My declaration of love

The last days the weather is getting better in the Netherlands. I really like this. But what else is so great about the rising temperatures?

To begin with, everyone, at least almost everyone, becomes very happy that the sun that starts to shine again. But of course there is also a slight disadvantage to this, this is that some people are burned by the sun. They do not turn brown but they look a bit like a lobster. What I don't like about the summer is the pollen and the pollen that comes into the air. Not only me but also a whole bunch of other Dutch people are allergic to this. But this should not spoil the fun, because the sun shows more of itself, people also go outside again. This means crowds on the terrace. And a lot of wine and beer that is drunk under a good company. In my opinion, there is also a lot more flirting in the summer not only on the terrace but also on days that everyone spends on the beach. Because here too a lot of time is spent during the summer. Understandable because who doesn't want to chill out on the beach and occasionally take a refreshing dip in the sea. But unfortunately, not everyone lives in a place where you can go to the beach quickly. But luckily there is other water where you can find the cooling. That is, enjoying on a boat, and believe me here too some flashes with each other. But what I like best about the summer is that you can walk the streets with bare legs. Without getting very cold. You can and may walk the streets again in your bright dresses or skirts. Because my other big favourite of the summer is the outdoor festivals, especially with a nice Sun. This makes a day completely unforgettable

So sweet, shining boyfriend, let's see a lot of you this summer! We never have enough of you

Biggest birthday party of the year

Imagine your birthday being celebrated with a huge party throughout the entire country. This is what we do for our king or queens' birthday in the Netherlands. Every year, at the end of April, we, in the Netherlands, celebrate the birthday of our head of state. Right now our state head is a male, so we celebrate Kingsday!

So what do we do on this Dutch public holiday? Well, this varies per age and also per city. But one thing that you see everywhere is the colour orange.  People wear it with clothes or paint it on their face. All of the big Dutch cities organize big events and festivals. This is where young people like to go. Because it is one big party. Me and my friend's are also visiting a big city like Amsterdam or Utrecht to celebrate the birthday of the king. But older people and children celebrate this huge birthday party also. The go to little streets markets were people sell their old stuff. Like old movies, books and also clothes. But what does the man of the day, the king, do on this lovely day? Some kids prepare a performance for the king like dances and mini theatre. This is nice and really informal. The king acts like a normal boy next door while he visiting a random city.

For me, it feels also my little birthday, because everybody is enjoying this beautiful and happy day!

From H&M to home-made

The Netherlands is known for its diversity. We are a small country but on every square meter, there is something else to experience. This is clearly reflected in the various accents that can be found in the Netherlands. But this is also reflected in the clothing styles. To start within our beautiful capital Amsterdam, everyone tries to set their own style for this. No one has anything identical to it. Often the mainstream stores such as H&M and Zara are combined with boutique stores. Utrecht is similar to Amsterdam, but in my eyes, it is more artistic people are not afraid to experiment. When you compare this with the south you see a clear difference. Here in Maastricht, you see only a few people have their own style, there is little identity. People are more afraid to stand out. It also seems that in the south of the Netherlands they are lagging behind with the so-called trends. In the Randstad, for example, flared leggings have been the dominant image on the streets for quite a while. But in the south, this only started later. The opposite is also true, in the south, there are many more glitter and studs placed on clothing. Many people here also wear such accessories on clothing. This is not common in the north of the Netherlands. For example, within a length of 200 kilometres, there are large and clear differences not only in language but also in clothing. this also gives a good idea of how diverse our small frog country can be. But the most important thing is that everyone wears what he or she feels comfortable in, there is room for everyone.  

Cheese O’clock

Gouda ?! Is this really a city? Yes, it is.

If you’re a cheese lover you see this label many times on different packages. But this old city had many other things to offer.

The first thing you can do is visit the highlight of the city. Like the old town-house and the Sint-Jan church. You can do it on your own but it’s also possible to do a tour by the de local visitor centre. The tour guide can tell you more about the history of this city.

After visiting the highlights of the city you can go shopping at the local stores if you like the local product you can go for the best at Lange Groenendaal.

When you’re done with sight-seeing and you would like to eat something like a typical plate. You have to go to Koeien & Kaas located in the city centre, built in an old farm. This the place to be if you are cheese or a meat lover. They serve the traditional Gouda cheese fondue but also a tenderloin or a burger. For everybody something they like.

So, Gouda is more than a cheese label