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The Netherlands is a small country sandwiched between Belgium and Germany in Western Europe. The North Sea, located to the north and west of the Netherlands, is continually battering the land. The Netherlands is larger than the state of Maryland, but smaller than West Virginia.
The colors on the Dutch flag represent the following: White - peace and honesty. Red - hardiness, bravery, strength & valour. Blue - vigilance, truth and loyalty, perseverance & justice. The people of the Netherlands refer to themselves as Nederlanders, or Netherlanders, but are also known as the Dutch.
The Netherlands is characterized by two capitals: Amsterdam and the Hague. Amsterdam became the official capital of independent Netherlands in 1814 after the defeat of the French. The Hague is the administrative center of the Netherlands, housing both the government and the court.
The Netherlands is a founding member of the European Union and one of the first countries to adopt the euro on 1 January 1999.
National food
Stroopwafel
Popular throughout the world, the ‘stroopwafel’ is undoubtedly the most famous and popular pastry from The Netherlands. A ‘stroopwafel’ is a unique kind of cookie. It is a waffle made from baked batter and sliced horizontally. The two thin layers of the waffle are filled with special sweet and sticky syrup (the ‘stroop’) in between. The stiff batter for the waffles is made from butter, flour, yeast, milk, brown sugar and eggs.
Poffertjes
A traditional Dutch batter treat is ‘poffertjes’. They look like baby pancakes but much fluffier. They are made with yeast and buckwheat flour and typically served with a lump of butter and powdered sugar. Fresh ‘poffertjes’ are often made at an outdoor stand during winter. They are served on a small cardboard plate and come with a small fork. While butter and powdered sugar are the most common toppings; whipped cream, syrup and strawberries are also pretty common.
Bitterballen
A Dutch classic, the bitterbal. It’s kinda like the Dutch alternative of tapas, usually eaten as a little snack or with an alcoholic beverage. Especially while sitting outside a cafe, enjoying the sun (whenever the Dutch weather allows it). A round, deep-fried crispy ball with a savoury filling. The filling is usually made with beef, but it can vary depending on what type of bitterbal you’re eating. An absolute must-try when in Netherlands.
Stamppot
Probably one of the most famous traditional Dutch dishes, stamppot. This winter dish is made from potatoes mashed together with one or several vegetables. The most popular one is usually made with kale or endive. Put a rookworst on the top and, ta-da, the perfect winter dish!
Pop culture
Music
The Netherlands has multiple music traditions. Traditional Dutch music is a genre known as "Levenslied", meaning Song of life, to an extent comparable to a French Chanson or a German Schlager. Themes can be light, but are often sentimental and include love, death and loneliness. Traditional musical instruments such as the accordion and the barrel organ are a staple of levenslied music, though in recent years many artists also use synthesizers and guitars.
The Netherlands has participated in the Eurovision Song Contest 60 times since making its debut as one of the seven countries at the first contest in 1956. The Netherlands would've hosted the contest in Rotterdam in 2020, but the edition was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rotterdam will remain as the host city of the 2021 contest. The Netherlands has won the contest five times, with Corry Brokken (1957), Teddy Scholten (1959), Lenny Kuhr in a four-way tie (1969), Teach-In (1975) and Duncan Laurence (2019).
Culture sights
Anne Frank House, Amsterdam
The Anne Frank House is a must-see when in Amsterdam. On Prinsengracht, in the home where Anne's family hid for much of Worlds War II , is where this remarkable girl wrote her famous diary. Although she died just two months before the war ended, her legacy lives on through her words, which have since been translated into 51 languages.
The back of the fully-restored house where the Frank family had their hiding place has been kept in its original state as much as possible and is a poignant monument to a tragic slice of world history and a brave young woman who continues to inspire people around the globe.
Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam
As befits one of the world's greatest artists, the spectacular Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam is ranked an impressive #2 in a leading list of the top art museums globally, attracting almost 1.5 million visitors each year.
Home to the world's largest collection of Van Gogh paintings - many donated by the artist's family - this impressive gallery and museum was specially built to showcase the more than 200 paintings, 500 drawings, and 700 letters in its vast collection.
