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Living in North Holland

Comparing Dutch and American Birthdays

Posted on September 19, 2018

I’ve been a bit lax in posting this week because Sander’s had time off from work. During this past week we also celebrated his birthday! Not so long ago I wrote a post about how the Dutch celebrate birthdays. I figured now would be another good time to compare them. Sander’s a very low-key and down to earth guy so we didn’t do much. I need to point out this post contains my own personal experiences. I cannot speak for anyone…

Lifestyle Living in North Holland Tourism

Pride Amsterdam 2018

Posted on August 4, 2018

We stand squished between strangers. Cheers, screams and pounding music rise up all around us. Confetti rockets out of cannons and rains down on sweaty faces. Rainbow colors soar from windows and adorn painted cheeks. This is Pride Amsterdam 2018. The theme this year was “Heroes”. The website has the following statement: “Everyone knows someone who deserves the ‘hero status’. Think of people who take the lead, stand for something and also propagate it in public. It concerns people,…

Lifestyle Living in North Holland

My favorite iced tea flavors

Posted on July 28, 2018

It’s no secret that tea and water is all I drink. Water is my go to drink when we go out to eat, or celebrate with friends. Tea isn’t as simple to ask for so I never do. I’m not a fan of prepackaged teas either. Many of them have added sugar that make me feel disgusting after an hour or so. Instead I prepare my own tea and I do have some select favorites! Rose Hip tea This tart…

Lifestyle Living in North Holland

Pokémon GO Event – Zapdos

Posted on July 21, 2018

We once again had an eventful Pokémon GO weekend! This time it featured an older legendary, the electric bird Zapdos. These events are meant to be short and sweet (and rake in the money for the company). We had 3 hours to raid as many times as we could. We all got 5 free raid passes (usually one is free daily) but a majority of us bought more. We can do this by either gathering coins in game or paying…

Lifestyle Living in North Holland

5 Dutch summer things I love

Posted on July 16, 2018

Summer is finally here! We have those hot days and mild nights that had been promised to us. Now what exactly do I love about a Dutch summer? There are a number of things but a few really stick out for me. Long days During the Dutch summer, the sun rises early and sets around 11pm. This makes the days super long! You wake up and the sun is up. You go to bed and the sun is just setting……

Lifestyle Living in North Holland

How the Dutch eat fries

Posted on July 4, 2018

I’m missing out on the 4th of July celebrations back home. To help lighten the mood, I’m going to share a bit of information I have about the Dutch and fries. I came from America so all I know is “a side order of fries please.” I had no idea what was in store for me when I moved to The Netherlands. The Dutch are serious about their fries and have a variety of ways to enjoy them. All about…

Food Food in North Holland Lifestyle Living in North Holland Tourism

Moshi Moshi Fair 2018

Posted on June 23, 2018

Saturdays are usually a time for us to be lazy but we made an exception for Moshi Moshi Fair 2018. Inspired by the traditional Japanese matsuri, Moshi Moshi Fair came with the promise to allow visitors to experience Japanese Culture at its best. This year it was located in Amstel Park. Japanese Festivities There were a few traditional Japanese games like fishing for prizes or using a small gun to hit a target. However, food was probably the main stage here. Delicious…

How to Lifestyle Living in North Holland Tips

How the Dutch decorate their gardens

Posted on June 20, 2018

The Dutch garden is taken very seriously. When buying a home, one detail to look for is where the garden is located. Ideally it will be in the south where the sun will fall for most of the day. The Dutch love the sun and a south facing garden has the potential to make the most of daylight. And how exactly do the Dutch decorate these spaces? While it varies from household to household, it’s common to see a few…

Lifestyle Living in North Holland

How the Dutch celebrate birthdays

Posted on June 13, 2018

Gefeliciteerd! So it’s your birthday and you want to celebrate it like the Dutch do? Well buckle up kids, we’re in for a wild ride! Greetings The Dutch are relationship focused. This means you go around to every party attendee and congratulate them. That’s right, gefeliciteerd means congratulations. It’s a term used for any sort of congratulations but is mostly used for birthdays. It’s to say “whew, they made it another year!” and it’s impolite to skip a guest. This is also the…

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