Category: Netherlands

I’ve been enjoying very nice weather this season. It’s unseasonably warm since last autumn, and continued into spring so far. People have been enjoying the beach here in Noordwijk for several weeks (not swimming though). Every year I keep a garden, specifically for raising vegetables. This is challenging at our…

Immigrants to the Netherlands are obligated to pass tests on Dutch language and culture within three years, or be possibly fined or expelled from the Netherlands.  As one of these immigrants, I was among this group. The whole program is called “inburgering”, which means “integration”. Last May, I started taking…

Today we had temperatures so high, they declared it the first day of summer.  The sky alternated between dark grey and bright blue, but the sun eventually won out. My sister-in-law A stayed with us this week. Since we had beautiful weather, A and I went for a long walk on…

Many days nothing extraordinary might happen, but it can be little things that leave an impression. The sky was beautiful tonight at sunset, due to an impending storm. We drove along Katwijk on the way back from the restaurant, taking in the scenery. After coming home from dinner, I was paid a…

On 6 April 2014, my mother died. This loss was a total surprise, one that our family could not anticipate. Within hours of finding out, we booked tickets back to Chicago for her funeral. I spent the first week arranging her funeral with my family. Most of the second week…

For 123 years, the Netherlands celebrated Queen’s Day(Koninginnedag) in honor of their monarch’s birthday (even if they were born on a different day). Queen Beatrix stepped down from her throne last year, handing it to her son (King) Willem-Alexander. Since the establishment of the holiday, there has never been a…

Long stretches of protected dunes lie north and south of Noordwijk, sprawling along the coastline next to the sea. I’ve only been to the dunes north of town, but they were very quiet and nice to visit. Today hit 20 degrees C (68-70 degrees F), making it the perfect weather…

The beautiful spring is going strong, along with the onset of flower season. All of the daffodils and hyacinths are outside on the fields, and  the tulips are about to arrive. It’s one of my favorite times of year, though only my second flower season. At a balmy 18 degrees…

The hint of better weather has evolved into actual spring the past two weeks. Daffodils and early flowers are already out and the is weather hovering over 10 C / 50 F degrees or higher. Today it leapt to 18 C/64 F  and all of us Netherlanders came out to…