Amongst the Tulips

Burgers Zoo

2011-03-07T01:29:00.000-08:00

The Netherlands has many zoo's scattered through out it's little country but one of the zoo's I really enjoy visiting (and I am not far from) is Burgers zoo in Arnhem. This past weekend we packed up the kids and met a few other of my expat friends and we had a wonderful day at the zoo.
Here are a few (I use that word lightly) pictures I will share with you:

And really, you do not want to know what this chimp was eating. My friend Tammy (who I know will blog about it) caught the whole action of him catching it before hand. Yuck - I guess his diet is so yummy that he feels it's good enough to give it a go a second time! I wasn't able to get the before picture as my card was full and had to change cards, I took around 600 pictures at the zoo and have had much difficulty trying to dwindle it down to 126 pictures. Choosing only 10 pictures for my blog was one of the most difficult things I have had to endure in a long time!

Red Bull Crashed Ice in Valkenburg

2011-02-09T01:18:00.000-08:00

I just had one of the best weekends I have had in a long time. There is no place I love more in the Netherlands than the province of Limburg with their rolling hills, open land, beautiful scenery and houses that seem to come out of a fairy tale book.

A month ago I saw a commercial on the television for some Red Bull crashed Ice event. I have never heard of this before but it looked so extreme and so Canadian! I told my husband right away to book a hotel because we are going to have a weekend away and see this event.

We arrived at our hotel in Schin op Geul and was greeted by the sweetest couple who own/run the hotel. I fell in love with their darling Limburgs accent - how could you ever get mad at someone with such a sweet accent? We quickly found our room and I noticed right away a lady bug was on the window sill. I joked with my husband that a lady bug inside is a sign of good luck, but then I noticed another, and another and another. I quickly realized we had an infestation of lady bugs. I guess we were being blessed with a lot of luck! I mentioned it to the hotel keepers and they were very accommodating to change our room to an equally nice but bugless room.

After a bite to eat at a local pub we quickly made our way over to the train station for our 2 minute train ride into Valkenburg. The train was packed with other excited crashed ice supporters and while we tried to squeeze in I tried to control my claustrophobia.

The event took place on top of a big hill (or most Dutch would consider a mountain) in Valkenburg, and we had to climb that hill. The climb was torturous! It was apparently only a 12% inclination but it felt much more and we were trying to go as fast as we could because they had already announced that once it was full they were not letting anyone else in. I think the walk up the hill was to ween out the weak!

Once the gate opened up we ran in for the best spot we could find... right after one of the big jumps! A perfect photo opportunity spot. These men were moving at access speeds of 70km/h so you can imagine how difficult it was to take pictures in the dark but I think we managed fine.

Above: Scott Coxall (Canadian) lost his helmet in the beginning of this race but luckily was not disqualified.

Final standing was:
                    1st Arttu Pihlainen (Finland)
                    2nd Scott Croxall (Canadian)
                    3rd Kyle Croxall (Canaidan)

This video was taken by someone just behind us. I was the one with the Canadian flag (of course). My friends and family who were watching it live at home were also able to spot me as the only one waving my Canadian flag in the mass of people.

Here are some highlights of the race

I hope this comes back again next year! I certainly recommend this for anybody!

The Butter ham (Boterham)

2011-02-01T13:11:00.000-08:00

Boterham is Dutch for sandwhich and they love their boterhammen. Variations of open and closed faced sandwhiches are often the Dutch's choices for breakfast and lunch.

Favourites include:

Chocolate, fruit or licorice flavoured sprinkles on an open faced sandwich.

Beschuit - a very airy dry piece of toast good to put any topping on. If a baby is born, traditionally beschuit with little coloured balls (muisjes) flavoured as licorice are served to the guests that come see the new baby. Pink muisjes for a girl and blue for a boy of course.

Tosti - is actually nothing more than a grilled cheese or panini. Many variations of this can be found - cheese with any type of meat, spices, tomato, brie, nuts, pineapple. If it can be thought up, it has been served here in the Netherlands. These are a favourite in my household and regularly seen at lunch time.

Most restaurants/cafe's serve messy looking, often open faced sandwiches that are almost always delicious! These sandwiches are not made to be eaten between your fingers. First off: you WILL make a mess Secondly: People seem to look at you oddly as you try to balance one between your thumbs and fingers and watch its contents fall down the front of your shirt (yes I speak from experience). These sandwiches are served with a fork and sharp knife. I believe it may be a code of conduct thing that you are supposed to eat a sandwich with a fork and knife. I still can't resist to pick them up between my fingers and thumb if they aren't too messy.

Marvel Madness

2011-01-17T03:46:00.000-08:00

This weekend was the weekend.... yes THE WEEKEND that all wives alike only pray never happens to them. It was THE WEEKEND that the mother-in-law evicts the boxes of comic magazines and those boxes of comic magazines have no choice (according to husband) but to move in with *gulp* us. WHY DEAR LORD WHY??

Those boxes quickly turned into big bags for transportation reasons (and easier access for husband I am sure). They were put no other place but on MY bed and there he sat like a child going through his old comics only hoping his daughters would have the same enthusiasm as he shared.

Some of the comics I only knew of because of living here so long.

Some comics are internationally known

Other comics I have never heard of in my life!

I have no idea if there are any of value in the collection. Most of the comics were very well used so I doubt there will be. Most of them were from the 1980's and early 1990's.

The old music magazines were fun to look at until they made me realize how old I am. I may not have been buying these same magazines but I would have been buying magazines in Canada in the year 1991 and a lot of the same artists would have been featured. *sigh* How do I convince my 13 year old that our music was also once cool?

It wasn't hard to amuse my 5 year old daughter when she found a toy catalogue from 1991. Even I had to take a torturing peak at this. Yes this made me feel even older than the 'top of the pop' books did.

"Mommy Mommy LOOOOOK They had Etcha Sketch in your days too"! In "My days" like it's a completely different era or something. My gosh it's not that long ago - at least it doesn't feel THAT long ago... Oh who the hell am I kidding?? ummm quick save "It was from papa's days not mine darling". That should do it!

Remember these jewels? I barely do... you know... with my age comes memory loss ...

hmmm wonder if my mom still has my old Nintendo and games.

It's a bikers country

2010-12-15T13:20:00.000-08:00

Netherlands is a 'fietsers' /bikers country. The roads are often very small and often the city centres are closed off to motorized vehicles. You will see mothers biking daily with a child on the back of their bike, a child on the front of the bike (more than one child if they have a bakfiets ) and a child biking beside them. Even when it snows and the roads are slippery than an ice rink, it doesn't slow them down. I am hoping it is something in just being Dutch that keeps them safely on the bike while going over these black iced ridden roads with out wiping out. Now that I have my Dutch citizenship I am looking forward to staying on my bike when hitting a patch of ice or being hit by a gust of wind, for some reason I am blaming my cursed clumsiness for a life of many more falls to come. I am still having bad side effects from a bad fall in September from being knocked over by the wind... yes the wind. You would think I knew how to bike. I had my youngest daughter on my bike and luckily she was unharmed, I unfortunately suffered a concussion. Yesterday I hit a patch of ice that has luckily only left me with a black and blue knee. I am seriously starting to consider trading my bike in for some snow shoes! How these Dutchies do it with out a helmet nor a care in the world is beyond me.

There is said to be more bikes in the Netherlands then there are people and there are more than 750,000 bikes stolen a year. The Dutch learn at a very young age the importance of keeping their bike safely locked up.

I'm officially a CanDutch

2010-12-15T05:14:00.000-08:00

About half a year ago it came to my attention that because I am married to my Dutch partner, I can become a Dutch citizen and keep my Canadian citizenship. After ten years, the only reason I did not get my citizenship was because I was told this was not possible to have a dual citizenship. Every five years we would pay about 300 euros for our residence permit but every five years this price would drastically seem to increase. Unfortunately our residence permit had to be renewed a month ago and I had to have a valid residence permit in order to obtain my Dutch citizenship so with in the same month we had to pay for the residence permit and the 650 euro citizenship fee. That was a hard blow but now we are finished with all expenses that will keep us in this country.
Other valid reasons for obtaining Dutch citizenship :

I can vote
I can live anywhere in Europe if I wish (Italy is looking good about now) just joking.... a little.
Easier to get a passport
I'm not a "foreigner" and don't have to worry about the government putting me through more courses.
My husband is not financially responsible for me.

Today with great pleasure my daughter and I received our Dutch citizenship. What also made this day special is that today is "Nationale Naturalisatiedag" National Citizenship Day. The press was present at our ceremony and a picture will be printed in our local paper and the photographer from the press said he will send a picture to my home address.

For any foreigners considering this big move, some of the requirements to become a citizenship are:

You must live in the Netherlands for 5 years or have been legally married to a Dutch partner for three years.
You can not have a criminal record.

More information can be found at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dutch_nationality_law

Sinterklaas Surprise

2010-12-03T01:28:00.000-08:00

I loved this time of year when I was younger. I was always right into the Christmas mood - yes I was the kid wearing the lighted up Santa hat to school with matching mitts, earrings and socks! I may have toned it down over the years (I know my husband is grateful for that) but that doesn't mean I love Christmas any less. One thing I always looked forward to was secret Santa at school (or any other after school organization I was in). For anybody who has never heard of a "secret Santa": everybody draws a name and doesn't tell anybody who that name is. You discretely try to find out what your ~~victim~~ chosen secret Santa's interests are and you buy a little gift for them and wrap it nicely and give it to them on the arranged day.
For the Dutch children that are a little old to believe in Sinterklaas (about age 10 plus), they also have a "secret Santa" but they call it "Sinterklaas surprise" (surprise is pronounced sup-reese). Children write their name on a piece of paper and make the quest a little easier by adding what their interests and hobbies are ex. soccer, spider-man, and swimming. Just like a secret Santa, the idea is that the name you have chosen is kept top secret. The children then buy a small gift (usually no more than a few euros) and then they decorate the gift to one of the chosen childs interests.
Last night I found my self once again making Breanna's Sinterklaas surprise at the last minute! I love this child dearly but she did not inherit my creativity (and she knows it - or she is just smart enough to act like she doesn't have any creativity so mom will do it all for her). Her friends are all on msn together and they all figured out who chose who, so there really is no more surprise. The girl Breanna chose is into field hockey - we couldn't make a stick thick enough to fit the gifts and Breanna didn't want to make the field (thats boring mom). So I made her look on her Facebook to find out more about her - found out she likes to ski too. So here was ~~her~~ my late night last minute creation.

Here are a few from previous years:

Getting into the Christmas spirit

2010-11-28T07:38:00.000-08:00

I always find it difficult to get into the Christmas spirit early in the Netherlands. The majority of people will not decorate until Sinterklaas leaves for Spain on the 5th of December. Even my husband has set the rule (maybe the ONLY rule he has been successful in enforcing in our house) that no Christmas decorations go up until Sinterklaas goes out. But let me tell you as soon as that Dutch Christmas party pooper is out... I am decking the halls with boughs of holly!
One way I can always count on to get into the Christmas mood is by going to Intratuin (our largest garden centre chains). They always have this garden centre so beautifully decorated that scrooge would even be inspired to decorate. This one is in Duiven, when it opened up it was the largest indoor garden centre in Europe.

Notice how big this display is! This is just one of many.

With beautiful Dickensville displays like this it makes me almost want to start another space consuming pricey collection...... Almost.

I really got some superb idea's and some great inspiration. I can't wait to decorate. I even hope it snows (really snows not just sprinkles) to add to the Christmas feeling (the snow can leave in January).

And, la piece de la resistance, radioactive animals!

