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?