Queen Beatrix

April 30 is a national holiday in the Netherlands. The Queen’s birthday is actually on the 31st of January. All through history the Dutch Royal family has been very popular and their birthdays have been celebrated with enthusiasm.  As of 1898, Queen Wilhelmina’s 18th birthday, this day has been officially referred to as koninginnedag. April 30th officially became koninginnedag when Queen Juliana changed the date to her own birthday.

This photo above was taken during her visit in my place. On stage is my eldest daughter Deborah waved her hand to the Queen. What an amazing experience isn’t it?   It was a very nice experienced to see the Royal Family in person.

Prince Willem-Alexander & his wife- Princess Máxima Zorreguieta

Prince Willem-Alexander, the future King of the Netherlands.

Please click here for more info.

Friday the 13th

 Are you superstitious? Then you should better relax and be careful on Friday. Because tomorrow is Friday the 13th. The unlucky day that many people might get ill, meet an accident or bitten by a dog. But luckily, you don’t have to stay at home the whole day, if you bring a four clover leaf with you .  According to tradition, such leaves bring goodluck to their finders. Each leaflet represents something: the first is for hope, the second is for faith, the third is for love, and the fourth is for luck.

And do you know that Friday is the day that Jezus was crucified? I know that now thanks to the high technology . And together with the number 13 so it really brings bad luck.   There are also few things that you must not do on Friday especially the 13th, if, you’re a superstitious person of course. Here in Holland, there are some people who believes that if you walk under the ladder it brings bad luck.  And sneezing…make sure that you don’t sneeze when sitting at the table. Because there might be a member of a family who will die. sus ginoo! And if you sneeze on Sunday, then you will have a fight the whole week. So better sneeze on Sunday.. lol..

Way back home (Philippines), my family believes that Friday is an unlucky day. It has been considered as an unlucky day. There were many do’s and don’t's and it really scares me a lot. Since I live here in Holland it’s gone… but not completely   And you, are you superstitios? Please care to share…

East meets West

 

It’s Carnaval (Carnival) festival here in Holland. It means time for costume parade  with  music, built floats and fun!  This Dutch festivity is celebrated in Catholic regions mostly in the South of Holland.  In my area, there is not so much to witness unlike in the other places like — Breda, Tilburg, Eindhoven, Maastricht and some other big cities and villages in the southern part of Holland.

Today, my girls Deborah (8 yrs. old) and Anna ( 7 years old) had their costumes too. But this time no expensive Cinderella nor Snowwhite nor Barbie costumes but the Cowgirl and the Chinese girl.. so, East meets West.. :) .. I am glad that they helped me chose their costumes. I did not have to spend a lot of money only for the costumes because this time it’s their own choice– they just picked some of their old clothes in the closet and .. Viola! Let the festival begin!

Deborah's smile

 I did not expect that I can make such  lovely hairstyle. ..

oh lalah!

mashed potatoes with curly kale and meatball on top

Stamppot– Mash  Pot in English I guess:) ..
Well, this is a traditional Dutch dish made from a combination of mash potatoes,  curly kale, onion, and carrots. Or also combine with some other vegetables and it is usually served with some sausage, stewed meat or meatball and not to forget the “appelmoes” (applesauce)… hmmm.. lekker! especially in the cold winter night.

This is my simple recipe of Stamppot:

Ingredients:

*potatoes, endive or curly kale, onion, and carrots
*sausage or meatballs ( I always used meatballs)
*100 ml milk or more (it depends)
*a pinch of salt
*butter

Here’s how:

Peel and slice potatoes and onions into halves.
Clean, trim and slice kale. 
Add the potatoes, a pinch of salt and just enough water to cover all in a 3 qrt pan. 
Cover and boil gently for about 25 minutes. 
Drain the potatoes, and return to the pot with 1 1/2 cups of the reserved water. 
Top with the kale and sausage cover and return to boil until the kale has been steamed until soft and turns a dark green color (5-7 mins). 
Meanwhile make some meatballs and brown them in a pan or put them in the oven. 
Remove pot of vegetables from heat, remove meatballs from the oven or sausage from pot, and add the milk, butter, add a little bit of salt and pepper to taste and mash. 
Slice or just whole meatballs and serve aside or on top of the mashed ptatoes/vegetables. And don’t forget the applesauce (appelmoes ).

Eet Smakelijk! Bon Appetite!

 

The typical Dutch cows grazing.

Why is this country sometimes referred to as Holland and sometimes as the Netherlands. Maybe some of you also asked this kind of question. Well, let me tell you, as what I have learned from my Dutch course; the Netherlands is the official name. The word “Nether” means “low” so that’s why it is called the Netherlands. Literally, the Low Lands; 60% of the Dutch people lives below sea level.  Then why is it always referred to the Netherlands?  Well, this question lies in the history of the Netherlands. A few centuries ago, the province of Holland (which included North- and South Holland) was the strongest province of all the Dutch provinces.  Most of the Dutchmen that foreign traders dealt with were Hollanders, or from Holland. Hence, when talking about the Netherlands this became the accepted way of referring to the country and its people.

A little tidbit of information: as the people of Holland are only from two particular provinces, the people from Friesland, Limburg or any other province don not like to be referred to as Hollanders.