Another great way to get into the Christmas feeling around here is by going to the markets, particularly the German ones. My good friend Sonya went to one in Osnabruck, Germany this weekend (I´m so jealous), she has some beautiful pictures you can see her blog at Home Cooking with Sonya

Report card time

2010-11-26T13:47:00.000-08:00

My oldest daughter Breanna came home from high school (middelbare school in Dutch) with her report card and a big smile on her face. I knew it had to be good, she was just so excited to show us. I remember report card time as a time of grief, guilt and wondering how I can hide it from my parents. We will expect to see about three or four report cards from Breanna each year. This one wasn't perfect but it was one to be very proud of. Marks here are graded out of 10 and not A,B,C... The value is pretty much the same though.
After looking at her marks and telling her how proud we were of her she was very quick to ask, "well, what do I get?" hmmm don't get me wrong I am extremely proud of her but maybe it's just me but I never got anything for report cards except my end report card. Apparently offering a hug and a pat on her back wasn't what she was looking for. That offer sent me on the "worst mommy of the year list". To put myself back on the best mommy of the year list, my husband and I offered to bring her to the Harry Potter movie this weekend. BINGO that worked.
Supper time was at Oma and Opa's today and Breanna as proud as she had every right to be brought her report card with her. Oma and Opa were also very proud of their granddaughters grades and like second nature had their wallets out and they were emptying it out into Breanna's hand. Ok I barely bat a lash, I'm used to this by now - Oma and Opa spoil their grandgirls. Then uncle came and right away Breanna had her report card out again and she was ~~hinting~~ telling him how much she just got from Oma and Opa. I gasped and turned to my husband and asked him under my breath if she is asking for money. "No this is normal" he reassured me. Normal? are you kidding me? My husband continued to tell me how he would make his rounds with each and every report card robbing his poor aunts of their hard earned money (and anybody else he could sucker out of their money). I think something happens to these Dutch people when they see a teenager with puppy dog eyes holding onto a fresh report card, it just makes them want to pop their wallets out. I swear I grew up in the wrong country cause I know for sure I could have made a killing with my large family!

That time again... Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piete

2010-11-26T12:33:00.000-08:00

I know I have been M.I.A. lately. There has been a lot of personal stuff with my parents visiting and my first niece/ God daughter being born. My mind has just been else where lately.
I know in the past I have made this blog more about what you will expect to see in the Netherlands but now I am running our of idea's here. I have decided to turn this into just plane and simple my life and what we as a family experience in the Netherlands. Some of it may or may not be Dutch living related. If I do come across a "must see" tourist spot or something you "must try before you die" - I'll be the first to tell you.

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Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet has once again invaded the Netherlands with whipping pepernoten at children, leaving goodies in their shoes and making parent's wallets a little lighter.
Last week Kiana (my youngest daughter) starts off her school morning as normal as can be, being greeted by her ~~Siamese twin~~ best friend. This time her best friend had a pretty little gold box in hand with a glass angel in it, "See what Sinterklaas brought me?". Kiana's jaw dropped. Ever since she saw this glass angel in the pretty gold box she could not stop talking about it. Every night she would put her shoe out and ~~beg~~ ~~pray~~ ask Sinterklaas for a gold box with a glass angel in it just like he gave to her best friend. She even wrote a letter in the best writing a 5 year old can. What was I to do??? As a good ~~mommy~~ Sinterklaas, I went to every single store in town in search for this golden box with the glass angel in it. Four hours later I was tired, still empty handed and about to give up. I started to head back to my bike and noticed one last gift store, "Pour Toi". Deep breath, fingers crossed... oh who am I kidding? I went in, started to look around and finally in a ray of golden heavenly light... there she was ... HALLELUJAH!! Ok she wasn't in a gold box but at this point I did not care! Pink is pretty, my daughter is a girly girl so ya pink is good! I had her wrapped up [yes this is one luxury of the Netherlands - almost every store will ask if your purchase is a gift and they will wrap it for you] and I biked home as fast as my tired legs could. While waiting to pick Kiana up from school I decided to share my scavenger hunt story with Kiana's friends father. Before I could finish the story he stopped me to inform me that they bought that gold box and angel in.... BELGIUM! If I would have known that in the first place, I would have saved my self a whole morning in the cold searching for my child's happiness! Since when do children want golden boxes with glass angels anyways? At that age I was more than happy with toys... real toys! Anyways, I almost couldn't wait to give it to her, just to see her happy little face but I did at least wait to put it in her shoe that night.
The next morning I really did want to sleep in but around Sinterklaas time.... that is just not going to happen. Kiana came running into my room "mommy mommy mommy! Sinterklaas brought me the glass angel!!" All of a sudden the excitement left her face so I asked her what was wrong "it's not a gold box".
ARE YOU KIDDING ME!!

Medical emergency?

2010-09-13T01:38:00.000-07:00

My youngest daughter woke up this morning with a bad tummy ache. She didn't want to do anything just laid on the couch clenching her tummy the whole morning. Now this really gave me a flash back, if I still lived in Canada, I would have bundled her up thrown her in the car and taken her to the emergency and put up with the ten hours of waiting in the waiting room, like the over-protective mother I am. This is just how it is in North America. Only if we have a small complaint that (we feel) can wait will we call our general practitioner and make an appointment.

In the Netherlands it is much different and probably much more efficient. You are only granted entry into the emergency with permission from your general practitioner or if you have been brought in by an ambulance. Otherwise you must call your doctor and he will decide if he needs to see you right away. There is an after hours clinic that also requires you to call them first. The secretary or doctors assistant will decide if your medical emergency needs immediate attention or can wait until your own general practitioner sees you in the morning. Personally I do like this method, this frees up the emergency room for REAL emergencies.

So anyways, I called my own family doctor this morning and he was on vacation. I swear this man goes on vacation at least 3 times a year (or only when ever I need to make an appointment). I don't think my Canadian family doctor ever went on vacation or even had a sick day for that matter. So I get the doctor answering machine telling me to call the "doktersdienst" Doctors service who will then direct me to the doctor who is taking my doctors patients. I called the suggested doctor and they requested we wait to see if the pain gets worse. I can imagine they are getting double the amount of patients today. After a visit to the bathroom, my daughter is already feeling much better, is now dancing and singing to the Backyardigans and will probably go back to school before the day is out..

This is the new hospital about to be opened in my city. It's been really neat watching it being built over the last year or so and in a few weeks it will be in full working order.

Slagharen Theme Park

2010-09-06T01:44:00.000-07:00

As the weather gets noticeably cooler and we seem to have more rain clouds than sunny days, I decided to take advantage of what possibly could be the last "warm," sunny weekend of the summer. I packed up my big knapzak (backpack) with sandwiches, fruit, drinks and sultana crackers and we headed off to Slagharen Theme Park. This country and western themed park has the right mix for young and old children.

My children being almost 5 and almost 13 were both able to find attraction that suited each other well.

My oldest daughter is brave and will go on almost any ride.

My youngest is still at a very unsure age and takes the easy safe looking rides.

Whether you are in North America or Europe, theme parks seem to be relatively the same. The same type of rides, the same overly priced fried tasteless foods, the useless knick knack souvenirs, large crowds and long lineups. There was still a few differences I noticed from the theme parks I have visited in North America and here in the Netherlands namely, Slagharen:
-Height requirements weren't as strictly controlled as I have seen in N.A. theme parks. I was seeing children that were too big getting on kiddy rides and children that were too small getting on big rides.

-Safety precautions are not as strict as they are in North America. On many children rides the parents would stand at the inside of the exit gate (inside being where the ride is). I remember in theme parks in Ontario the yell at you with there policing type voice "stand back behind the yellow line ma'm". There was a small merry-go round ride at Slagharen where parents were throwing their kids on the ride and taking them off while it was still in motion. Other older children were jumping on and off the ride and running around it while it was in motion. The operator didn't say anything about it.

-All theme parks I have visited in North America frowned on bringing food in the park. You would then have to fill a cooler box with ice and your picnic and leave it in your car, exit the park and re-enter after you eat your lunch. The parks in the Netherlands seem to know that they will not be able to pry a cold botterham (sandwich) out of a Dutch persons hands so they don't even bother trying, instead they set up picnic areas all through out the park. Whats even better? If you forgot something, they have a supermarket in Slagharen! Ok I must add they also have cabins and tepee's so you can stay over night but the super market is in the theme park and not where the cabins are. Nifty! Mind you the prices are probably doubled!

-I have mentioned before the Dutch love their dogs and they bring them every where... shopping... into restaurants etc. You can also bring them into the theme park. Mind you I can imagine there would be an even stricter poop and scoop rule in a park then there is in most cities (at least I would hope so).

- And only found in the Netherlands... Bong shaped slushy and drink cups... I kid you not! Kinda eerie watching a kid sip from one of these!

All in all we really enjoyed our sunny day out at Slagharen and would recommend this theme park to any one else.

Holland DOES have talent!

2010-09-02T06:11:00.000-07:00

I admit, I watched the first few seasons of Dutch Idols but after awhile it got to be the same ol same ol boring stuff. To me it was as if they found all the talent they were going to find in this small country. Shortly after Dutch Idol seemed to also fizz out for the Dutch audience (maybe it hasn't and I am still speaking on personal opinion), Hollands Got Talent seemed to be the next reality talent show to make your big debut on. I started watching the first season not finding myself impressed and quickly zapping the channel. This year I entertained my oldest daughter, Breanna, and decided to sit along side her while she watched Hollands got Talent. Was I ever in for a big surprise... it was as if they found a whole new group of REALLY talented people, especially children.

These amazing little guys are only 9,11 and 14 and making moves that hurt my bones just looking at them.

This is another great duo. I love how they work in synchronized with one another.

This is the cutest little girl. She went up and auditioned on her own. At the end of her perfect audition, the judges asked where her mother is and asked if she would come on stage. They then found out it was her mother who taught her how to dance so well. They all decided that the young girl can come back IF she was accompanied by her mother (because that would make such a nice show... and it does).

Not too bad for a 9 year old. Ok it wasn't perfect but HE IS NINE!! Can you just imagine how he will sound at 16? Hopefully he will bump Bieber off the charts! {I kid Breanna I kid.... or not ;-)~ }

The Veluwe

2010-08-23T05:45:00.000-07:00

One place I must recommend for anybody who loves the nature or who feel a little cramped up in this over populated country and want some open land to escape to, is The Veluwe (The site is available in English - look for the UK flag at the right top corner). For the last month or so , we have been exploring a different section of the Veluwe knowing that it will take forever before I see all of this national park.

Lately we have been visiting the Veluwezoom just outside of Arnhem where the highest point reaches 110 meters above sea level, which is one of the highest points in Holland with exception to the very hilly south Limburg. The Netherlands is known for being a very flat piece of land and this is no exception for the city I live. What I find so interesting is that the Veluwzoom is within a half hour drive from where we reside.

You will not just see beautiful plants and wildlife but you may come across some very social Iceland ponies.
Some of the other bigger animals that can be found there are wild boars, Scottish highland cows and sheep that are rounded up by boarder collies and sheep herders.

There are also many volunteers walking around very willing and eager to supply information, some of them bring along their very knowledgeable children or grandchildren who are just as enthusiastic as them selves.
At the main visitor centre at the Veluwezoom there are many activities, a bistro, bike and scooter rentals and even a beautiful butterfly garden.

And if you aren't all that scared for honey bees you can visit where they keep their honey bee hives and I am sure they have an organized time and date when a bee keeper goes out to collect the honey. I was using my zoom on my camera making sure not to get too close, mind you these honey bees really were not interested in us humans.

