Don’t get me wrong, the Dutch are very personable people. That becomes a whole different story when it comes to the weather though. The weather is a topic often spoken about on a casual basis. Most of the time I’m asked about my thoughts on the weather. I also get “Why are you wearing so many warm things?” It’s because I came from very warm place! If I’m too cold then I leap into my cozy sweatshirts and warm socks.…
Rambunctious Koningsdag celebrating beings the night before and continues on into the next morning. Sprawling dance parties are held in each major city across the nation. Markets with stalls overflowing with goods line up in front of closed store fronts. Flags with the Dutch colors fly over most houses. Everyone is wearing tall hats and neon orange shirts. What exactly causes the Dutch to celebrate so extensively for one day a year? King’s Day is the birthday of the current…
When you think of traditional noble families and the sprawling castles they called home, you can’t forget the massive plots of land they kept for entertainment. Most nobility had the coin to keep large gardens and Erenstein Castle (this page is in Dutch!) is no exception. Dating back to the 14th century, this castle is kept so well that it looks and feels relevant today. It probably doesn’t help that it doubles as a hotel but still. A part of Dutch…
Spending time with family is very important to the Dutch. Since The Netherlands is such a tiny country, it’s pretty easy for family to get together for the holidays. One very popular and easy to prepare meal setting is the gourmetten spread. I’ve mentioned it previously but I’ve never talked about how to recreate one. If you come from America, picture something like a Korean BBQ at home. You gather together and spend time chatting in a comfortable environment with friends…
Finally. I know you’re taking to show yourself in The Netherlands but at least I know you’re here. I haven’t been more excited for you to arrive. There are a number of reasons I’m so thankful for your arrival. First and foremost because of the warm weather. While I enjoy wearing hoodies, it can get old after 6 months. I want to wear shorts and sneakers again. I want to feel light and free when I leave the house. I…
It’s no secret that the bad weather has kept me indoors. Aside from passing my time by working on the blog or reading, I’ve been playing a handful of games. For me, playing video games keeps my mind and hands busy. Back home I would watch my favorite shows but I could do crafty hobbies as well. I haven’t gotten back into many of those hobbies out here and need to keep my hands busy all the time. Playing video…
“You must be crazy! Leaving behind all that sun for this…” Our neighbor gestured around him and while there was nothing to see, we know what he was talking about. This weekend the temperatures will be dipping down into the low 30°s. While this is warm for most people from the east coast of America, I’m entirely new to the scene. I grew up in California where the coldest it would get was maybe low 40°s in the middle of…
I’m always excited to get out and about, especially when we head out to Amsterdam. A big city, as always, is filled with the hustle and bustle of both native and tourists alike. Since the crowd can be overwhelming for us, we tend to space our visits out when choosing something busy. These are the events we’re planning on attending in The Netherlands this year. Several Music events at AFAS I’ve always wanted to attend live shows of my favorite artists…
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 We’re in the middle of winter as I write this but with spring coming soon, I feel this is the perfect time. Stores will be having seasonal sales to get rid of all their winter clothing so it’s the best time to stock up on winter essentials. Keep Cozy Now it’s never so cold that you would freeze to death but the average temperature here has been around the high 30’s (2°C) to mid 40’s (7°C). If you’re coming to…