where are you originally from?
the netherlands
people
how would you describe the people in your country?
the dutch are tall, direct in communication, tolerant and nice people
on a scale of 1–10, how well do people in your country speak english?
8
what’s a common word or expression people use in your country?
when the dutch order a cup of coffee. they will ask for ‘a little cup of solace’ (een bakje troost).
how do i say hello, thank you, please, and sorry in your language?
hallo/dank je wel/alstublieft/sorry
what do people in your country usually do for fun?
people definitely enjoy partying — sometimes a little too much! dutch people can get pretty rowdy when they’re abroad.
food
what’s the best local food to try? anything unusual?
the dutch do not really have their own cuisine. if you try one dutch sweet treat, make it a stroopwafel. two thin waffles stuck together with a layer of sweet syrup. on new year’s eve we eat ‘oliebollen’ which are fried balls of dough and in june is the start of the herring season. the herring is eaten raw with chopped onions and pickles.
what local drinks would you recommend trying?
the local drink is of course heineken. as i don’t drink alcohol i can’t recommend it and as it’s sold all around the world i can’t say it’s really special. jenever is also a drink that a lot of the dutch drink. it’s a distilled alcohol flavored with juniper berries.
what’s a typical breakfast like in your country?
usually we have a very simple breakfast eating sandwiches and cheese or meat or jam. the craziest breakfast according to my uk friends is the sandwiches with chocolate sprinkles. lots of dutchies are also fond of oatmeal in the morning.
culture
what’s the best festival to attend?
pinkpop
which sports are people in your country most passionate about?
soccer, the whole netherlands is in tears about not attending the world cup at the moment.
what’s the craziest thing someone can do in your country?
visit the poezenboot: a floating cat sanctuary on an amsterdam canal.
what activities or experiences would you recommend to visitors?
a’dam lookout: swing at 100m altitude
waddenlopen: cross the sea on foot
cubic houses: visit inside the cubic houses in rotterdam
red light district in amsterdam
cheese market in alkmaar
volendam where you can have your picture taken in old fashioned dutch clothing
are there any local customs visitors should be aware of?
the dutch are very private people.
they will not display their wealth.
they do not brag about their successes.
(doe maar gewoon, dan doe je al gek genoeg = act normal as you will already look stupid acting normal)
places
where can visitors find the best beaches?
domburg as it has a wide sandy beach and is one of the most beautiful beaches in the netherlands. if you arrive in domburg, it immediately feels like a holiday, even if you only go for one day.
if i’m staying for less than a week, which city should i choose?
partypeople: amsterdam
non-party people: haarlem
country
how would you describe your country in one sentence?
a country filled with tulips and cheese eating direct but friendly people.
how many days would you recommend spending in your country?
about 4 days is enough for visiting a city like amsterdam.
if you want to see more you can easily spend 3 weeks here.
when’s the best time to visit?
springtime if you’d like to see the tulips in bloom. the autumn and winter can be quite cold.
what’s something interesting about your country that most people don’t know?
we eat chocolate for breakfast and pancakes for dinner.
what is your country’s most popular stereotype/cliché?
we all wear clogs, we are very frugal people, we all smoke joints, we live in windmills
travel
do you travel often? what’s your favorite place so far?
italy
what’s your most memorable travel story?
before we had kids we would go to italy by car and not book anything and wing it. those holidays were the best. we visited the most beautiful places. one of my favorite places on one of those holidays is the island elba.
what do you love most about traveling?
i love to explore new countries, new cultures, new food, new people and escape from everyday life (work)
about zahra
instagram: @culyzaar
website/blog: http://www.culyzaar.com – my cooking specializes in mediterranean, middle east, and north africa cuisine.
e-mail: culyzaar@gmail.com