Admission into the Veluwezoom is free, although admission into all of the Veluwe unfortunately is not so please check before you visit before hand.

Pancake supper

2010-07-30T08:01:00.000-07:00

The Dutch LOVE their pancakes or "pannenkoek" as they call it. The Dutch pannenkoek is very much like the french crêpes. It is much thinner than the "North American" pancake. The Dutch do not eat these for breakfast, however, this is purely a supper meal. Specialty pannenkoek restaurants can be found through out the Netherlands in huge quantities, they really take their pannenkoeken seriously. As a topping they will often add bacon, cheese, peppers, mushrooms, pepperoni, Turkish meats, apples, strawberries, or anything else they can think of. Commonly eaten with "stroop" (syrup), sugar (brown or confectionery), "appel stroop" (a very thick syrup that tastes like apple) or jam. The desired size? The bigger the better! There is a true technique to eating these too... particularly the plain ones are rolled up and eaten like wrap. Plain ones can be found pre-made ready to eat in packages in the grocery stores but they are never as good as fresh made ones.

As a Canadian we try to have (North American styled) pancake breakfast at least once a month with maple syrup (of course). When ever we have the children's friends sleep over they think we are crazy for eating (what they think is) supper for breakfast but they never seem to complain while they devour the thick pancakes. We do have Dutch pannenkoeken once in awhile but not enough because they are LEKKER (delicious).

Pannenkoeken

Ingredients:

250 grams of Flour
2 Cups of Milk
2 Eggs
3 teaspoons of Sugar
Dash of Salt
1 teaspoon of Vanilla Extract
Oil , to brush your Pan with so they don't stick

Directions:
Mix the flour and milk together until smooth. Add the eggs, sugar, and salt. Mix together until smooth. (optional let the batter rest for 30 minutes for optimal results)
Heat up the largest frying pan you own on medium heat. Brush the oil onto the pan. Pour batter in ensuring a thin round circle covering the whole bottom of pan evenly. Cook until batter sets and is golden on the bottom, usually about 1-2 minutes. Flip the pancake and cook until golden on the other side, another minute or so. Add any preferred toppings (ie bacon, ham cheese peppers etc) serve with stroop or sugar.

Eet smakelijk!

Edited to add :

All this pancake talk had my husband craving pancakes (American ones) so I woke up this morning to very tasty pancakes.

Here is the exact recipe he used and trust me they were the best we have ever had!!!

Fluffy pancakes

Ingredients

3/4 cup milk
2 tablespoons white vinegar
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons white sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
2 tablespoons butter, melted
cooking spray

Directions

Combine milk with vinegar in a medium bowl and set aside for 5 minutes to "sour".
Combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl. Whisk egg and butter into "soured" milk. Pour the flour mixture into the wet ingredients and whisk until lumps are gone.
Heat a large skillet over medium heat, and coat with cooking spray. Pour 1/4 cupfuls of batter onto the skillet, and cook until bubbles appear on the surface. Flip with a spatula, and cook until browned on the other side.

Our Dutch boys are home!

2010-07-13T09:45:00.000-07:00

Our Soccer boys played really well but yet were defeated in the last few minutes in over time against Spain making the score 1:0. With their tails between their legs, the very sorry soccer players arrived back in the Netherlands yesterday. Today their day was packed with a meet with the Queen, press conference, canal tour and a salute celebrations "de Huldiging". I am sure after they saw over 500,000 people show up to the celebrations, their confidence were renewed! Our boys may not have come home with the world cup but they certainly put up a fight for it!

Sorry the video is in Dutch - This video was thanks to our media but it was to give you an idea of how much of a hype our boys in orange are. They may not have come home with the world cup but in my eyes they are winners all the way!!

The Biggest Water Falls in Holland!

2010-07-12T05:29:00.000-07:00

The weather was piping HOT here this weekend. It was 30 plus degrees and sticky humid. So we decided to go to the biggest water falls in Holland to cool off. The Loenen water falls, 15 km from Apeldoorn.

Now coming from Ontario, Canada and driving distance from Niagara falls, we would visit the falls often and still do on our trips back to Canada. Canada is full of hills, mountains and drop offs..... and the Netherlands full of .... well flat flowing ground. Did you really expect them to have a huge water falls? The actual size of the waterfalls might surprise you.... or not!

The girls enjoyed cooling off their feet while walking to the falls

There are a total of four steps to the waterfalls - the fourth step is closed off to walk beside but it is about half the size of the rest seen in the picture above. The total hight of the falls is about15 meters tall.

Hmph not very impressive compared to Niagara falls? Maybe not but it is a different type of experience. Niagara falls is completely over run by tourists and will always be that way. The Loenen waterfalls will (hopefully) always keep it's natural beauty in the middle of the forest where you can take a long walk and enjoy the pure serenity of nothing but the leaves blowing in the wind.

Even Daisy enjoyed enjoyed the day out and met a few friends a long the way...

The lovely walk we had to the falls was ended by a delicious ice cream cone. How could we not make a perfect ending out of this day? There is an ice cream van in the parking lot to the waterfalls but we decided to go into town where we could sit and enjoy an ice cream (from the same company as the ice cream van).

Orange you Glad?

2010-07-06T13:50:00.000-07:00

The Netherlands soccer team (football) is through to the finals! They just played a very exciting game against Uruguay and came out winning 3:2. If only you could hear the partying going on in my street right now as I type this (yes I guess I prefer to sit here and type this then to party in the streets). Cars are honking their horns, squealing their tires. Fireworks are being shot off, vuvuzelas are being blown at full force and the ~~out of tone~~ singing of drunken men set the perfect tone for an after game win party!

Now on to the Finals either against Spain or their rivals, the Germans. The last time the Dutch played the Germans in the finals was in 1974 and unfortunately lost. I have confidence that they can take it ORANGE all the way!!!

Even Daisy was sporting an orange bandanna to support her favorite Dutch team!

Amsterdam canals

2010-07-04T13:30:00.000-07:00

If you live in the Netherlands or visit the Netherlands, one thing you MUST do is a boat trip through the canals of Amsterdam. For our Canada Day celebrations, a friend of mine organized a 3 hour Canadian themed boat trip with 40 Canadians (and associates) through the canals with an all you can eat BBQ incl. side dishes and all you can drink (that's usually where it goes wrong for me but that's another story). The food was beyond delicious!

Even my dog Daisy was invited, in fact, I don't think I would have been allowed on board with out her.

I was totally surprised by the pure beauty of the canals and what was to be seen. It was hard to socialize with everybody because there was so much to see along the side of the canals.

The Netherlands is very much known for having very little land space and because of this, many people decide to live on boat houses. During my 9 and a half years living in the Netherlands, I have seen many boat houses but none as beautiful or modern as these.

The different boats and the different type of people that we came across on the canals is what made the trip spectacular (besides the atmosphere inside of the boat of course).

I even found my future boat ;-)

I know where I will be next Canada Day! Yup, celebrating it with my new found friend Mr. Moose!

BBQ Non Dutch style

2010-06-27T12:59:00.000-07:00

When I first moved to the Netherlands, I moved to a small city where no body spoke English (at least not to me). I couldn't find any other English speaking expatriates like my self - I didn't even dare to go to the store alone. If I told you I felt alone, that would be an understatement! I quickly dove into a high level Dutch language course just so I could learn to communicate quickly with my fellow civilian. That course took about 1.5 years including the extra levels I took on top of what was mandatory.
The culture shock was extreme - I won't kid any body. The food is different, the mannerisms are different, and the most difficult; I was miles away from my family and friends who meant the world to me. I can't begin to tell you how many times I questioned my ingenious idea to move to the Netherlands.
I quickly met a few English ex-pats in the Dutch classes who I am very happy to say I am still friends with but we also all have our own lives and families but unfortunately months go by before we find time to see each other.
My grandmother always told me I should write a book about my experience in the Netherlands. I have always known that I don't have any creativity when it comes to words. My grandmother on the other hand has her Bachelor of arts in English and only expects her first grand daughter to carry the same genes. Sorry to disappoint you grandma...
Even though my grandmother is in no way tech savvy, I decided to possibly make her somewhat happy. I decided to write a blog about my experiences. As I started I began looking around at other peoples blogs here in the Netherlands who are also experiencing what I am experiencing and finally came to the realization that I am not alone. Hallelujah ! The first blog that I found was Tammy at Canadutch Everything she wrote about, I could totally relate to... in fact it felt like I was writing it (but with a better writing style then my own of course). I stalked her immediately and found her on facebook and it seemed like we connected. Shortly after finding Tammy's blog, I found Sonya's blog at Home Cooking with Sonya. I too felt like I had a connection through her witty yet loving words. PLUS she had such YUMMY treats and recipes on her blog. BONUS! She made me remember how much I loved to bake. I loved trying her recipes because I knew they ALL were good! I then realized she lived on my side of the country, another BONUS! It didn't take me long to stalk her too and find her on Facebook.
Today was the day we got to meet up with our husbands (and children) for a delicious BBQ at chez moi's house. The weather may have been hot but didn't stop the time from flying by as we chatted it up non stop as if we were all long lost friends. It didn't take me long to realize that my inclinations were correct and I have indeed found a group of friends that I can totally be my self with.

Tammy brought some mouth watering cheese cake. This was seriously the best cheese cake I have ever tasted!!

Lots of pictures were taken but I think they were just trying to make me jealous of their camera's ;-)

Questions and answers Tagged by Tammy

2010-06-23T04:57:00.000-07:00

I was tagged in another blog by Tammy. She had to answer 5 questions and then ask 5 different questions where she tagged me so here they are and here are my answers.

1. Do you believe in ghosts? Why / Why Not?

I do! When I was younger I had seen them on and off. A few years ago I had seen one in my parents basement (where we sleep when we visit eeek!). Now my youngest daughter sees orbs particularly in my parents house when we visit. She says they are nice orbs full of colour - so they don't scare me.
2. If you are totally honest, do you consider yourself to be a gossip? If so, has it ever gotten you into trouble? I'm not really a gossiper - I know when to keep my mouth shut! I love hearing it though especially if it's about someone I know! It hasn't gotten me in trouble as far as I can remember (maybe when I was a teenager but we aren't going back to that dark era).
3. Is there anyone you’ve lost touch with from your past that you Google or search FB for regularly to find out about them? The people I want to keep in touch with I am in touch with now, there is one I occasionally stalk just to see how their children have grown up.
4. What is your biggest passion in life? (other than your kids) Grooming dogs and the well being of dogs. Animals in general! And trying to keep in touch with all of my friends and family back home.
5. What is the craziest / scariest / funniest / weirdest thing you’ve ever witnessed? (Any of the above) Beside the ghost I mentioned earlier... A UFO hovering not too far away from where I live while there was a no fly zone due to the Eyjafjallajokull Volcano eruption in Green Land. I never believed in that nonsense and I still not sure if I do but I am not sure what else could it be. It was glowing yellow orange (hard to tell) - it hovered for some time when finally it took off straight up into the star lit sky.

I am really bad with making up questions so bare with me! Tiffany at Clogs and Tulips, Frau at West Family Adventures and Arwa from Orangesplash - these questions are for you! Anybody else who wish to answer these please feel free to do so - I am always curious to see your answers!

1. What do you miss most from your home country?
2. What is your fondest memory as a child?
3. What has been your most difficult obsticle to over come in life?
4. You receive one million euro's, what do you spend it on?
5. What are the top 5 things on your bucket list (things you must do before you die)?

