Beschuit met muisjes

No, my Dutch has not improved that significantly nor do I invent strange sounding words. It's just that  today I had I the chance to experiment a unique Dutch that's called as above.

More exactly, it's what you see in the picture below. Toasted bread (or rusk), called "beschuit", with butter and sugar coated anais, looking like small mice, therefore the "muisjes". It's usually served to visitors that come to see a new born, or brought by young moms to work to celebrate their new born, which is how I got to taste it.

Not very hard to understand the meaning of colors - pink for girls and blue for boys, and apparently there was one exception from the rule, when the muisjes were orange to celebrate Princess Catherine-Amelia's birth.

I was trying to figure out where this tradition comes from, and of course you can go with the the basic explanation that rusk is what you give to a small kid whose teeth are just getting out and that anais is a symbol of fertility, but I believe its much easier: just think of Dutch people's love for sandwiches and sprinkles and there you have it!

Bringing your own cake and desk pimping

A few days ago it was my birthday (verjaardag, as the Dutch say). Obviously, I become wiser and more fabulous, but not at all older :)

When coming to the office, I had a nice surprise waiting for me - my desk had been pimped! Colorful flags hanging from the ceiling on top of it, so no one could miss the fact that I had my birthday, even though I wanted to avoid the  many explanations about growing wiser without aging. A Hawaiian flower garland was hanging on my desktop, meant to give a happy summerish feeling despite the cold wind & clouds outside. And last but not least, the "piece de resistance": small Dutch flags sticked to the keyboard -- the ultimate symbol of my integration into the Dutch society - I did it! I am one of them, at least when it comes to birthday celebrating.

Of course, no birthday goes without cake, however in Dutchland you have to bring your own as opposed to getting one. For your collegues, naturlijk! Apple crumble and  fruits tarts and the most common, but the limburg vlaai is also lekker! Presents? What is that> Don't expect to get any present on top of "gefeliciteerd!" and the 3 mandatory kissed!

Apple Crumble Pie

Limburgse Vlaai

7685 frames of sunny Holland

Today I came across this nice time lapse video shoot in Holland. Amazing how beautiful and warm the honey colored light is, especially for a country that people imagine has a permanent rain cloud above. But what do they know?

Dutch Indian Summer

Summer in the Netherlands in the middle of October, that something special (even more if t's the warmest weekend of October since 1921!). So this special weekend deserved also a special plan: a visit to Den Haag!

Objective of the trip was visiting the Japanese Garden in Clingendael Estate, open only for two weeks in October, when the autumn colors create the most amazing visual painting. But why not also go to Scheveningen for probably the last good beach day this year?

Dutch House at the entrance of the Clingendael Estate

Japanese Garden - reflection

Japanese element 

Crossing the bridge

Hollandse Tuin 

Scheveningem

3D Street Art

Sun & Sand

Animal Planet

During summer I was discovering the nice forests around Breda, unaltered in any way, where you can still feel the smell of grass, trees and enjoy a quite walk or bike ride.

But who would have thought that just 30 min a bike ride from my house, I would discover a bit more than just a forest?

In an Arizona like landscape, munching but otherwise motionless, were nothing else than bisons (yes, that exact animal that you would expect to find in a reservation). Just 2 meters away from me. That's actually what I love about this country, that despite having the highest density per square km and being highly industrialized, you can still fine a few km from the cities places like this. 

Not to make it too long, definite it's worth making a visit to the Dorst forest!

Holland loves haring

There is no doubt about it. Even if the season for Hollandse Nieuwe (Holland's New, the name given to the young herring that is usually fished between May & July, when it's getting fatter and it's yummiest) is long gone, you can still find in the middle of Amsterdam the easily recognizable  kiosk with the Dutch flag and the unmistakable traditional dish. 

Definitely a must do in Holland*, served with onion and eaten by its tale. Don't forget to say "lekker" at the end!

 

*Most probably once, as unless you are Dutch or into strange tasting, silvery grey and slippery things, there's a slim chance you will do it twice,

 However Dutchies love it so much, that they also get their kids to start eating it since an early age -- and really, how can kids know better at that age?

