve with ice cream: a sure hit. You might have noticed a fresh new face at De Suikertuin besides Inge and Xandra, but unfortunately, Jowie has already left us. You might see her on television soon, as she will be a roving reporter for TeleAruba. We all wish her lots of luck and hope that she will fondly remember De Suikertuin. Finally: we shall be very happy to be able to donate a sizeable cheque to our charity of the quarter: the Animal Rights Aruba (ARA) foundation. You have been great ordering the specials, of which part goes towards this charity. We shall update you in the next Newsletter of our next charity of choice. For now, I would like to leave you with the following: my full name is Wilhelmina Volgers and De Suikertuin is located in the Wilhelminastraat! Best wishes from the Sugar team.

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