Orange (ya) Crazy

2010-06-10T12:32:00.000-07:00

You haven't experience a sports event until you have experienced a soccer game (or football as it is called on this side of the world) in Europe. Europeans, and especially the Dutch, are very enthusiastic (to put it lightly) for football. Tomorrow (Friday June 11th) starts the world soccer championship's between 32 countries (the Netherlands included of course) and there is no denying that the Netherlands is ready for the games. In every store imaginable there are orange (Hollands colour) merchandise to be seen, everything and anything imaginable. In all my years here I have never seen it this orange crazy.

It doesn't stop here... Nooo people are decorating their houses and further..... their whole neighbourhoods. Now I am Canadian, us Canadians are pretty crazy about hockey and our teams and even when the Canadians are playing the Russians in the World Championship Ice Hockey games.... but never in my life living in Canada have I ever seen any body decorate their neighbourhood or even the out side of their house to show their support for their team!

Even apartments weren't left out with decorating and sometimes were even able to keep it looking somewhat tasteful (if you like orange and lots of flags).
But it can go too far .... especially for this one who was the only one to decorate in this whole apartment complex (except for the above neighbours who only had a few flags).

Is my house decorated? Nope - except for a single flag my daughter attached to her window.
*gasp* Do I not support the Netherlands footballers? I support them 100% but the only ones that benefit from me buying a bunch of orange merchandise is the stores and producers of the products. Besides, nobody in my neighbourhood has decorated their house (thank goodness).

Avondvierdaagse

2010-06-03T12:57:00.000-07:00

If you have absolutely no Dutch knowledge, you are probably looking at the title of this particular blog thinking what the A..? Avondviedaagse literally translates to "evening four days (event)". What happens during this event? Walking... lots of walking! Depending on your age and well being you could be walking up to 50 km a day especially if you decide to do the Nijmegens International four day march (which will be around 20th of July this year). And why would they want to walk so far? Tradition! It was started in the early 1900's for Physical education teachers and soldiers, it didn't take long for this to became popular among other sport groups. If you decide to walk the NijmegenseVierdaagse, wear your good sport shoes and bring lots of bandages for the blisters, you will be walking 30km, 40km, or 50km each day.

The city I live in just rounded off their four day march where mostly children participate in (but it is open to everybody of all ages).

The children/adult from all sorts of schools, sports and after school groups have the option of walking 5km, 7km and 10km . The kids do this while ~~screaming~~ singing all sorts of songs and chants. Usually on the last day all the parents and friends will stand along side the road awaiting the parade of marchers with hands full of candy's, flowers and toys to throw over their necks as they pass by.

How some of these children make it to the end with out whip lash or any other neck injury is beyond me.

And if this guy behind you blowing on his horn in your ear isn't enough to motivate you to keep moving, then I am not sure what is!

Rememberance Day in the Netherlands

2010-05-07T08:36:00.000-07:00

Being in Canada right now, the one thing I am missing is the remembrance celebrations in the Netherlands and especially in my city, Zutphen. May 4th was Remembrance day and May 5th was Liberation day. In that time there is many celebrations taking place through out the whole country. This year there was much drama included in the remembrance celebrations in Amsterdam including someone who thought it was funny to yell "BOMB" during the 2 minute of silence on Dam Square and during the Liberation festival in Zwolle they had to close the gates because of the huge mass of people attending the celebration which included many music bands.
Many Canadian and British war veterans were attending festivities in Zutphen this year for the Remembrance and Liberation celebrations this year. One of the reasons being is because of the opening of the bridge in the subdivision Leesten which has many streets named after Canadian war veterans (I previously blogged about this). I know the article is unreadable to many, but there are many beautiful pictures from the opening of the bridge at this site. The article basically translates to:
The Canadian Leroy Lawes (65), son of N. Lawes who was killed in action on April 4th 1945, of whome the bridge is named after, passed away in his hotel from a heart attack the night before the opening ceremonies of the bridge. Leroy Lawes was going to officially open the bridge.
The openings ceremony was carried out through his niece Debbie Lawes and the Zutphens Mayer Arnold Gerritsen. Many Canadian veterans were present.

Another beautiful remembrance ceremony for the Canadian and British veterans took place in one of Zutphens most beautiful churches and some of that can be seen in the clip below.

On a side note: I am really enjoying my trip back home in Canada. Now that my Dutch has almost left most of my sentence structures I will have to turn around and return to the Netherlands next week and be home for Hemelvaartsdag (Ascensions day which is Thursday).

Going Home for three weeks!

2010-04-18T06:30:00.000-07:00

Yes after 9 years I still refer to my birth city as home even though I reside here in the Netherlands and know I probably will the rest of my life.

Thursday morning we plan to leave for a very well needed three week vacation back to my family and friends. That is, if this ash cloud blows away and the air space opens up again. During our vacation I will not be able to update my blog so please be patient - I will be back hopefully with more fresh ideas of differences between my two loved countries.

A while back I did a blog entry about what I miss most - a wish list I have when people come to visit me. This time I will show you what I usually bring to surprise my friends and family or to fulfil their wish lists. My husband says I spoil my friends and family but I feel I don't even come close to spoiling them. I am not there for them every day like I wish I could. Wouldn't it be nice to just warp from one place to another?

Warning for any friends or family reading this before I leave - you may see things you will receive. Please look away or smile and act shocked when I give these gifts to you!

1. Clothes - mostly for one of my best friends children who I adoringly call my niece and nephews. Plus a shirt for my mother.
2. My brother and is beautiful wife is expecting so I have a few gifts for the little one to come.
3. When ever I have been to Canada with my youngest, my sister in law raved about the smell of my daughter. I told her it's just Zwitsal the most common baby brand in the Netherlands. I must admit that I love it to and won't use any other brand now. I promised her that when she ever got pregnant that I would fully supply her cupboards with Zwitzal products. I just saw in a flyer they now have Zwitzal perfumes for mommy - I will have to buy her some.
4. A birthday calendar - standard in every Dutch bathroom. The Dutch do not like to forget anybodies birthdays. A friend asked me to bring her one.
5.Dutch Pride paraphernalia for Queens Day since we will be celebrating it there. I brought lots to ~~force~~ hand out to my friends and family. Includes: 2 hats, boa, sunglasses, flip flops and hairband flag things.
6. A washball. You can use this in your wash instead of soap. My mother requested this.
7. Red Band Candies.
8. Duo Penotti - My sister in law is Polish and when she was younger and lived in Poland she used to enjoy this chocolate spread. We found it sold in a Dutch Delicacy store in Canada for over $10.00 - it's sold for around 2 euros here ($2.73 CAD).
9. Tuc Crackers - my mothers last trip here she fell in love with these so I bought her a pile of them.
10. Lots of chocolates. I am probably not done buying chocolates and just thinking now I forgot to add some to the picture. Seriously - if you have never had European chocolate, you have not tasted chocolate!
11. Lenor - I'll add it to this picture but for the first time I don't need to pack it. On my recent trips home, everyone raved about how good my clothes smell and my kids clothes smell. Lenor is the reason why. I would have to bring a bottle of Lenor home every time. Luckily for my weight allowance, my sister in law found a Polish store near Toronto who supplies Lenor so I no longer need to supply their clothes softener.

11. So the 11 in this picture is instant coffee (cappuccino's) I forgot to add them in the first picture. My dad and my best friend loves these.

I will also probably still buy some stroopwafels and I also have zout drop (salty licorice) which I forgot to add to the picture. I usually bring a block of cheese back - I am waiting to hear back if this is needed this year.

Happy Easter

2010-04-03T10:15:00.000-07:00

Vrolijk Pasen is Dutch for Happy Easter.

When I first moved here I found Easter was hardly noticed. There was barely any decorations sold in stores or special foods/meals sold in the grocery stores. My oldest daughter did go to an egg hunt at our local soccer club but this isn't something I hear every child gets to experience. Now a days it has become more to what I am used to. Rows of decorations and Easter chocolates can be bought in many stores and many special festive meals are available in the grocery stores.
While walking through town today I stopped to talk to a friend who's family owns a Turkish butcher shop. She said that this year has been much busier than years before. People want special dishes and large offerings at that. Five years ago she would never guess that this was a festive occasion but now you would almost think this was Christmas. I am very happy for her families business that it is very busy right now.
Growing up in Canada we always had a small Easter egg hunt with a few small spring gifts (ie. skipping rope, side walk chalk, bubbles etc.). I carry on that tradition with my girls but I understand that children here do not normally get a gift at Easter.

Date night at the movies!

2010-03-29T03:53:00.000-07:00

The first time my darling husband brought me to the movies here in the Netherlands I was rather confused on many aspects. First we ordered popcorn.... the lady behind the counter asked if we wanted salt popcorn or sweet popcorn. Sweet popcorn? My husband (boyfriend at the time) explained it wasn't caramel corn like I assumed but a sugar topping - I later found that this was kettle corn. I ordered a large (to share) of salt and asked for a shot of butter. Nope they don't do butter. They lady must have thought I was crazy! She handed me a small container full of popcorn, so I corrected her and said, "No I asked for a LARGE popcorn" She assured me this was their largest. This was smaller than our smallest at our Canadian movie theatres. We settled in to watch our movie; our popcorn was done before the previews were over. Movie started and half way through, the movie STOPPED! Yup just stopped! 10 minute intermission so you can get a drink or use the bathrooms- as if this was a high end musical. What a concept!

The theatre in our home town works a little different; it's a full service theatre (with no intermission). You sit down in VERY comfortable chairs.

I can stretch my feet straight out in front of me and not touch the seat in front of me (mind you I have short legs).

There is a table with a light that dims during the movie and a menu. You can order anything from popcorn and nachos to kroketen.

To top it all off, you can order a beer or a strong whiskey to enjoy your meal with.

When the movie is over you can sit at the bar and enjoy your date even longer or have a bite to eat.

We went to see Tim Burton's, Alice in Wonderland with Johnny Depp in 3D. I loved this a lot more than I expected to. Johnny, as usual, played a very good role as a mad hatter. I knew he would - these type of roles suite him to a tee. Alice was played by Mia Wasikowska and even though I wasn't familiar with her acting, she played a good Alice.This is one of those movies you have to watch a few times to catch everything.

http://www.cinemajestic.nl/cinemajestic/

Tag Team Expat Kitchens

2010-03-13T07:43:00.000-08:00

I have teamed up with 3 other expat bloggers who will also show you their European kitchens.

When I first moved here we had a very tiny kitchen ... here you can see the most of it. Not seen in this picture was the washing machine, door to the backyard and the door to the shower-room (yes we had a perfectly planned out house - hear my sarcasm).

Notice the small beer fridge (bottom left) - this required almost daily visits to the grocery store (which is very normal in Holland). Above my fridge is our potable gas stove top where only three of the four burners worked. This type of stove tops are also very normal here. At the end of the kitchen is my big microwave that also doubled as an convection oven and under that my dryer that died with in a few years.
This small kitchen suited us fine at the time. We didn't have much money, any extra money we did have went into vacation trips to Canada.
One thing that bothered me the most was that I love to BBQ but BBQ's here cost a lot of money and we just could not afford anything big or with quality. We would buy a BBQ use it almost daily and have to buy another "affordable" one a year later.

Luckily we were able to find a good deal on a bigger good quality one at a time when we were both making more money to buy our selves a much deserved big BBQ so now we are cooking on a not so typical Dutch BBQ.

As you saw our fridge was also very small - what we would call a beer fridge in Canada (just the right size to keep some beer in). One year we got a good tax return back and decided it was time to get a decent size fridge which I will give you a tour of.

