Latest news with #Flanders
Sky News AU
11 hours ago
- Sport
- Sky News AU
AFL: Gold Coast Suns intent on keeping Sam Flanders
Suns coach Damien Hardwick has suggested rival clubs shouldn't waste their time trying to lure midfielder Sam Flanders away from the Gold Coast. Flanders, 23, is contracted to the Suns until the end of the 2027 AFL season; however, reports have emerged that St Kilda and some other Victorian clubs are keen to bring Flanders back to his home state sooner. However, Hardwick has no intention of letting go of the Gippsland product. 'We're not in the business of trading our very best players, so Sam Flanders won't be going anywhere,' the Suns coach said on Friday. 'I've got a real soft spot for Sam. He's one of my favourites. He's been really challenged this year with injury but … we're really positive about his back end of the year. 'He's the solution for us. He's an outstanding player. When he plays at his very best with Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson and Touk Miller … we're a different side.' Flanders isn't the only Suns star being reportedly chased by Victorian clubs, with off-contract on-baller Rowell and forward Ben King also linked with moves south. However, Hardwick said the Suns – who have won eight from 12 this season ahead of their clash on Sunday against the GWS Giants at Engie Stadium – were set to become a club that top players from other teams would want to join in a similar way to fellow Queenslanders and reigning premiers Brisbane. 'We've got to make sure this is the very best environment for players,' the former Richmond three-time premiership-winning coach said, 'We've got opposition clubs speaking to our players and we're speaking to opposition players. 'We want to keep our very good players, (and) we're also happy to take a few as well.' Hardwick's Suns are hoping to avoid a third successive defeat on Sunday after suffering back-to-back loss before their bye last weekend. 'We're really bullish about how far we can go,' he said ahead of the 'next shift' in the Suns' battle to play finals football for the first time. 'We've put to bed the first part of the year. This part of the year is really important. The contenders stand up and the pretenders fall away. That's the challenge from here on in. 'We're really excited about the next block of four games (against the Giants, Melbourne, Essendon and Collingwood) that's going to present an opportunity for us. 'We're firmly zone in on what that looks like. We've got some areas of our game that we really like, but we've certainly got a lot of improvement left in us as well.' Originally published as Gold Coast Suns star Sam Flanders isn't 'going anywhere' despite interest from Victorian clubs
Perth Now
12 hours ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Sam's our man, says Suns coach
Suns coach Damien Hardwick has suggested rival clubs shouldn't waste their time trying to lure midfielder Sam Flanders away from the Gold Coast. Flanders, 23, is contracted to the Suns until the end of the 2027 AFL season; however, reports have emerged that St Kilda and some other Victorian clubs are keen to bring Flanders back to his home state sooner. However, Hardwick has no intention of letting go of the Gippsland product. 'We're not in the business of trading our very best players, so Sam Flanders won't be going anywhere,' the Suns coach said on Friday. 'I've got a real soft spot for Sam. He's one of my favourites. He's been really challenged this year with injury but … we're really positive about his back end of the year. 'He's the solution for us. He's an outstanding player. When he plays at his very best with Matt Rowell and Noah Anderson and Touk Miller … we're a different side.' Gold Coast midfielder Sam Flanders is among of Suns coach Damien Hardwick's 'favourites'. Gold Coast Suns Credit: News Corp Australia Flanders isn't the only Suns star being reportedly chased by Victorian clubs, with off-contract on-baller Rowell and forward Ben King also linked with moves south. However, Hardwick said the Suns – who have won eight from 12 this season ahead of their clash on Sunday against the GWS Giants at Engie Stadium – were set to become a club that top players from other teams would want to join in a similar way to fellow Queenslanders and reigning premiers Brisbane. 'We've got to make sure this is the very best environment for players,' the former Richmond three-time premiership-winning coach said, 'We've got opposition clubs speaking to our players and we're speaking to opposition players. 'We want to keep our very good players, (and) we're also happy to take a few as well.' Hardwick's Suns are hoping to avoid a third successive defeat on Sunday after suffering back-to-back loss before their bye last weekend. 'We're really bullish about how far we can go,' he said ahead of the 'next shift' in the Suns' battle to play finals football for the first time. 'We've put to bed the first part of the year. This part of the year is really important. The contenders stand up and the pretenders fall away. That's the challenge from here on in. 'We're really excited about the next block of four games (against the Giants, Melbourne, Essendon and Collingwood) that's going to present an opportunity for us. 'We're firmly zone in on what that looks like. We've got some areas of our game that we really like, but we've certainly got a lot of improvement left in us as well.'