The day I started to like Amsterdam

Unusual as it may sound, Amsterdam was never my cup of tea. Until today, when in a lazy Sunday morning, with the September sun warmly filtering its rays through the green-brown-orange & reddish leaves, the city of canals showed me it's charms.

Random canal view

It is actually the first time that I went alone in A'dam (the abbreviation commonly used by its inhabitants), without friends coming to visit, so there was no pressure to check all the turistic landmarks. So I took it easy, alongside the canals, which much to my surprise were not invaded by turists (at least that's why I thought until reaching Anne Frank's Huis, where the was a queue of aprox. 25m at 11 AM).

But I could't let that spoil my good mood, so I went to my favorite brunch place, Bagels & Beans, for a delicious bagel, a flavor-full cappuccino & and people watching.The day continued in the same relaxed way, with shopping, museum-seeing and wandering around, just enjoying the vibrant atmosphere, trendy people, cool boats and amazing reflection on the dark brick houses in the canal green waters.

Favourite brunch

Amsterdam's Museum was ok, with a few nice movies about the city during different areas of it's development, but I would not say it's worth paying the 11 EUR entrance (but if you have a Museumkaart, then why not?). However, although I didn't try it, the Mokum Cafe in the inner courtyard of the museum looked quite nice, and taking into account the many people occupying the tables, I assume food should be good as well.

Cafe Mokum

The other one I saw was Van Gogh's Museum, where I got to meet Vincent. I am not really into art (though I'd like to know more about it), but I enjoyed the cosy museum displaying more than 90% of the painter's works of art and also getting to know more about his short but full life. Apparently on Fridays the museum opens its doors for hip events, like workshops or DJ evenings. Definitely a must try at some point!That was about the cultural part, but my favorite part was still rambling along the streets (I especially liked Negen Straatjes Area & Museumplein) and tasting the local life. Proof of that below ;)

Dutch lesson no 1: Lekker-ishing and lekker-isms

Do you see any connection between the images bellow? If you are Dutch, the answer is easy :)

However complicated Dutch language might be, there's one mandatory word that you can apply to basically everything and that will make you sound really local. Isn't that lekker?

Originally it was used to describe tasty food, the equivalent of delicious in English. But it has gone waaaay beyond that, and it can be used when talking about nice wether (lekker weer), a pleasant weekend (lekker weekend) or to the sexy guy/girl at the next table (He is soooo lekker (aka yummy)). But feel free to apply it to everything that is cool, great, nice, pleasant, good, enjoyable...

Crazy Stupid Love FUN

Also known as carnaval. Everything seems to go crazy, but everyone acts like it's the most normal thing in the world.

City's name is no longer Breda, but Kielegat, which is derived from Kiele, an old farmer's coat. Everyone gathers in the central market to see the ceremony during which Prince Carnaval (elected from the Carnaval Organizing Comitee) gets the key to the city, signifying the party can officially begin.

No one needs cars any more. Carnaval-ers have found new means of transportation.

Normal music no longer exists. It is replaced by silly sounding songs in Dutch, and the complicated Polonaise dance (human "train" made of people jumping around with their beer glasses). 

Water is replaced by beer. No one is allowed to drink anything else. Beer can also be used a shampoo, and its not impossible to witness a boy pouring a glass of beer in a girl's head. Moreover, it's completely normal that she looks angry for a few seconds, then squeezes her hair and puts it in a ponytail, while continuing to dance as nothing has happened (true story). 

You can be anyone. Or anything: a strawberry, an angel, a hippie, a funeral procession, a monk or a nun drinking next to the church, a dinosaur, a member of the DrinkedIn Comunity, a Tetris piece or even a hot dog.

Work does not exist anymore. Carnaval ends on Tuesday, but you usually need a few more days to recover after and get your body functioning on water and other fluids again. Also, no cleaning of the market is done until the disaster has officially ended.

Leaving jokes aside, carnaval is a great experience: people are having fun, the city becomes more colorful with the bars and pubs all building an outside attachment to sell beer easier and creativity blooms via the original costumes. But the greatest thing of all is that carnaval goes beyond age: teenagers, kids, mums & dads, grandmas and grandpas, people in wheel chairs and even dogs seem to enjoy it.