(when I speak of Lidl - I am talking about our grocery store). This was before doing our weekend groceries so usually my fridge is much more fully stocked.

Over the years my cooking appliances also got an upgrade and now we are cooking with fire and electricity...

Another appliance I could not live with out is my coffee maker. It's a little different than the ones I have seen back in Canada so I will also let you see how it works.

The only thing that has really downsized over the year is my counter top. I liked my old one much better. This one came with this house and we have not yet gotten around to replacing it with something else that we prefer. This is my whole kitchen work area (still very small but my kitchen area is much larger).

(close up of the counter top)

What is typically found in the Dutch kitchen this time of the year is a bouquet of flowers. Flowers are crazily cheap here which makes it irresistible for me to buy a bouquet to bring a bit or spring in side.

Please go see what are in my other blogger expat friends kitchens

Sonya - An American living in the Netherland

Rena - An American living in Germany

Lytha - An American living in Germany

Realistic Google Maps

2010-03-11T11:25:00.000-08:00

I know this is almost going to sound like a cyber info blog but really this is expatriate related.

Google maps have changed their views to look even MORE realistic than before.
When you go into google maps you will now see on the top left hand side a little yellow/orange man.

If you click and drag him to any street that lights up you can now see that street in perfect picture quality. I can now see my own house as if I am standing out side of it.

(this is not to benefit my stalkers)

What is even cooler, I can now see my home city and my parents house - kinda makes me a little home sick but happy I will be there next month.

Any person seen in the map has their face automatically blurred out. My neighbours and their children are seen playing out side of their house but you can not see their face.

This is so cool - thank you google! I know what I will be doing this evening!

Anouk Baby!

2010-03-08T06:01:00.000-08:00

I mentioned in another post that I love Anouk. not changing my mind one bit especial now she has her hit "For Bitter or Worse". Yes it is OVER played on the radio (I think I counted 4 times in one hour on Saturday) but I could care less because I love it. It is a song that is pulling me through some emotional stuff that I have been going through (no not relationship stuff like the song may suggest). This is just one of those songs I could crank up and start singing as loud as I can - I pity my neighbours... well not really lol.

Anouk wrote this song just a few weeks after her divorce. I can totally relate with her being in that situation myself (many moons ago). Just after the release of her original video she pulled it and re-made another video using her beautiful children.

Check out her you tube video by clicking the image below:

(Not sure if this is available to be seen in all countries yet if not please try to do a search for this song and find another copy).

Olympic Pride!

2010-03-01T01:38:00.000-08:00

I could sit here and boast about how the Canadians totally rocked the Olympic games this year! How we had the most gold medals especially for a host country! And especially how the Canadian Hockey players just mastered the ice! And how for once I was so incredibly proud of everything Canadian especially the Canadian Olympic players! Really I could boast and really I want to, but I am not going to.

As I mentioned before, my mother was coming to visit me. One of the treasures she came bearing was Olympic paraphernalia. This is much welcome as I love anything to support my home country. I still have mitts, hats and shirts from previous Olympics and am proud to still wear them even if it says 1996 Asian winter games. There was nothing better than seeing a sea of red when the cameras tilted to the stands as all the red mitts were waving. I'm so glad that both my daughters and my self now own a pair, and what's even cooler is knowing a percentage of the money spent on the mitts goes to the Olympics and the athletes.

The beauty of living in Holland for 9 years is that I have developed a true love and sportsmanship for this country. I really did want to see Holland come home with some gold medals. I was excited to see Sven win his gold and was horrified to see him disqualified. What I would have loved was to have been able to have bought Dutch Olympic products that supported the Dutch Olympic athletes. I would have worn the Dutch mitts, hats or shirts just as proudly as the Canadians.

On a side note: My mother is looking for a shirt that says "The Netherlands" - I can only find tourist or sport shirts that say Holland. Any body know of any "Netherlands" shirts?

Carnaval

2010-02-20T08:11:00.000-08:00

In most parts of the Netherlands, Carnival is readily celebrated (or Carnaval as it is spelled in Dutch). Carnaval is a celebration that is much like a Mardi Gras that leads up to Lent. A whole year of planning and designing will usually go into many of the floats used in the local parade. Also most younger children will go to school wearing costumes and many games and activities will be available for the children.

My two children dressed up for Carnaval for school..

My oldest wore the popcorn costume last year and won a prize. We then sold the costume on Marktplaats (sort of like ebay) for 25 euros.

If you want to see the best Carnaval floats and parades, the place to be is in the south of Holland, particularly Den Bosch, and Mastricht. The floats are to be seen the weekend before Ash Wednesday and many parties are also to be found from Thursday until Tuesday and the Wednesday (Ash Wednesday - or in Canada we called this pancake Wednesday) the Dutch would finish off their party days with eating a raw haring Mmmmm (*shudders*).

Music Was my First Love...

2010-02-10T13:26:00.000-08:00

I have always been a music freak. As early as music class was available in school, I was apart of it. Apart from the mandatory choir, we had the unique chance to learn a string instrument in grade 5-6 (I chose violin). In grade 7 we were able to chose to a brass or woodwind instrument and so not only I chose the clarinet but my mother (with stars in her eyes) ran out and bought me one just knowing that I was going ALL the way. Through high school I continued playing clarinet but really fell in love with the bass clarinet which I played in the concert band. I also took advantage of learning a few other instruments; the flute, the trombone, and the alto saxophone (which I wish I went further with). While I was taking in all of my music lessons, what else could I do but... take more lessons! I was also taking private vocal lessons to get my Royal Conservative Music grades. I managed to get my grade 9 in singing and grade 3 in theory. Dont ask where my voice went - I think I left it somewhere in one of the music halls because I certainly don't have it with me any more.

One of the things that really attracted me to my husband was his true love for music and vice versa. His hobby was/is making his own trance music - I don't love trance but I love his work.

When I first moved to the Netherlands, I was very biased about music. There was no way I was going to like the music nearly as much as I like my North American/English music. Slowly as the years went by the Dutch music worked it's way into my heart. How could it not? There are so many talented artists in this small country it really astonishes me.
Some of my personal favourite artists (in no particular order) are:

Anouk - Not just this song - all of her songs. Is it me or does this woman get more beautiful as she ages?

Racoon - When I heard this group I couldn't believe they were Dutch - I really thought they were American! I love their sound!

Krezip - Another group where I love almost all of their songs.

Bløf - For a Dutch singer, I really do like his sound!

There are quite a few more artists I sincerely enjoy but I do have to stop somewhere.
This country certainly did surprise me with their talent.

What I miss most

2010-02-02T01:43:00.000-08:00

My mom's coming in a few weeks and she asked me what she can bring for me and for the first time I really had to think about it. I used to have this HUGE MUST HAVE list of things I miss from Canada but over the years that list has gotten small and smaller. Sure when I come home from Canada, my suitcase is full of purchases but now it is mostly clothes (clothes are cheaper there than here especially brand names).

My list used to be full of candies (anything grape flavoured - which they don't have here), many chocolate bars (coffee crisps, score bars, eatmore's), red licorice, coffee, relish, chips especially dill pickled and salt and vinegar and those flavoured rice cracker chips and flavoured salts for popcorn. Not to mention all the pops I missed.

No wonder I weighed so much when I moved here and I was able to lose so much weight after living the Dutch lifestyle after awhile.

My list (I say my list because my daughter had her own list lol) this time was Coffee Mate Hazelnut Coffee Creamer I Can not drink my morning coffee with out this. My second request was Tequila Rose. I had this at my sister in Laws during my last visit and hoped to find it here but with no success. So incredibly yummy, strawberry cream goodness, almost like a strawberry milkshake but better.
My daughters list is mostly just red licorice and gum. Normally Reece's Pieces and or reece's cups would be on that lists but we still have some from my last list (I monitor them so they don't get eaten up to quickly).
We would normally ask for crystal light packages but we have lots from our last visit and we will probably be going again in April/May. Relish is also still normally on the list when it is needed - it's a non-Dutch item.

Can you tell by my list I have done a lot of growing up while here in the Netherlands? I think I even lost my sweet tooth (as hard as it is for me to say/admit it.

What I miss about Canada.

Most of all my family and friends. When I left for the Netherlands I left many loved ones behind and I think of every single one of them every day. They are the reason I go back as often as I do.
Blue skies - especially days like today I miss blue skies. When it rained in Ontario it poured for maybe an hour or two then cleared up and there was blue skies again. Here when it rains it can rain for weeks.
Open space. Here we live on top of each other and most back yards are next to nil.
Going out to eat is affordable and family oriented.
Frozen concentrated fruit juices! I wish they had them here!
Assortment in grocery stores especially for baking but I am starting to find a lot of my needs in Germany now. It's just finding the right translation now.
Shopping - everything is under one roof. Bad weather? Who cares! Go shopping!
In the Netherlands Bad weather = stay home.
On the same note as shopping - I touched on the subject earlier - clothing especially brand name clothing is much cheaper in Canada compared to the Netherlands. I do a lot of the children's shopping there.
The people! They are friendly. You can make friends with the next person standing in line for groceries. The Dutch on the other hand tend to acquire their friends in school or in their childhood and acquire acquaintances in their adulthood. I am not saying the Dutch aren't friendly because they are - they just are not about to make you best buds.
Tim Horton Coffee - I did buy a tin but it never tasted the same made up as it did in the store - I think there was something in their cream. But it's not just their coffee - it's sitting and socializing with friends.

Here's one for my fellow Canadians away from home.

Candy Apples for Haiti

2010-01-27T12:10:00.000-08:00

To bring in some extra money for Haiti, my daughters school has decided to come together and do a "vasten markt", which literally translates to fasting market. Most children will bring bake goods, used books, toys and crafts to sell. The children are instructed not to put much money into what they sell because the idea is to make money. I couldn't help but put a little extra money into this time then requested but I am sure it will come back 10 fold.
What better than candy apples?? When I would go back to Canada there is this store in the mall that just makes me drool. They have these big beautiful chocolate candy apples that cost around $10 (CDN). I have never bought one but one day when I can afford the calories I promise I will. These very chocolate candy apples gave me the idea/inspiration for the "vasten markt".

First I started out with 18 clean small/medium Elstar apples.

Then I melted chocolate glazing. Melting chocolate would work as well.

We crunched up some favourite toppings such as m&m's, pindarotsjes (chocolate covered peanuts) and I had some cupcake toppings on hand - for those in the Netherlands, Hagelslag would work great too.

Sorry for the picture overload but get used to it LOL

I found some sticks (at Xenos) that I had my daughter stick in the bottom of the apples.

I loved that these skewers had a handle. More than I was actually looking for.

I made a double boiler to keep the chocolate at an ideal temperature. Otherwise it would harden too fast.

I didn't take a picture of dipping the apples - I guess we got carried away with that part. After dipping the apple just roll it in the topping or sprinkle a topping over it.

Don't those look sooo delicious?

These can also be done with white chocolate and caramel which will be my next attempt for my daughters birthday party perhaps.

After they were totally cooled off we wrapped them with clear foil and decorated them with some ribbon.

Although I am sure we could make a fortune on these, I think we are going to keep the prices affordable for the children and sell them for around 2 euros.

My husband thinks I should make another batch to sell to the local chocolate bonbon store as a second job possibility - I don't think my hips could handle it!

Netherlands helps Haiti!

2010-01-22T02:49:00.000-08:00

I was not surprised to hear the radio stations coming together to raise money for Haiti because they have done this type of charity work before. Every Christmas they set up a "glass house" where they can not eat (they can only drink non alcoholic beverages/soups/smoothies) and they raise money for Africa.

