I've spent the last month in the Netherlands and there are some interesting things I've noticed and will miss.
I really like the Dutch accent, when they speak English, it's their emphasis on words and the sing-songy way they say English. Almost everyone speaks English, only the nice Muslim lady at the laundry didn't but we got by ok!
There's heaps if English TV which helps when you're lonely. I miss the OC! and the final episodes of Sex and the City. I heart crap TV.
The bier - it's awesome. I wouldn't normally drink as much in Oz but over here (not just here but in Belgium and Germany too) the bier is so damn good! Gareth and I were discussing that the beer here is more refined and mature in flavours. Naturally we were in a Bier Cafe (De Paas) and we'd had about 3 beers, and I'd stolen a Beer Wench Poster off the girls toilets wall for him.
The yoghurt - the dutchies eat it as desert. So where we'd have a whole icecream desert obsession with Magnum and Heaven, they've prefected the youghert. White light fluffy whipped yoghurt like clouds sitting on a fruit compote base.
Oh and the Apple Mose is great - apple compote with rich spices like cinnamon etc.
I found out that "lekker" means yum and "boo-tonne-elle" means ".nl" as in "dot-com". I kept hearing it everywhere on radio and TV and had NO IDEA!
Tram fare evasion is just as easy as Melbourne, except the Inspectors, 6 of them in all male gangs, look like ex-secret forces/army dudes, complete with their black-get-up and near haircuts. I wouldn't want to get caught, that's for sure!
Den Haag is a great town to see. I'd spend about 2/3 days here and base yourself to do day trips to Rotterdam, Gouda (pronounced How-da) and Delft.
The Spa water in the bottle (from Belgium) is FANTASTIC! Spa Grooen - lightly carbonated!
Pomme Frits - With or without mayo (which I personally love) the frits are special! I'm disappointed I didn't try the frits with special sauce - Mayo, Tomato and Curry all mixed together!
I'll miss my apartment - see prior blog entry, and the hospitality from Elly & Gerard Bos - "Zellich" (cosy/confortable)! Oh the bed and the great shower!
One night I was invited upstairs to have dinner with Elly. She made "Boerenkool met worst" (oops thanks Gerard), which is a smoked wurst, boiled/steamed with a green leafy vegetable which still holds its shape when cooked. This leafy vegetable is then mashed with potato and served as a base for the wurst. Melted butter is then poured as a sauce on top. Lekker!
Perfect with the Jacobs Creek Cab Sav 1999 bronze medal which I found in the shop!
Gerard and friend came back from a conference and we talked about The Netherlands and life there, the government, the currency problem, I was shown and explained to the dyke and water controls they built which was very interesting and amazing.
Then again the other night, Gerard made pumpkin soup, delicilately flavoured with lemongrass and I was kindly given a HUGE bowl! So perfect after a hard days work, I whoolfed it down!
I'm so glad I stayed there and got to experience something more than the inside of a chain hotel! Thank you so much!
I'm sure I'll add more here in retrospect. So stay tuned.
General Rating: ****
Repeat Visit: ***** (Maastricht Xmas here I come!)