Culture of Netherlands

Culture

Traditions and Holidays

Fenna Lieze, December 23, 2023

Let’s talk about traditions! One very big tradition here is Sinterklaas. It’s technically a myth or fable in which kids believe. It’s on December 5th, and he comes about three weeks before that day, also called Pakjesavond (Present evening), by boat from Spain (not really, of course). In those weeks, kids will, in the evening, put their shoes by the fireplace or somewhere in the house and sing songs that were made for this celebration. In the morning, they have a little present in their shoe, sometimes with some pepernoten (not in their shoe, but around it). Pepernoten are tiny cookies made for Sinterklaas, and they are actually something that we only eat around this holiday! On Pakjesavond, we open presents that were brought by Sinterklaas (the parents really buy them). When this is done, everyone in the family draws a ticket with a name on it and then makes a surprise for that person and buys a present to put in the surprise.

Other holidays we celebrate are, of course, Christmas, which we celebrate for two days, and Easter, which we also celebrate for two days! We have Remembrance Day and Liberation Day on May fourth and fifth. And because we have a king, we have Kings Day, which we celebrate on April 27th. On that day, we have flea markets and, of course, parties.

Food

You probably have had black liqourice from where you live! We also have it, but it’s probably very different. There is sweet and salt, soft and hard. The one we are known for is the salty and hard one. On New Year’s Eve, we eat oliebollen. Those are balls of dough, which may sound strange, but are deep-fried and can be topped with apples or raisins. They are the best! When a baby is born and when people come to visit, instead of cake, which you usually eat when you celebrate something, we eat a beschuit met muisjes! The(se) muisjes are like sprinkles, but bigger and in the color blue/white or pink/white. Of course, cheese, especially gouda, is Dutch. We also have thin, not as thin as crepes, pancakes and poffertjes, tiny but almost round pancakes! If you ever come here, try those! And then, of course, stroopwafels, hagelslag, and haring with onion! If you want to know what all this food looks like, search them on Google, and you’ll probably find them!