This time the radio stations, journalists and celebrities came together and people could text message or call to donate money to Haiti. All together they raised in 24 hours time...41,2 million euros and Minister Bert Koenders doubled that amount bringing the total to around 83,4 million euros!!!!!
http://www.ireport.com/docs/DOC-397378

Nederland, Ik ben trots op je!!!

(Holland, I am proud of you)

Wentelteefje

2010-01-22T02:17:00.000-08:00

My youngest daughter, Kiana, is very small especially for a (half) Dutch child. My husband is just about 6 foot 2 inch and I am about 5 foot 6 inch, so you would think she would have some height to her. But no, she has decided to take after my mother (5'4"?) and grandmother (we're lucky if she is 5 foot). Kiana is 4.5 yrs old and still wearing size 2 (or 86/92 Europe size), the healthy size for a 2 year old. There is nothing unhealthy about my daughter - she has always followed the growth curve perfectly, she is just tiny and my dreams of having a 6 foot blond model daughter is over.
She eats pretty good except supper - she just doesn't care much for warm food. So recently I have been on a mission to find more foods she would like enough to eat everything on her plate (usually failing miserably). I finally found one and if she would have her way she would only eat them 24/7..... "wentelteefjes" Now I am not letting her call them wentelteefjes the Dutch name for French toast because there is just something that makes my eye twitch as if I am eating raw lemons when I hear a small child say "turn around little bitch" - which is the literal translation to wentelteefjes. It's hard enough hearing it from her Oma's mouth as if it's a normal word like apple let alone hearing it from a child the size of a 2 year old.

Today I made french toast and put it in her lunch box. This is the third time she is getting french toast this week. At least she is now eating good - eating more than myself I must add.

I don't have a special recipe just the common one (I believe it to be common anyways)

1 lrg egg
2 slices of bread
a sprinkle of cinnamon
a drop of vanilla flavoring (I don't measure)
a few drops of milk

whisk it all together - drop bread in - cover both sides while melting butter in pan. cook on medium heat reducing to low heat.
I found this sugar maple sprinkle that I sprinkle over it while it is cooking that gives it that extra maple flavour (can u tell I am Canadian yet?).

I top it off with maple syrup and sugar powder. Mmmmm Smakelijk eten as the Dutch would say.

Dutch Children are the happiest

2010-01-18T03:03:00.000-08:00

According to new studies Dutch children are once again at the top of the list at being the happiest children in comparison to other industrialized countries. Unfortunately Canada was a disappointing 17! I didn't think I was unhappy growing up in Canada but I do see where this study is coming from. This country does seem to focus a lot of their time on the well being of the children. Here is the article http://www.dutchdailynews.com/dutch-kids-happiest/ . I know my children are very happy and I know I am now even more reassured I am doing a good thing by raising them in such a fabulous country!

Chocolate

2010-01-16T11:41:00.000-08:00

One thing that is hands down better on this side of the world is the CHOCOLATE! As a woman who (like most) LOVES chocolate I am so grateful to live in Europe with the best chocolate of the world. On vacations back to Canada I have wish lists from friends and family for chocolate and lots of it and I bring extra for my own supply (Lord knows I can't go with out).
Funny thing is, I never needed the most expensive chocolate either. My favourite chocolate is actually one of the cheapest coming from one of the cheapest grocery stores, Lidl.

Before I moved here I sent my new Dutch family some cheap chocolate from Canada, at the time I thought it was pretty good stuff..... man my tongue did not know chocolate back then. I think my Dutch family ended up throwing out the cheap Canadian chocolate and I don't blame them one bit.

I most recently found Milka Mousse chocolates and O.M.G. I think I went to heaven!!! Who needs men when you have chocolate!!! (Sorry hun you might be on your own tonight). A few months ago I tried the caramel one and YUM like serious YUM. Today I tried the chocolate Mousse it was also extremely good, not quite as good as the caramel I have to admit but I am not giving it up for ... um men :-)

here's a little eye candy.... litterally..

Lunchbox lunches

2010-01-16T11:11:00.000-08:00

My public school never had a cafeteria although I have heard that many do in North America. My childrens school also do not have a cafeteria and as far as I know, not many public school's (basis school) in the Netherlands do. This results in sending the kids to school with a lunch box. Actually, I only send the youngest to school with a lunch box and the oldest comes home for lunch and makes her own lunch while I work.
I found all the lunch boxes here very small. I felt like I was jamming everything in there and not able to fit drinks into the box and often not being able to fit the fruit in. So I started my search for a durable large lunch box that preferably had separate small containers fitting in one big container. After much searching I found it... The Bento Lap top lunchbox . Finally I can feed my child more assortment than the usual sandwich and cookie. My husband was so impressed with this lunchbox that he had me order two... one for our youngest daughter and one for him.
My youngest daughter is so happy with her new lunch box that it has turned into her new "toy". She has been lugging it around everywhere - opening and closing it constantly.
She helped me make Fridays lunch. Everything was her idea (except for the heart shape sandwich).

Typical Dutch Winter Dish

2010-01-11T09:35:00.000-08:00

It only took me 9 years to even attempt to not only try this dish but be willing to make it before I even know if I would like it or not.
HUTSPOT!
The only reason I attempted it, is because our local grocery store was giving the vegetable mix away for free and we already had the spice mix in our cupboards (also a freebie).
To make hutspot you basically boil carrots, onions and potatoes together for about 20 minutes then mash them all together - add some milk and the spices. You really do need the spices or at least pepper and salt other wise it is VERY bland! Traditionally this is served with a sausage or some beef. We went untraditional and had some chicken schnitzel.
It was better tasting than I expected but like I said, it really needs the spices or it is very bland! I can see my self making this winterkost (winter dish) more often.

Edited to add the seasoning:

Luckily I still have the package. I only used half of the recommended spices since I used about half the recommended amount of potatoes and such (we are a small family and I hate left overs).
So on this package (brand name is Silvo for any Dutch inquiring minds):
nutmeg, parsley, red paprika powder, mace, lovage, coriander, turmeric, white pepper, cumin seed, dill and salt.

Dust your Skates off

2010-01-10T03:56:00.000-08:00

The ponds have frozen over and Holland is practising for the elfstedentocht (the worlds longest speed skating competition on our Friesland canals). The Dutch are super excited about this race. The last time the whole 200 km's of canal froze over and was in good enough condition for an elfstedentocht was in 1997 and before that was 1980. The temperatures have been well under the freezing point at nights and just under or around freezing during the day making the thoughts of an elfstedentocht promising. If it stays like this with little snow then we may have one in another week or so - I will post if we do have one. If this does happen, you can be sure that stores will close their doors and children may even be sent home from school just to watch the race on television.

Kids and families will usually find anywhere they can skate in the winter, from safely frozen over canals and ponds to flooded over frozen farm fields. Children will be put on the ice as soon as they can walk but for me that is no different from growing up in Canada. I believe I was about 3 years old when I started ice skating lessons.

My youngest daughter at just 3 years old getting her first lesson at skating with papa.

Happy New Year

2010-01-01T04:25:00.000-08:00

A new year in Holland can not be celebrated with out sounding like a war zone from the fireworks and a lot of oliebollen. In this country of 16 million the Dutch spent about 65 million euros ($98 million Canadian or $93 million US) on fire works alone!!!! That is a lot of money that got blown up over night!!!
No, as a family, we do not buy any! When I brought my 3 year old daughter to the Netherlands with me, she was so terrified of the fireworks that my husband nor I could even step out side to wish our neighbours a Happy New Year. 9 years later, I still doubt she would hold a star sparkler in her hand.

Here are some very unprofessional video pictures taken with our pocket camera of the ~~war zone~~ fireworks.

Now back to the infamous oliebollen that can not be resisted.... that is if you have a thick lining to your stomach that can handle pure lard. These raisin dough balls are ~~soaked~~ fried in fat and then served with a thick "sprinkle" of powder sugar. Perhaps this was the origin of the "Dutchy Doughnut"?

Also popular and a bit easier on the tummy is applebeignet's - a slice of apple covered in batter and deep fried then topped off with powder sugar.

Christmas

2009-12-28T10:37:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas. I hope every one had a festive holiday!
Despite the multiculturalism of Holland, Christmas is celebrated but not always as a big celebration within the home as others. A turkey dinner is not unheard of but is rather uncommon although it is becoming more associated with Christmas. Turkeys sold here are usually baby turkeys (2kg), a larger turkey can of course be ordered at a butcher. The Dutch do not have a specific Christmas meal. They may have duck, spaghetti or Chinese food and to them that would be totally normal. I can't even tell you that candy canes is typical Christmas because for the first 5 years living here I had to have them imported here if I wanted them.
Christmas eve is not celebrated but Boxing day is. Boxing day is called tweede Kerst or "Second Christmas". Some families may use this as another day to visit and have a special meal like many North American's would on Christmas eve. Christmas gifts may or may not be exchanged. Most children have already been visited by Sinterklaas and there fore a visit from Santa would just be a little over the top. Okay, I can just see my husband just saying "That's what I have been saying over the years but NOO you insist on spoilling them...." No dear I am just incorporating both of our traditions :-)

I can say that this year was the first year in about 20 years that all of Holland has had a white Christmas.

Sinterklaas

2009-11-15T12:23:00.000-08:00

Hij komt, hij komt,
de lieve goede Sint,
mijn beste vriend, jouw beste vriend,
de vriend van ieder kind.

(translation)

He's coming He's coming

the sweet good Saint

my best friend, your best friend

the friend of all the kids

All the Dutch kids are singing this right now with much joy on their face as Sinterklaas enters the land. Sinterklaas is such a hype here. As he arrived yesterday by boat, thousand of children and parents welcomed him and his Piets, there was a huge parade and it always makes big media attention. During his stay in the country (which lasts until December 6th) there will be a Sinterklaas series on tv, Sinterklaas journal (news broad casted daily), there is even a Sinterklaas movie.

Why Sinterklaas and not Santa Claus like the rest of the Westerners?
The Dutch immigrants actually brought Sinterklaas tradition to North America with them. Saint Nicholas was a Bishop in Turkey that was well known for his good deeds towards poor children in Europe. He also became known as the patron saint of Amsterdam. He had a sidekick named Zwarte Piet (black Pete) some believe this to be his slave and other say this was a Turkish orphan child that travelled as Saint Nicholas' helper. He also has a white horse called "Amerigo".

St. Nicholas was pictured as a tall dignified man in a red cloak and a long Bishops crook. Zwarte Piet in Turkish garb red lips and golden loop earrings. The legend depicts St. Nicholas and Zwarte Piet travelling from their home in Spain across Europe to help the poor and feed the children. Through out the ages as the story grew into a tradition, St. Nicholas and Zwarte Piet would travel to Holland by steam boat in November and leave early December 6th. The children would set their shoes by the fire place and Sinterklaas and Zwarte Piet would fill their shoe with small gifts and treats like pepernoten, chocolate initials, marzipan figures and fruit. If the children are naughty they get a lump of coal or worse get whipped with a birch switch that Sinterklaas would carry with him. Today he is seen as much gentler figure. Zwarte Piet is portrayed as a jokester.

Not sure how it works in EVERY house but this is how it works in our house. Sinterklaas may have arrived in Holland THIS weekend but he has not arrived in OUR city and will not until next weekend (also by boat). That is when we allow our children to set their shoes (or boots) out by the heater (if we had a fire place they would set it by the fire place). They must sing a song when they set their shoe's and preferably place a carrot or apple for "Amerigo" in the shoe.

