The Netherlands -A modern day Atlantis, where Mulga Bill meets Willy Wonka. Bikes, sweets and self- confidence pile on top of dykes and delicacies while locks and levees protect this wet corner of the world from a sinking wet demise.
Renowned for its liberal views, masochistic artists, boys with fingers in dikes, longstanding trading smarts, Ajax Amsterdam and the 17th century Golden Age; the country’s love of innovation, progression and unorthodoxy is refreshing. Stoic signs of Calvinism, reformational rebellion, protection of liberal freedoms and irreverent humour build a cultural levee from which the outside has little influence over which god to worship, how often to drink coffee, who to marry, what to smoke and certainly not what to have on breakfast toast.
As flat as the beloved pancakes traditionally digested, 17 million people pack the approximately 41,500 square kilometres of land. Enviable engineering feats see villages almost seven meters below sea level thrive and legacies preserved. Legends in navigation; touring through Vollendam, Edam, Uitdam, Durgedam, Monnickendam, Amsterdam, their literary ingenuity falls seemingly short of their seamanship horizons. This shortfall confidently offset by some 35,000km of bike paths guiding locals safely, and tourists dangerously and confusedly through narrow villages (“Je hebt recht”??), deep green pastures and intricate networks of canals and sluices.
Three imperative Dutch words underpin the cultural experience. Gezellig, lekker and leuk.
Gezellig: Don’t expect to travel many places alone. The population to land mass ratio ensures you will meet many friendly Dutch people in close quarters, in streets, or quaint houses along the way. Hugs from total strangers are also quite possible. Ensuring your experience will be “cosy”.
Lekker: Loaded fries is not a new idea from McDonalds. Mayo or some sort of sauce doused chips is a long Dutch standing tradition. Did we order fries or Mayo? Coloured sprinkles- Muisjes (small mice), chocolate sprinkles – Hagelslag, all things to sprinkle on bread for breakfast, lunch or dinner. Gouda, Edam, Limburger, Masdam cheese, all add up to ‘lekker’.
Leuk: Can be used for antique windmills, Holy Sloot, Bunschoten-Spakenburg and other multi coloured antique villages, unique historic fishing trawlers finding haven behind dikes, Friesian cows, toddler and young second cousins as well as everything else cute, impressive or lovely.
As the tides rise and fall against the Eemdijk, Afsluitdijk and Kinderdijk, it’s not the gravitational forces exerted by the moon and the sun, that draw us back to the ‘low country’, nor the promise of sugar, spice and all things nice. Family and friends open doors and hearts. Share a common history, engage in new stories forming future memories. A treasure richer than the Golden Age, more enduring than bright perennial tulips, larger than Madurodam and most times funnier than Apenheul.
Darling thank you for sharing of your wonder of writing. It’s fantastic how you mixed your thoughts give them words. A great gift. Love you much and have a wonderful last week in Europe. You loving auntie.
Op di 16 okt. 2018 00:42 schreef THE WISDOM COLLECTOR :
> Jarka posted: ” The Netherlands -A modern day Atlantis, where Mulga Bill > meets Willy Wonka. Bikes, sweets and self- confidence pile on top of dykes > and delicacies while locks and levees protect this wet corner of the world > from a sinking wet demise. Renowned for its li” >
Thank you for the wonderful time and all the inspiration 😄 also for the encouragement. It would not have been the same if we could not share the time in Holland with you! Xxx
Wow Jarka!!!
Now I’m really homesick for the Motherland!!!
Enjoy!
Well written and thanks for sharing the wonderful photos!!!!
Brings back lots of lovely 😊 memories!!!!
Good times with the extended family !!! Xxxx love ya xxx Enjoy 😊
Thank you! Time to start planning then Wendy! What do they say….. “A dream without a plan is just a wish” 🙂
Lovely! xox
Thank you x