Tag: Dutch Traditions
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Why Every Dutch Winter Smells Like Icing Sugar and Hot Frying Oil
Every Dutch winter, fried dough balls called oliebollen fill street corners from November to New Year’s Eve — a 700-year tradition — plus get weekly Netherlands stories free in our newsletter.
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Why Dutch Farmers Still Choose Wooden Clogs Over Rubber Boots
Millions of Dutch wooden clogs are still made every year — not for tourists, but for the farmers who know wood outperforms everything. Discover the real story behind the Netherlands’ most iconic shoe, plus get weekly Netherlands stories free in our newsletter.
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The Gouda Baker Who Gave the World Its Favourite Coffee Biscuit
How a penny biscuit made in a Gouda market stall in 1810 became the Netherlands’ most-loved treat — and conquered the world’s coffee cups. Get weekly Netherlands stories free in our newsletter.
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In the Netherlands, You Can Walk to an Island — Across the Seabed
Walk across the exposed Wadden Sea seabed to reach Dutch islands on foot — the ancient art of wadlopen, and why thousands still do it — plus get weekly Netherlands stories free in our newsletter.
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Why Eight O’Clock on the 4th of May Stops the Whole of the Netherlands
Every 4 May at 8pm, the Netherlands falls silent for two minutes. The story behind a tradition that stops a nation — plus weekly Netherlands stories free in our newsletter.
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The Dutch Pancake House Tradition That Every Family Returns To
Why do Dutch families drive to the countryside for pannenkoeken? Discover the pancake house tradition that turns Sunday lunch into a national ritual — plus get weekly Netherlands stories free in our newsletter.
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The Dutch Drinking Ritual That Has No English Word — And No Equal
Borrelen is the Dutch evening ritual of drinks and bitterballen with friends — untranslatable, unmissable, and free in our weekly newsletter.
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Why an Ice Race Nobody Has Seen in 29 Years Still Captivates the Netherlands
The Elfstedentocht only runs when 200km of Frisian canals freeze solid. The last time was 1997. Every Dutch winter since, the whole nation holds its breath — plus get weekly Netherlands stories free in our newsletter.
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How a Gouda Baker’s Scraps Became the Netherlands’ Favourite Treat
Discover how a 19th-century Gouda baker turned leftover crumbs and syrup into the Netherlands’ most beloved treat — plus get weekly Netherlands stories free in our newsletter.
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Why the Dutch Eat Raw Herring in the Street — and Have for Centuries
Discover Hollandse Nieuwe — the Dutch raw herring tradition that has fed the Netherlands for 600 years, from street stalls to royal barrels — plus get weekly Netherlands stories free in our newsletter.
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How the Dutch Turned Tulips Into Gold — Then Lost Everything
In 1637, the Dutch tulip market collapsed overnight, wiping out thousands. Discover the flower craze that invented the world’s first financial bubble — plus get weekly Netherlands stories free in our newsletter.
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Why Dutch Homes Keep Their Curtains Open — The History Behind the Habit
Why Dutch homes keep their curtains open at night — the centuries-old tradition behind the habit. Get weekly Netherlands stories free in our newsletter.