In the morning they will find some goodies and MAYBE a small gift waiting for them. This does not happen EVERY often in our house but maybe 2-3 times a week. The evening of December 5th we will usually invite Oma and Opa over for some treats and for the "fun". ALL OF A SUDDEN... we will here a bang on the door. The kids will run to the door and there will be a bag full of gifts left from Sinterklaas and the Piets.

With in seconds the room is cluttered with wrapping paper and the kids are happy with their new toys (usually).

Some of the traditional Sinterklaas Lekkers (treats).

Pepernoten - little cookies that taste like speculaas - to me taste like pumpkin pie spices.

Chocolate covered pepernoten - one of my favorite!

Chocolate letters - doesn't get much better than this! Traditionally kids get a chocolate letter - either with the letter for their name or a "S" for Sinterklaas or "P" for Piet.

I think most people are familiar with windmill cookies!?

Amandel staafjes or letters - Pastry with an almond paste centre.

Marzipan figures

Taaitaai - a chewy cookie with a hint of licorice flavouring.

Now trying to stay on my diet this time of the year is the only trick!

Remembering our soldiers.

2009-11-12T12:22:00.000-08:00

I am very proud to say I live in a city where Canadian soldiers fought and liberated early April 1945. Those brave soldiers were the 3rd infantry devision Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders (aka the Glens) to be exact. We now have a bridge here in town respectively called the "Canadian" bridge. This bridge was bombed by the Germans and the Canadians were there to help rebuild it.
In 2005, Zutphen honoured fallen soldiers by naming eleven streets in a new subdivision after the eleven fallen soldiers who helped liberate our city. That was a very proud day for me. Here is a link to the story.

Last week we had a visitor come to one our schools in the Leesten area (mentioned in the above link). 85 year old "Glen" Harry Towes, he was one of our brave "Glens" from the 3rd infantry devision Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry Highlanders. I wish I could have been there I think I would have picked his mind with a million questions. I am just glad the children at the school were able to witness some real history. Some advise he had for the children was, "listen to your parents and don't smoke". I only have a Dutch link to this story unfortunately. But I do have a picture I can share thanks to the Stentor newspaper.

The eleven fallen soldiers:

Sergeant Ernest (Ernie) Wilfred Baker - born January 17, 1922 in Brockville, Ontario, son to Wilfred & Mabel Baker.He enrolled at a very young age at the The Brockville Riffles Reservists under the military registration number C-2954. He married his childhood sweet heart Dorothy Irene Doran in 1943. He was killed in action at 23 years of age on April 4th 1945.

Private Douglas Angus Beaton - was born on January 5th 1923 on West Bay Road in Nova Scotia to parents Angus and Sara Beaton. He was one of 7 brothers where of 4 others were also Canadian soldiers fighting in WWII. Douglas was enrolled on 2 September 1942 with the registration number F-32224. He was killed in action at 22 years old on April 4th 1945.

Private Harry Louis Gervais - was born November 21st, 1925 to parents Moise en Hattie-Mae Beaton from La Passe in Ontario. He was one of 12 of his siblings enrolled in the Canadian military taking after his father. He enrolled april 8th,1943 with the registration number C-103294. He was killed in action at 19 years old on April 4th 1945.

Private Norman Harold Hannan - was born as an only child on November 24th, 1921 to parents James and Muriel Kathleen Hannan in Belleville, Ontario. Norman was originally a butcher but then married Marjorie in November 1942 and enlisted with the Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Highlanders in Kingston, Ontario with the registration number C-118693. He was killed in action at 25 years old on April 4th 1945

Sergeant Alfred Walter Hawkins - born april 26,1921 in Peterborough, Ontario son of Alfred and Annie Hawkins. He enrolled on 21 mei 1942 to become a soldier at the Connaught Range and Primary Training Centre under the militair registratie nummer C-79318. His wife Audrey was pregnant when he left for Normandy. He never met his son Peter who was born February 1945. He was killed in action on April 4th 1945.

Corporal William Leslie (Les) Hemming - born on July 12, 1910, son to Harold Esmond & Emily Francis Hemming in Westboro, Ontario. He had two brothers. Les enlisted 24 September 1940 as one of the Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Highlanders under registration number C-9210. He was married to Violet Lilian and they had two sons together.He was killed in action at 34 years old on April 4th 1945.

Private Charles (Chick) Edward William Joseph House - born April 16, 1918 in Hamilton, Ontario to parents James and Ellen House. Charles was actually a truck driver but on September 5, 1939 he enlisted as Royal Hamilton Light Infantry with the registration number B-36649. In April 1940he married Dulcie Cynthia also from Hamilton.He was killed in action on April 4th 1945.

Private Marshall Noah Lawes - born January 27,1914 to parents Albert en Bessie Lawes in Frankford, Ontario. He enrolled on 21 October 1943 in Kingston, Ontario. Marshall was married to Norma Edith and together they had two sons. He was killed in action at 30 years old on April 4th 1945. Tragically for the Lawes family, Marshall's older brother (who was also a Glen) was also killed in action on 28 April 1945. Marshall not only has a street named after him but also a small bridge that connects two streets over a creek.

Private Hazen Henry Paget - born on Juli 2, 1922 in Coldstream, New Brunswick to parents Henry Ward & Stella Paget. he enlisted on November 4th, 1942 in Frederickton, New Brunswick. He was killed in action at 23 years old on April 4th 1945.

Corporal Aime Pascal Periard - born on April 20th, 1919 in Alexandrië, Ontario to parents Herminine & Yvonne Periard. He enlisted as one of the first volunteers on July 5th, 1940 as a Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Highlanders with the registration number C-54294.

Private John (Jack) Elvin Potts - Born February 24th 1918 in Campbellford, Ontario to parents Walter & Maude Pott. He had two brothers and a sister. His older brother William was killed in action in Hong Kong, 1941.Jack enlisted with the Stormont, Dundas & Glengarry Highlanders on October 1, 1939 in Lindsay, Ontario with the registration number C-40620. jack was married to Norma Edith and they had two sons.He was killed in action on April 4th 1945.

Parking in Germany

2009-11-04T07:08:00.000-08:00

Not quite Dutch related but thought this was interesting...

Underground parking garage in Germany. This is one of the closest parking spots to the doors. The sign on the post literally translates to "Woman Parking Spot". According to my husband the parking spots are wider but I could not see the difference. I think this is just a courtesy spot just like the pregnancy/baby toddler parking spots found in North America, it is also probably a safety feature so that ladies do not have to walk through a garage especially at the end of a shopping day. Back to this FrauenParkplätze - I waited at the entrance of the parking garage doors for a good 5 minutes while my husband did a bathroom run with our daughters. In that time I saw three vehicles come and go in the FrauenParkplätze All MEN WERE DRIVING!!! Maybe they were having a gender identity crisis? Reminds me of all those times I wanted to park in the pregnancy/baby spots in Canada but some MAN with out a child or even baby seat jumps in that spot ahead of me and I am stuck with an infant parking on the other side of the parking lot.

BOO!!

2009-11-02T12:24:00.000-08:00

When I moved here 8.5 years ago there was no sign of Halloween. I was under the impression that the average Dutch didn't even know what Halloween was.

Like any kid I LOVED HALLOWEEN!! Dress up plus FREE candy - doesn't get better than that!!

About 5-6 years ago I started to see different Halloween articles appear in stores - no bags of candies, just decoration pieces. This brought HOPE to my eyes. Right away I started spamming my neighbourhood with flyers organizing a trick or treat evening "for the kids" of course. I was really worried that this wouldn't be a success - the Dutch are familiar and some do celebrate St. Martins day on November 11th. In short, kids go door to door singing with a lantern to receive candy (dress up not necessary). Unfortunately, I have never had any kids come singing at my door. Back to the organizing Halloween... The first year turned out to be a HUGE success and every year since has been hit or miss but still we have pulled through. This year was also a really good year (I even found a real bag of "Halloween candy" in the stores). This year the media have made it known that Halloween is now becoming a big celebration in Holland and expected to only grow bigger in years to come - I am so excited!!!

My passion!

2009-09-24T07:26:00.000-07:00

I thought I would just let you in on what I do to really make my time here fulfilling. Yes living here alone is fulfilling and my children and husband are the air I breath, but once they leave the house every day for work and school I am left here to twiddle my thumbs. Another passion in my life are animals, especially dogs. In Canada I grew up in a dog grooming salon and started working there when I was 11 years old. 5 years ago I decided to start up my own business to do what I do best and now I have my own dog grooming salon in my house. Of course I did not do this right away, I had to learn the language first (I think it took about 3.5 years for me to feel confident enough to start my own business).
Right away I noticed a difference. People did not get their dog groomed every month like back home in Canada. Because I was new, I was getting all the dogs that were only getting groomed once or twice a year. Emotionally, this was very difficult for me. After 5 years, I have more regular clients but still do not see as many clients as I would like to see coming on a monthly or even bi-monthly basis. Clients prefer Fifi to be shaved off as short as possible so the grooming lasts as long as possible, unfortunately. The majority of my clients come to me every 3 months. But still, to play with dogs all day long, I can barely call that work, so I shall not complain!

LET THE PARTY BEGIN!!! (can you hear my sarcasm?)

2009-09-23T03:29:00.000-07:00

I am in the middle of two birthday parties. Just finished torturing our selves with my 12 year olds sleep over birthday party and about to celebrate my youngest daughters first little girl party (or "princess party" as her majesty would like to call it) at 4 years old. Kids are kids and not much changes there. They are all still going to sing (at the top of their lunges), dance, fight and engulf their lips with red lipstick (if you are dealing with 12 year old girls).

Adult birthday parties are not exactly like the Canadian parties I was used to, unless we are talking about a birthday party being held at a retirement home (please don't flame me lol).

step 1. enter the home and be greeted with three awkward kisses on the cheeks.
step 2. congratulate everybody individually for the birthday persons birthday (even if they had nothing to do with the birthday what so ever) - this is once again usually done with the awkward three kisses.
step 3. find a seat. chairs will usually be lined up nicely in a circle in the living room (including the couch set).
step 4. the birthday person will offer you coffee or tea. This is served with a single cookie or the birthday cake, vlaii or tompoece.
step 5. conversation tends to emerge in the ~~circle of doom~~ birthday circle.
step 6. birthday person will serve drinks ie. cola, juice and if you are ever so lucky a beer or wine.
step7. birthday person will put snacks out on the table - this may or may not include cheese blocks, pretzels, ham rolled around pickles, vegetable platter, chips, crackers with egg or crab salad.
step 8. birthday person will attentively make sure that nobodies drink goes empty and no plate or platter gets down to the last few pieces of food.
NOTE: the birthday person will barely ever sit down.
step 9. somebody will finally build up the nerve to say that they must leave early and everybody will follow.
step 10. the birthday person is left to clean up the mess.

As you can see the circle of doom begins even at the young birthdays.

The kiddie parties are pretty much the same as I remember as a child except you don't put a card on the gift - it is pretty much assumed who the gift is for and there is no child who can go with out saying "that one is from me". Houses are usually decorated with a garland of flags, balloons and sometimes a banner (not much difference there). Kiddies wear a pointed birthday hat and go home with a goodie bag just like I remember having as a child.

flag garland "vlaggetjes"

One thing that is very different is "trakteren". This would be a treat the children would bring everybody in their class at school - whether it be a cupcake, cookies or sometimes even a small cheap toy. What I have done when my daughter left pre-school to go to public school (and I will use this idea again for her upcoming birthday) is turning a tube of smarties into a butterfly.
Adults will also bring something to share with their colleagues at work, usually cake or tompuce.

The butterflies "vlinders" I made for my daughters class.