Carnaval, partying for 3 days and 3 nights

Its only a week until the long expected Carnaval in the south of the Netherlands, here translated into 3 days of drinking beer, dressing in funny costumes, loud partying and ...did I mention drinking beer?

Everything becomes a party house during Carnaval

There are both lovers and haters of the Carnaval, one explanation resting in the fact that it is celebrated only in the Southern, Catholic part of the Netherlands, while Netherlanders from North of the rivers tend to disregard the carnaval as being a foolish and stupid party. However, no arrogant Northern Dutchie can distroy the enthusiam of the party people in the South, who take usally take days off from work (not to miss any part of their beloved festival).

Not to make it only about partying or beer, here's just a short history: Carnaval is celebrated all around Europe in most of the Catholic Countries, just before the Easter 40 day fasting begins. Actually, the name itsfelf, "carne" (meat), is an indication of this, as its one of the last days before Easter when people can eat meat.

In the Dutch South Lands (especially in North Brabant, where I live), some cities change its name during the carnaval and most of them have a "Carnaval Prince" and a motto. Although the official start of the carnaval is on Sunday (2nd of March this year) and it lasts until Tuesday, usually the party starts from Friday. Of course, they do not miss to through pre carnaval parties 3 weeks in advance, just to make sure the costumes fir well enough and to drink beer outside.

Building in Grote Markt decorated with flags and representations of Dyonisus

Carnaval fans tell me a good strategy is to have several costumes, as after one day of heavy partying and drinking, you kind of stink. And although you are never sober during the 3 (or more) days, its not a bad idea to change your clothes from time to time.

For an "outsider" like me, Carnaval is until now a good business for clothes shops (who display a large variety of costumes -- fairies, pirates, penguins,  bees, princesses, noble men or ladies, vikings, just pick your style!)and for the beer producers. But who know, maybe the Carnaval virus will also touch me :)

Small towns are boring beautiful

I used top live with the misconception that small towns are boring, but as I moved to one, I had to either accept the idea of a peaceful, unpredictable life or change my mind about them (I decided to do the latter :p). And actually, although I sometimes miss the energy and crazy rythm of a big city, I kind of like the familiarness of these cosy small towns, with their cute markets and canals.

What is actually really funny is that my favourite city until now in the Netherlands is not the crowded Amsterdam, glass & steel Rotterdam or highly industrialized Eindhoven, but the small Leiden.

The small cobbled streets, the noisy Saturnday market, the medieval fortress on the small hill (probably the highest point in Holland !? :p) are just adorable. And despite being one of the oldest cities, you can feel the young spirit of an universitary town.

But don't images speak lauder than words?

About bread, bagels and beans

Dutch people love their bread, the reason they eat so much of it at lunch, as sandwiches ( typically around 5-6 slices of bread are involed in the sandwich making deal). Of course they can say they are effective people who need to have a quick, convenient meal (so that they can go back to work in no time and finish everything by 17:00-17:30), but still I think its more to the story than plain effectiveness. Otherwise why do they buy broodjies (small breads filled with cheese/meat/spinach/etc) for all the parties and you can find a panini toaster in every house?

5-6 slices of bread for lunch

I can't complain, as I like bread (is that the reason I now live in Breda?), this being probably one of the reasons I enjoyed the Bagels & Beans. This Dutch chain has delicious bagels (you can choose from plain, wholewheat, multi, grains, tomato, sesame or even cinnamon and raisins), with all sorts of filling (creamcheese, hoummous, tuna, ham, carpaccio, everything you might wish), lots of teas and big colorful coffee cups. Caffes are cosy and colorful, and atmosphere resembles Starbucks but I like it more due to the friendly stuff, delicious bagels and huge warm drinks cups. Not to say they have the Sweet Special, a yummy combination of Chocolate Brownies, cheesecake, cinnamon bagel with cream cheese and jam and muffins for all the sweet lovers. 

Big cappuccino cup

Sweet Special

The good thing is there's one in almost all big or medium cities in Holland, and there is also one in Breda (although I only tried one in Leiden and one in Amsterdam). Guess what is on my next weekend to do list?