Life Begins at 30

On Board KLM to Schiphol, Amsterdam

My first impression upon arriving in Schiphol – My gosh, they sound funny! Little did I know that a few months later, I will actually start loving this fatal throat-clearing disease called the Dutch Language.
Indeed, to be able to embrace the Dutch culture completely, one must first learn to speak and understand the language.

Keukenhof Garden, The Netherlands

In the few months that I have lived and immersed myself in the Netherlands, particularly in The Hague, I found one very distinct characteristic of  the Dutch way of life that never fails to amaze me - their most cherished gezelligheid (translate: coziness).  This lingering quest for everything cozy can be witnessed as you pass by cute little houses lined with flowers by the windows, fairly lit canals at night, little cookies that come with your coffee, and the small weekend markets in the neighborhood.  While everywhere in the world the retail giants put together huge one-stop-shops for convenience and to increase market share, the Dutch retail market continues to lean towards a more personal approach to shopping. It is cute and charming how Dutch people still opt to buy fresh meat from their butcher (slagerij) across the street, newly baked broodjes from their local bakerij (bakery), or pick up their favorite wine from the liquor store(slijterij) at the corner.

Keukenhof during the Summer

While the Netherlands is popular for its Klompen(wooden shoes), Gouda cheese, Stroopwaffels, and giant windmills, Amsterdam, being its capital has  also become  a popular tourist destination for it’s Red Light district, Coffee Shops and beautifully lit Canals.  Diversity is what makes Amsterdam what it is today – a melting pot of cultures, where the expatriate community congregate.  One can argue that there are more expats living in Amsterdam than native Dutch people, although I don’t have the figures to back that up.

As a country of 12 provinces, the Netherlands has a lot of things to offer. The Groningen, elected as ”de beste binnenstad” (the best city centre) of the Netherlands, is a university town popular for its bustling nightlife, where some bars do not close until 7AM. For a city as small as this, the cultural scene is quite remarkable and vibrant.  Lelystad, the capital of Flevoland, is one of the newest municipalities with the biggest area in the whole of Netherlands. The other provinces in the North Eastern part of the Netherlands – Drenthe, Friesland, and OverIjssel offer its own charm and Dutch heritage.

Map of the Netherlands

Centrally located, Utrecht is a host to the biggest university in the whole of Netherlands.   My personal take on Utrecht is that it is a smaller version of Amsterdam with a little more Dutch heritage left to boast. Bordering it on the Southeast part is Gelderland, with Arnhem as its capital.   Arnhem is home to Holland’s biggest National Park and Museum. The Kroller Muller museium owns an extensive collection of paintings from great masters such sa Van Gogh and many others. Bordering Germany on the southern part of the Netherlands, is another Municipality called Limburg, with Maastricht as it’s capital.  Though Maastricht is popularly known for its traditional Dutch festivals/carnivals, I have formed a deep connection to Limburg through my favorite shopping outlet right in the heart of Roermond. After all, I am a girl… and shopping is my favorite past time.

Noord Brabant, on the other hand, borders Belgium. A little bit of research showed me that North Brabant is mostly flat but nearly every part of the provincie is above sea level, therefore there are not as many canals as in the lower parts of  The Netherlands. On the western part lies the municipality of Zeeland, where the sun sets the latest in the whole of the Netherlands. It is one of the richest, fishing and sailing harbors in the Netherlands.

Moving up towards Zuid Holland, The Hague, it’s capital city, is also the Seat of Government, as well as my home away from home. It has a high concentration of expatriates and tourists alike. Finally, bordering Zuid Holland on the North is Noord Holland with Haarlem as its capital.

iAmsterdam

Everything in the Netherlands is at least 2 hours away by car or train. As I continue to discover more about this country, its sometimes quirky yet sometimes annoying cultural idiosyncracies,  I cannot help but smile at how far I’ve come.  Who would have thought that what started as a silly attempt to console myself would actually open up new doors for me in the opposite side of the world? As I look back, I can only say dank u wel for the opportunity. Indeed, there is more to every country than what can be captured in photos and I’m glad to have this chance to experience living the Dutch life…for a while at least.