There is a song the kids sing in Dutch to the Happy Birthday tune - I will translate it:

Happy Birthday to you
Happy Birthday to you,
In the field there is a cow,
the cow says I love you,
Happy Birthday to you.

It rhythms a little better in Dutch but you get the idea lol.

More commercials

2009-09-15T04:57:00.000-07:00

I must admit that I have an advertising education, so I can especially appreciate a good commercial when I see one. You don't need an advertising degree to know that these are some funny commercials.

Now this campaign was just brilliant. I know it is in Dutch but I don't think it even needs to be translated. She is just showing the ladies (probably her friends) her new apartment.

Which Bavaria cam back with this commercial...

Well of course Heineken was not going to be one uped so here was their response...

Please stay tuned for this commercial break

2009-09-15T04:38:00.000-07:00

One thing I have to admit is that the Dutch have some FUNNY commercials!!! I think I look more forward to the commercial breaks than the actual t.v. shows.

Here are some that are from an insurance company Centraal Beheer Achmea from Apeldoorn. There catch line is "Just call Apeldoorn" or "Even Apeldoorn bellen" The ads are just brilliant.

Biking around

2009-09-08T00:45:00.000-07:00

Biking (with a bicycle) is the most popular mode of transportation in Holland. Cities are so over populated and roads are so small that it is just easier and usually faster to get from point A to point B by bicycle. The one thing the average North American may notice first is that almost nobody has a helmet on... no adult, no child not even the babies in the baby seats. It took me some time to wrap my head around this one but later realized that this is a different world. Drivers here are VERY bicycle cautious and most streets have a designated fietspad (bicycle path).

It is rather fun to see some of the mommies (and daddies) bringing there kiddies to school in the morning with sometimes 3-4 kids on one bicycle. They have bike seats for on the handle bars and double and triple seats for on the back. I am not that brave to balance two kids on my bike. One is more than enough and teach her how to ride her own bike with out training wheels is my goal.

Some parents are smart enough to get one of these... the SUV's of bicycles... the Bakfiets! This is a safe one where two kids can safely be fastened in with seat belts but I have seen them packed full of children, animals and groceries. Apparently they are not as easy to handle as a normal bicycle.

Alot of Hollands roads are still cobblestone - I thought I would just show it. It is not the easiest to bike on but still necessary and usually faster than a car on busy days. Most downtown areas have closed off many roads from cars making it only possible to walk or bike through those sections of town. Side note: watch when wearing high heals on these cobblestones - it can be very tricky!

The pee pee dance

2009-09-07T02:15:00.000-07:00

Going to the bathroom is a whole other story in Holland. This is not the most pleasant experience especially if you are claustrophobic like my self. Most bathrooms are no bigger than a closet, which are very cleverly called a "w.c." or water closet. The toilets are not like the typical north American toilets. They have a ledge where the water does not pool. I am still not sure of the reasoning for this? maybe for better inspection of your number 2. All I know is because of the ledge the bathroom MUST be equipped with a very powerful air freshener and the toilet has to be cleaned a few times a day (especially if you have more than one person living in the house). Many of the older toilets are flushed by pulling a draw string..

Make sure you do use the toilet before leaving the house or hotel when visiting Holland. Many stores do not have a public toilet - apparently for insurance reasons. When there is a public toilet, you must pay for it! The price is usually any where from .20 to .50 euro cents.

For those late night party goers that find them self out self with no public bathroom in sight... there is no reason to go pee in the closest alley way These portable urinals are strategically located where ever there is night life in Holland. Often the portable urinals will lower them selves underground under a big man hole during the day and be raised back up at night time. Now this is great for them men but what about the women??? Don't you worry darling, just as long as you carry around your own little contraption (available at most drug stores) you can also stand up to pee. Isn't that just lovely?!?!

adult content at WHAT AGE???

2009-09-03T05:03:00.000-07:00

At first one of the things that shocked me was the openness to the naked body. I mean I am all for it. God gave me this body! I just was not used to seeing topless women in day time advertisements. Ok these were done very tastefully but it was still shocking.
Late night t.v. is just another story. It is basically just porn and ads for sex lines.

The age suggestions for shows seem to be a lot lower than in North America. For instance... My oldest daughter started to bug us to watch Brüno with Sacha Baron Cohen. Right away I said absolutely NOT going to happen! She ran to papa .... "but the age on it is 12 years old and I turn 12 in a few weeks PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE papa." He almost allowed her to watch it until I saw that it was rated 18A in Canada. My husband and I decided to go and watch the movie just to make sure the Canadians weren't just being "prude". I COULD NOT BELIEVE MY EYES!!! There is sex (both homo and heterosexual), a lot of nudity (especially below the mans waist), and a lot of adult content in general. This movie is not meant for a 12 year old. I don't even know if an 18 year old should be watching it (especially if it was my child).

Just goes to show that sometimes I have to just be the parent and ignore what is advised. I will continue to preview any movie or show she wishes to watch until she is 18. I feel I need to keep some sort of innocents in her even if the movies or tv tries to take it out of her.

FOOD

2009-09-02T05:36:00.000-07:00

Food has always been one of my lusts for life so I guess it would be fair to say it was one of the bigger differences I noticed first.

Breakfast is usually a slice of bread or beschuit - which is nothing more than an over sized crouton (see picture below). Toppings for the bread or beschuit usually includes jams, peanut butter (but apparently NOT together), chocolate paste, chocolate sprinkles (what a way to start your kids off with a sugar high), a simple cheese slice makes a nice alternative for those who don't wish sweets on their bread.

Beschuit - not only used for breakfast or lunch but also traditionally after a baby is born they would top it with muisjes (licorice flavoured balls in either pink or blue).

chocolate sprinkles aka hagelslag

Chocolate sprinkles on bread

Another gewoon (normal) meal or snack is their ontbijt koek 'breakfast cake'. Ontbijt koek is a fairly dry spice cake - most people would cut off a slice and smear on some margerine and/or jam.

Lunches are very similar to breakfast except it is served with a cold glass of milk. This took me some time to adjust to. I quite often made warm lunches as did my mother and my mothers mother and my grandmothers mother did. My Dutch mother-in-law thought I was CRAZY to be making a warm meal in the middle of the day. She let herself in my house, smelled the air, "Mmmmm, are you starting supper all ready?" "ummm no... it's just the mac and cheese for lunch" "Oh we don't eat that heavily in the middle of the day. Will you eat supper then?" She really did think I was nuts and looking back, I must have been nuts to be eating mac and cheese. The foods you will eat when you are young. These days I just stick to my sandwich or tosti - which is basically a grilled cheese done on a panini grill.

The Dutch LOVE their snacks. In most cities, there is always a snackbar with in walking distance or at least a Febo. A febo is a wall yes a WALL with small heated compartments containing food, such as hamburgers, chicken burgers, chicken sticks and some of Hollands favourite fried treats.

The oh so popular Febo.

The frikandel (see above) is a fried, mildly spiced meat stick. In general they are rather tasty but I have had a few that ended up in the garbage.

The kroket is crunchy on the outside and soft and HOT in the inside. The inside is filled with a meat ragout or stew. This is usually served with mustard and sometimes in a bun.

Bitterballen are pretty much the same as the kroket but obviously smaller.

Fries or Patat are another favorite snack, usually served in a cone bag and almost always served with a thick mayonnaise sauce.

Raw haring is a tradition and the Dutch are very proud of it. The haring is even to be eaten as shown in the picture. This is NOT something you will be seeing me do any time soon.

A traditional Dutch supper is potato, vegetable and meat. Often the vegetable and potato are mashed together before adding the meat. Since Holland is a very multinational country, a lot of different dishes from all over the word has been introduced to the Dutch kitchen. A particular favourite is Indonesian foods (since Indonesia was a colony of Holland). Ordering Chinese food here is not the same as the Chinese food you will get in North America, it has a lot more Indonesian influences.

Hutspot - a mixture of carrots, potato and onion.

Andijvie Stampot - a mashed mixture of endive and potato. Often served with a sausage. Very similar looking to the Boerenkool which is curly kale mashed with potato also served with sausage.

Desserts - I don't know if it is a MUST have in every family but it was in my husbands family. My in-laws insist on a toetje (dessert) after every meal. It took me many years to break my husband from that habit. My husbands toetje of choice was usually vla - which is a thick pudding - usually comes in a milk carton, like most of their dairy products including yoghurt.

Chocolate vla

poffertjes - this can also go under snacks. It is basically mini pancakes with sugar powder sprinkled on top.

vlaai - a pie with a thick cake like bottom and creamy inside topped with fruit. YUMMY. Too yummy to eat too often!

One of my favourites and my families. Stroopwafels - syrup wafers. Even better served with hot coffee - balance the cookie on top of the cup to let slightly soften, then eat Mmmmm. I often spoil my Canadian family with these cookies. Who could resist them?

Tompouce - A typical Dutch pink icing pastry. They particularly enjoy giving to foreigners to watch them eat it "differently"then they would eat it, then they laugh at the foreigners vreemd (weird) ways.... thanks guys I will never forget!

Drop - or black licorice - be warned - this is nothing like the black licorice from North America. This stuff can be saltier than the red sea! Zoet (sweet) drop is usually pretty safe.
Anywhere where you can dish out your own candy (like in a bulk bin type manner), you always get a cone shaped bag. Usually all the candy are the same price so you can mix and match. Just don't rot your teeth!

How could I forget the cheese? Dutch LOVE their cheese (and so do I)! I used to think cheddar cheese was the best cheese ever... that was until I moved here and was introduced to REAL cheese! I am still not fond of strong tasting cheese but there still is a large selection of mild cheeses that is just right for my taste pallet.

Typical Holland

2009-09-01T10:10:00.000-07:00

I know before I moved here I had a certain image in my head of what Holland was all about. I was rather certain I had seen it all from all the pretty pictures of windmills and tulips. HA was I so wrong! Almost 9 years later and I am still finding vreemd (strange) things here.
Here are some of the typical Dutch things - my pictures don't do the pictures from other books and travel sites justice... you can blame my lack of photography skills mixed with the fact that I don't have a $500 camera that produces miracles for me.

The typical tulips

The Typical windmill

The Typical (or maybe not so typical) wooden shoes.

The typical Sinterklaas (Saint Nicholas)

The typical small car (ok this one is REALLY small but the smart car isn't much bigger).

Typical cows (I wasn't going to get any closer than that).

And many many canals

This is "typical Holland" the way the Dutch want their country to look.... gewoon (normal). The Dutch are very adamant about appearing very gewoon... but things are not always as they appear to be ;o)

Time for introductions

2008-11-19T06:48:00.000-08:00

Suppose I should start out with a blurb about me. I am 32yo Canadian lady living in the Netherlands. I moved here almost 8 yrs ago to be with my husband. What a different world! I moved to the East of the country (opposite side to Amsterdam) to a small city where English certainly wasn't spoken (the one's that could speak it seemed to be afraid to speak it). So I learned the language as fast as I could taking an advanced 2 year course. Now I speak Dutch fluently (but with an accent). 4 years ago (while pregnant with my second daughter) I decided to open up my own business - Dog grooming business. I was basically born in a dog grooming salon so this came as second nature to me. ( www.clipendip.nl - sorry it's all in Dutch) I do miss being in Canada - I left my friends and family behind. I also miss the space of everything... In Canada: roads are bigger houses are bigger yards are bigger stores are bigger forests are bigger coffee's are about 4 cups bigger (and better) meals in a restaurant are bigger ok u get the idea. I am going to do my best with keeping this blog updated. So keep checking back! groetjes Candee