These tulips look gorgeous. I was pleasantly surprised by the food in Amsterdam. I had some of the best pancakes of my life. Next time, I will be inspried to try the bitterballen.
Definitely give them a go! There’s a simple elegance to a lot of Dutch food: vegetable mash, cured meats, and a surprising array of cheese aged for different amounts of time.
The flowers are out of this world—I can definitely see why they’re synonymous with Holland!
Thanks for checking it out—we have had great experiences overall. I definitely recommend tulip season at least once…next year I want to go to one of the tulip boat tours further in the north!
Thank you—your words took me back to years ago, when I used to eat bitterballen, ride my bike against the northern wind and rain, and buy tulips at the market every week. What a time! Enjoy!
Thank you so much for saying so! I write in the hope to make everyone feel like they get a slice of the life and knowing it resonates with someone who’s had similar experiences is a compliment of the highest order. We've been lucky to be here during a very warm and dry winter, but I fully expect to see the cold wind and rain at some point. Where's life taken you now?
This was such a fun read, Gillian! I particularly enjoyed how you "stumbled upon the spot where Rembrandt was born" while perusing the tulip fields. It just sounds so very romantic and European. Love it!
If I were heading to Leiden as a “tourist” I would’ve known to look, but, in the spirit of adventure, I went in blind! Such a fun discovery…and yeah, total European vibes. Not far away, there was a rainbow crosswalk and a trashcan with a sign saying, “love where you live.” And the flowers…oh, the flowers!
God I am so enjoying coming along for the ride with you on discovering your new homeland! Especially one as storied and steeped as the Dutch 😍
I just need to touch on this king who decided he wouldn't ever celebrate his birthday on a Sunday. I guess you can only do that if your royalty right? Cuz I would totally do that for Mondays! I wonder what the guy had against Sundays.
Also curious, given your musical passions, if you have discovered any new Dutch artists since moving there?!
Thank you for hopping aboard!! It has been really exciting to learn more and soak it in.
So, sadly it isn’t as fancy as that. Even for a remarkably secular country, most businesses have shorter hours and some things are closed altogether…so they don’t have the big national party on that day. But if I were king, I’d make sure to give everyone an extra paid holiday 😂
Musically, I’ve tapped into the top 100 songs and found a few. Roxy Dekker has been big lately, but I am all about this silly song called “It is always spring in the eyes of the dental hygienist”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wil4tc42om4&pp=0gcJCdgAo7VqN5tD
This was such a joy to read. Felt like sitting across from you at a café while you recounted your adventures with a bitterbal in one hand and a frikandel in the other.
I can’t tell how much that means! It is my hope that the pieces feel engaging enough to take you along for the ride. Thank you so much for reading and letting me know.
And for dessert, I am a sucker for a “pink cookie” which is like pound cake/shortbread with an insanely thick layer of pink sugary icing…🤤
Bitterballen... lekker!
Zo lekker! Ik houd ook van de kaas tengels met chilisaus!
These tulips look gorgeous. I was pleasantly surprised by the food in Amsterdam. I had some of the best pancakes of my life. Next time, I will be inspried to try the bitterballen.
Definitely give them a go! There’s a simple elegance to a lot of Dutch food: vegetable mash, cured meats, and a surprising array of cheese aged for different amounts of time.
The flowers are out of this world—I can definitely see why they’re synonymous with Holland!
Thanks for writing so wittily about my adopted country! It's always nice to know other people are as charmed by it as I am.
Thank you for reading—very glad to meet another Dutch transplant! What’s been your favorite part of the culture?
I've been here for almost 40 years, so hard to isolate pieces of the culture from each other! That's why your writing is so refreshing!
That’s amazing—I’m even more delighted to connect with you since I hope to say the same someday!
Reading this makes me want to go back to Europe! Hope you continue to enjoy every moment over there.
Thank you! That’s definitely the plan—soak it all up so I can keep bringing you all along for the ride!!
Thanks for sharing your experience.
I’ve been to Holland 3 or 4 times, and I’ve always enjoyed my time there. I find people pretty respectful and open there.
I really want to go in Spring to see the tulips though, it looks incredible!
Every time I go I bring some tulip bulbs back to my mom, she always loves it!
Thanks for checking it out—we have had great experiences overall. I definitely recommend tulip season at least once…next year I want to go to one of the tulip boat tours further in the north!
A couple more shots for you:
So beautiful thank you.
I’m not a huge tourist tour thing… but I would totally do those haha!
I’d love to fly my drone there, must be incredible from above.
I usually like solo exploration but after waiting in the sun for the bus, I would’ve loved to sail through the fields.
Now the drone idea…if you get the permits, I’ll get the bus tickets!
Thank you—your words took me back to years ago, when I used to eat bitterballen, ride my bike against the northern wind and rain, and buy tulips at the market every week. What a time! Enjoy!
Thank you so much for saying so! I write in the hope to make everyone feel like they get a slice of the life and knowing it resonates with someone who’s had similar experiences is a compliment of the highest order. We've been lucky to be here during a very warm and dry winter, but I fully expect to see the cold wind and rain at some point. Where's life taken you now?
I'm in France now !
Un château à Orquevaux!
Ah, magnifique. Je visiterai la France l'année prochaine pour une retraite d'écriture!
Sympa une retraite d'écriture ! Où?
This was such a fun read, Gillian! I particularly enjoyed how you "stumbled upon the spot where Rembrandt was born" while perusing the tulip fields. It just sounds so very romantic and European. Love it!
If I were heading to Leiden as a “tourist” I would’ve known to look, but, in the spirit of adventure, I went in blind! Such a fun discovery…and yeah, total European vibes. Not far away, there was a rainbow crosswalk and a trashcan with a sign saying, “love where you live.” And the flowers…oh, the flowers!
Sounds so dreamy!
God I am so enjoying coming along for the ride with you on discovering your new homeland! Especially one as storied and steeped as the Dutch 😍
I just need to touch on this king who decided he wouldn't ever celebrate his birthday on a Sunday. I guess you can only do that if your royalty right? Cuz I would totally do that for Mondays! I wonder what the guy had against Sundays.
Also curious, given your musical passions, if you have discovered any new Dutch artists since moving there?!
Thank you for hopping aboard!! It has been really exciting to learn more and soak it in.
So, sadly it isn’t as fancy as that. Even for a remarkably secular country, most businesses have shorter hours and some things are closed altogether…so they don’t have the big national party on that day. But if I were king, I’d make sure to give everyone an extra paid holiday 😂
Musically, I’ve tapped into the top 100 songs and found a few. Roxy Dekker has been big lately, but I am all about this silly song called “It is always spring in the eyes of the dental hygienist”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wil4tc42om4&pp=0gcJCdgAo7VqN5tD
Ooo it's so fun! Very poppy and uplifting. It sounds like they're saying "East Enders" in the chorus haha.
I totally hear that!!!
This was such a joy to read. Felt like sitting across from you at a café while you recounted your adventures with a bitterbal in one hand and a frikandel in the other.
I can’t tell how much that means! It is my hope that the pieces feel engaging enough to take you along for the ride. Thank you so much for reading and letting me know.
And for dessert, I am a sucker for a “pink cookie” which is like pound cake/shortbread with an insanely thick layer of pink sugary icing…🤤