.jpeg%3Ftrim%3D0%2C0%2C0%2C0%26width%3D1200%26height%3D800%26crop%3D1200%3A800&w=3840&q=100)
The Independent
a day ago
- The Independent
Beat the heat: The ‘coolest' European destinations to visit in summer 2025
Shade seekers can rejoice, holiday travel trends are changing and tan-refreshing, sunbed-stewing summer getaways are on the decline. In light of the ongoing climate crisis, Brits – habitually inclined to boil abroad – are redirecting their wanderlust to European shores where they won't be a prisoner to a hotel room's air-conditioning or sweat over the midday UV index. The shift to more moderate climates comes as no surprise. A furnace of Mediterranean holiday heavyweights, from Athens to Valenica, were ablaze with wildfires during peak travel season 2024, and temperatures are continuing to break record highs year on year. Now's the time to swap searing Andalusia in mainland Spain for the cooler Canaries, trade Portugal 's Algarve for Poland 's Baltic coast, and replace big-hitting Greek islands with German variations. With chasing scorching sun on the back burner, here are the destinations bringing a breeze to summer holidays, from wind-whipped islands to northern Europe's fine coastline. Ostend, Belgium Average high in August: 21C Average low in August: 15C Though best known for its chocolate, beer and the hub of EU democracy that is Brussels, it would be foolish to turn your nose up at Belgium 's beach resorts. Let Flanders's largest, Ostend, sweep you away to its golden sands this summer for mornings spent kitesurfing and afternoons filled with fresh oysters on the Albert I Promenade – all without the need to retreat from the heat. Oslo, Norway Average high in August: 21C Average low in August: 13C The Norwegian capital is a tangle of hip districts – specifically buzzy Grünerløkka – boutique stores and al fresco dining spots fringed by thick Marka forest (where you can go for active pursuits, including zip lining and mountain biking). Slick museums on the Oslo Pass, such as the Munch Museum, meet the culture criteria for a city break while taking a dip in seawater pools and drying off in Nordic saunas nails the R&R element of a standard summer holiday. La Gomera, Canary Islands Average high in August: 28C Average low in August: 21C While mainland Spain sizzles, an Atlantic onshore breeze blows through the Canary Islands, blessing balmy year-round La Gomera with inviting 20C days for holidaymakers to indulge in hiking, black-sand bathing and foodie feasts of melon lobster and marmalade rabbit. The bearable heat doesn't sacrifice sunshine, with around nine hours of vitamin D on offer in August. Tartu, Estonia Average high in August: 21C Average low in August: 11C Inevitably laden with sweaty vista climbs, winding refreshment queues and daily step tallies in the thousands, comfort is key on a city break, and the 2024 Capital of Culture, Tartu has just the climate for exploring Estonia. There is an elegant Town Hall Square primed for mass kissing events (yes, really), the sleek Estonian National Museum, and timber barges on the Emajõgi River for a sailor's view of the peaceful landscape. Sopot, Poland Average high in August: 22C Average low in August: 12C Seafront Sopot, in the Tricity region of the 'Baltic Riviera', is an affordable alternative to the beloved big names further south and at its warmest come August. A short train ride from all the history of Gdansk, 4km of tempting beaches, Europe 's longest wooden pier and stylish health spas dot the fairy tale-esque facades and locals hail Sopot for its beachfront nightlife scene and, of course, decadent waffles. Sylt, Germany Average high in August: 20C Average low in August: 16C A magnet for the German elite, the North Frisian Islands' mild microclimate, pinstriped strandkorbs (hooded wicker seats wide enough for two) and pristine pale sands understandably attract travellers to Sylt's west coast. A Michelin-rosette gastronomy scene, thatched cottages and lighthouse-scattered peninsulas make this balmy under-the-radar beach break one to add to your list. Lake Bled, Slovenia Average high in August: 28C Average low in August: 16C Slovenia 's most famous attraction sparkles under the summer sun and Lake Bled's inviting turquoise glacial waters will help you keep your cool on climbs up to the medieval Bled Castle and romantic rows around the fantasy island. Where the legendary lakes of Garda and Como sweat with crowds in Italy, Bled's slice of the Julian Alps, though inevitably busy, offers forest trails suited for secluded alpine hikes. Machico, Madeira Average high in August: 26C Average low in August: 21C Leave the scorching Algarve for a more temperate Atlantic alternative on Portugal 's Madeira archipelago. Sandwiched between mountains, far east Machico has a wave-battered artificial beach with golden grains imported from Africa, well-groomed gardens and a vision of terracotta roofs dotting its landscape. Pori, Finland Average high in August: 21C Average low in August: 12C On Finland 's west coast, the city of Pori is a centre for jazz music, Finnish street eats (including porilainen, an elevated sausage sandwich), and, star of Scandinavia, Yyteri Beach: 6km of white sand geared for windsurfing, bird watching, beach volleyball and barbecues. With the Kokemäenjoki River and Bothnian Sea National Park, this diverse destination has mastered sub-30C summer culture. Haarlem, Netherlands Average high in August: 19C Average low in August: 15C Head to Haarlem for tulips, vinyls, hidden hofje courtyards and a fair share of canals. Amsterdam 's less-crowded neighbour serves a slice of Dutch cool without the sweaty shoulder brushes with strangers. It has a popular shopping scene as well as a brewing culture backdating to the 14th century, and active pursuits can be found in the Zuid-Kennemerland National Park. Skagen, Denmark Average high in August: 19C Average low in August: 13C On Denmark 's northeastern peninsula, the port town of Skagen has art museums and fine dining to rival the country's effortlessly cool capital Copenhagen. Wisps of cloud paint the skies and wild nature patrols the pale grains of the Grenen sandbar that straddles the Baltic and North Sea. Better still, August's T-shirt and light-layers weather is ideal for exploring this stretch of the Rabjerg Mile – a migrating coastal sand dune.