The New Dutch Waterline
The Dutch have always been famous for their fierce fight against the country’s greatest enemy – water. A great testament to that is the New Dutch Water Line, a colossal 135-kilometer-long fortification of over 45 strongholds, surrounding the cities of Amsterdam and Utrecht.
The breathtaking landscapes here – peppered with adorable villages, beautiful lakes and rivers, museums, and castles – are a joy to explore, whether by foot, boat, or bicycle.
Natural landmarks
Keukenhof Gardens
Keukenhof Gardens is the largest flower garden in the world and is actually a promotion for the Dutch flower industry. Every year about seven million flower bulbs are planted in the park with not only tulips, but also other spring flowers. The gardens are open from the last week in March to mid - May. Keukenhof is one of the most visited tourist attractions in the Netherlands.
Kinderdijk
More than 1000 old wildmills still exist in the Netherlands. The largest concentration of Dutch windmills can be found near the village of Kinderdeik. To drain excess water from the polders, which are located below sea level , 19 windmills were built around 1740.
Hoge Veluwe National Park
The park protects and presents showcases of a wide variety of flora and fauna, which people can find when they walk through the wide open spaces - free white bikes are available. The park offers a guided safari with parking, and in June and July tourists have the chance to go on a night safari and sleep under the stars.
Holidays and traditions in Netherlands
Sinterklaas
One traditional festivity in the Netherlands is the feast of Sinterklaas. It is celebrated on the evening before Sinterklaas’ birthday on December 5, especially in families with little children. It often involves the custom of surprises; gifts wrapped in an original way, customized to the receiver and accompanied by a poem, hinting at what the present is.
King’s Day
Another traditional feast of the Netherlands used to be ‘Koninginnedag’ (‘Queen’s day’). This was celebrated in honour of the Queen’s birthday on April 30. Since April 2013 the Netherlands has a king so Queen’s Day has been renamed ‘Koningsdag’ (‘King’s Day’) and is celebrated on April 27, unless this date is on a Sunday, then it’s celebrated on the preceding Saturday. Jumble sales or free-markets are traditionally held in the streets of some city centres. The salespeople, including children, often wear orange clothes. The King and his family visit two places somewhere in the country. Those places organize a special program, displaying local folklore.
Dutch cheese tasting
The Netherlands is synonymous with cheese, with Gouda, Edammer and Reypenaer among the most recognised varieties. Incredibly, there are around 300 farms in the Netherlands that produce their own dairy products. Cheese is one of the most cherished Dutch food traditions. Cheese is eaten for breakfast or lunch, paired with a slice of bread, or cubed and eaten with mustard as an accompaniment to a drink.
Social customs
Meeting and Greeting
The handshake is the common form of greeting.
It is firm and swift, accompanied by a smile, and repetition of your name.
Shake hands with everyone individually including children.
Very close friends may greet each other by air kissing near the cheek three times, starting with the left cheek.
Most Dutch only use first names with family and close friends.
Wait until invited before moving to a first-name basis.
Gift Giving Etiquette
If invited to a Dutch home bring a box of good quality chocolates, a potted plant, a book, or flowers to the hostess.
Flowers should be given in odd numbers, but not 13, which is unlucky.
Avoid giving white lilies or chrysanthemums, as these are associated with funerals.
Gifts should be wrapped nicely.
Wine is not a good gift if invited for dinner, as the host may already have selected the wines for dinner.
Do not give pointed items such as knives or scissors as they are considered unlucky.
Gifts are usually opened when received.
Dining Etiquette
Dining is fairly formal in the Netherlands.
Table manners are Continental -- the fork is held in the left hand and the knife in the right while eating.
Remain standing until invited to sit down. You may be shown to a particular seat.Men generally remain standing until all the women have taken their seats.
If you have not finished eating, cross your knife and fork in the middle of the plate with the fork over the knife.
Do not begin eating until the hostess starts.
Most food is eaten with utensils, including sandwiches.
The host gives the first toast. An honoured guest should return the toast later in the meal.
Salad is not cut; fold the lettuce on your fork.
Always start with small amounts so you may accept second helpings.
Finish everything on your plate. It is offensive to waste food in the Netherlands.
Indicate you have finished eating by laying your knife and fork parallel across the right side of your plate.
Prepared by Svetlana Dimitrova and Galya Panayotova from 7g class
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