Asharq Al-Awsat
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Asharq Al-Awsat
Amsterdam Honors its Own Golden Age Sculpture Master
Imposing but delicate marble sculptures of Graeco-Roman-style figures grace the vaulted corridors of a huge palace. But this isn't Florence or Rome. This is Amsterdam. As part of celebrations to mark 750 years since the founding of the Dutch capital, the city is unveiling from Wednesday an exhibition dedicated to Artus Quellinus, the 17th century "sculptor of Amsterdam." Virtually unknown outside Flanders in present-day Belgium where he made his name, the city has Quellinus to thank for the decorations on the Royal Palace that dominates the city's iconic Dam Square. Quellinus "lifted our sculpture to a new level" with a fresh style, Dutch art historian Bieke van der Mark told AFP. Born in Antwerp in 1606, Quellinus sculpted with marble, as well as ivory and clay. His style, heavily influenced by Flemish baroque painter Reubens, was a complete novelty for the Protestant Netherlands, used to a more sober style at the time. His subjects -- mythological figures, chubby angels, and animals -- are perhaps a nod to the great masters he would have seen while an apprentice in Rome. "Like (17th century Italian master Gian Lorenzo) Bernini, he masters the way the flesh looks, and hands," said Van der Mark. "It's really fantastic," said the 46-year-old, pointing to a statue of the Saturn devouring his son, whom he holds in his huge veiny hands. Organized by the Amsterdam Royal Palace and the Rijksmuseum, this is the first-ever retrospective devoted to Quellinus, displaying more than 100 of his works from national and international collections. "We spent quite some time to select and to collect, to bring together all these very special works... to show Quellinus at his best," said curator Liesbeth van Noortwijk. "Because I think he's an artist that deserves that." "We dare to call him the Bernini of the North... And I think this is no exaggeration," she told AFP. The decorations of Amsterdam's Royal Palace, built as a town hall between 1648 and 1665, remains Quellinus's statement work, with an iconic figure on the roof of Atlas bearing the world on his shoulders. Now, nearly 400 years on, the city hopes the show will raise awareness of the hitherto unrecognized "sculptor of Amsterdam."
Forbes
10-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Fashion's most dynamic capital has something for evreyone
The graduate collection from Floran Polano on view at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts Antwerp The Fashion department of the Antwerp Academy Four decades ago, a group of designers known as the Antwerp Six put Belgian fashion on the map. The city has since become an avant-garde fashion hub—an insider's paradise for those in the know. The appeal of Antwerp, compared to industry capitals like Paris or New York, is that it is niche: a designer's destination. The teasing of a 4-day fashion festival earmarked for 2026 shows the city is on a mission—to carve out a space alongside the top-level competitors on its own terms. The build-up to a full-scale event with presentations and shows in 2026 saw the core organizers—Flanders DC, City of Antwerp, MoMu, and the Royal Academy of Fine Arts—host a number of activations from 5-7 June. These included Fashion Talks, a series of industry deep-dives usually held in November; an interactive Fashion Walk around the city which opened studios to the public or paired designers with independent retailers, and of course, the prestigious graduate show from the Royal Academy of Fine Arts' fashion department. 'We are on an upward trajectory but how the sector and consumers operate is changing,' said Koen Kennis, the Alderman for Retail Trade and Tourism at the Fashion Talks event on 5 June. 'We want to make it economically viable but responsible and inclusive.' The impact of the creative industries in Flanders has been documented in a new report from the Department of Economy, Science, and Innovation, painting a picture of volatility. The latest figures show that in 2023, 200 companies had fewer employees than previous years—a drop from 1,250 in 2018 to 1,050. There was also a fluctuation in the number of workers in full-time employment. In 2018, 37,500 companies in the fashion industry had full-time employees. By 2020, this had dropped dramatically to 29,000 —a 'catastrophic loss' of over 8,000 jobs, according to Kennis. Bernadette and Charlotte de Geyter, founders of Antwerp brand Bernadette Eva Donckers However, the study had bright spots. By 2023, that figure was back on track with 35,500 in employment. It recorded €1 billion more revenue in 2023 compared to 2018 and €130 million more in added value. The number of self-employed people in Flanders' fashion industry was up too: data found 2,500 more were registered as self-employed in 2023 than in previous years. 'It's still not easy for many and there are a lot of challenges but there is clearly light at the end of the tunnel,' added Kennis. It's clearly punching above it's weight. This potential can be seen in the number of brands with solid businesses in Flanders. Bernadette—the breakout mother-daughter duo of Bernadette and Charlotte de Geyter—is a prime example. In five years, it has secured 98 points of sale around the world for its hand-drawn prints, and couture-inspired silhouettes including in China, New Zealand, the US, and Saudi Arabia. A recent expansion into homeware means a towel capsule is on the horizon. 'The way we work is intuitively and emotionally,' explains Charlotte de Geyter in a meet-and-greet at Graanmarkt 13 as part of the Fashion Walk. 'Belgium has a very strong history of fashion. But everyone here has a different point of view, whether that's Ann Demeulemeester or us.' She pointed out that while it's a small city, it has plenty of upsides for designers—from ample space to unhindered time to focus on creativity. Several other women-led brands were presented at various retail spots as part of the mini-tour. Artisanal leather designer Marie Bernadette Woehrl was tucked away in Ganterie Boon—one of Europe's last surviving family-run glove stores. Florentina Leitner showcased a fairytale-inspired installation at textile studio Bakermat; German brand Rundholz gave space to the digital craft of Australian designer Flora Miranda. Designer Tim Van Steenbergen and journalist Ruth Goossens are the founders of socially-driven sustainable label REantwerp Courtesy Flanders DC The inclusion of REantwerp, a socially-driven sustainable atelier, shows the wealth of diversity and creativity in the region. The brainchild of designer Tim Van Steenbergen and journalist Ruth Goossens, it collaborates with the non-profit labor organization GATAM—which stands for Great Distance to the Labor Market—to offer employment to refugees with a background in textiles and making. 'We are giving people a future through fashion,' Van Steenbergen explained from an exhibition in the brand's new home of Kleine Markt 7. This space will double as a store and workspace so customers see the makers when they shop, helping them 'understand the value of the clothes.' Conversely, this set-up will help the newcomers into Antwerp to understand their role in the value chain. As well as coming from war-torn areas like Syria, Palestine, and Ukraine, they often join Van Steenbergen from countries where clothing has been chronically devalued such as Turkey. The weekend drew to a close with the hottest ticket in town: the Royal Academy of Fine Arts graduate show. Hundreds of students took to the stage in a 4 hour combined runway presentation. In the show publication, Johan Pas, the Dean of the Royal College's notes upheld this ethos of responsible fashion. Pas argued: 'If we are what we wear, we should take full responsibility in the choice of what we wear,' suggesting that by delegating the crucial functions inherent with the most personal of choices (the creation of the clothes) to people we don't essentially know, we are, essentially, transferring that immense responsibility onto designers. A runway look from the final collection of Annaëlle Reudink at the graduate show from the Fashion department of the Antwerp Academy of Fine Arts Andrew Thomas Unusually, the show is open to the public and despite the €50 ticket, draws guests from all over Europe. 2025's MA graduates to watch include Annaëlle Reudink and Floran Polano as well as the equally promising third-year student Carla Lázaro. Brandon Wen, creative director of the fashion department, emphasized the dynamism of Antwerp—a sharp contrast to the industry's current ecosystem, which, he said, only benefits the big conglomerates. Wen is calling for a restructure in favour of those attempting to create an alternative system, one based on idiosyncrasy. Not an easy task. But if there's a city with the vision to rethink a broken framework, it's Antwerp.
