January 11, 2012 – 11:36 am
The the recent wet weather has caused havoc in many EU countries, and for the first time in my memory (not that this says very much…) my home city of Groningen has had to resort to sandbags to stop the rising waters from flooding parts of the city. OK, I know that the Netherlands is […]
By Annemieke Waite
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Also posted in Arctic, Finland, Folklore, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Traditions, Travel Writing
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Tagged Arctic, Flooding, Folk Stories, four winds hat, Groningen, Lapland, Lauwersoog, Norway, Poland, rain, Sami, sea levels, storm, the Netherlands, Warsaw, winds
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November 27, 2011 – 8:29 pm
It has been unseasonably warm this autumn and it’s hard to believe that we are only 3 weeks away from the winter equinox. Despite the glorious sunshine though, the days seem shorter than ever, so it must be true. One thing that confirms the time of year is the fact that people in the Netherlands […]
By Annemieke Waite
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Also posted in Austria, Croatia, Folklore, France, History, Traditions, Travel Writing
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Tagged 5th December, 6th December, Austria, Bari, boat burning, Croatia, Dordrecht, France, Holiday Season, Komiza, Krampus, Moors, Myra, Netherlands, Paterswolde, patron saint, pepernoten, Pere Fouettard, Pilgrims, saint, Santa claus, Sinterklaas, Sinterklaas zinkt, St. Nicholas, St. Nicholas sinks, St. Nicholas' Eve
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The first herring of the season, freshly caught, arrived yesterday afternoon in the Dutch fishing port of Scheveningen. If you’re not from the Netherlands this little fact may not mean much to you, but to many Dutch people it means everything. Herring, or more specifically the eating of herring, is almost an institution in Holland, […]
By Annemieke Waite
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Also posted in Customs, Denmark, Finland, France, History, Traditions, travel tips, Travel Writing
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Tagged Fishing, Flag Day Scheveningen, Haring, Holland, Raw Herring, Scheveningen, Vlaggetjesdag
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Tired of all the Royal Wedding planning in the UK? Fancy a Royal Party with a difference? If so, then read on… 🙂 In neighbouring the Netherlands preparations are in full swing for something completely different. It is the annual celebration on the 30th of April, when the Dutch celebrate Koninginnedag, (‘Queen’s Day’). Having grown […]
By Annemieke Waite
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Also posted in Customs, Folklore, Traditions, travel tips, Travel Writing
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Tagged Amsterdam, Family Travel, Johan Willem Friso, Koekhappen, Koninginnedag, Koninginnenacht, Netherlands, Queen Beatrix, Queen's Day
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November 24, 2010 – 10:45 pm
I have to admit it: I don’t much like beaches. The thought of sand sticking to my skin is not very appealing, and I really dislike not knowing what is underneath my feet when I walk into the sea… Of course none of this makes any sense to my kids, who love nothing better than […]
By Annemieke Waite
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Also posted in Backpacking, Croatia, Folklore, Food, France, Ireland, Music, Nature, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Traditions, Trains, Travel Writing, United Kingdom
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Tagged bagpipes, Beaches, Brittany, Cornwall, Croatia, Dubrovnik, Fjords, Food, France, Ile de Re, Ireland, Korcula, La Flotte, Mljet, Mousehole, Music, Netherlands, Osijek, Portugal, Rijeka, Scotland, Spain, Split, Traditions, Train Travel, Trogir, Vis, Zadar
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Homes in the Netherlands go yellow overnight, Germans hang a wreath on their front doors, hot cross buns are on sale in all UK shops and the Spanish have started their Semana Santa (Holy Week) complete with parades presenting the story of the Passion of Christ, and nazarenos wearing those pointy hoods. It must be […]
By Annemieke Waite
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Also posted in Croatia, Customs, Czech Republic, Estonia, Finland, France, Latvia, Norway, Poland, Spain, Sweden, Traditions, Travel Writing
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Tagged Customs, Czech Republic, Easter, Easter Monday, England, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Good Friday, Maundy Thursday, Netherlands, Norway, Palm Sunday, Poland, Smingus Dingus, Spain, Swieconka, Traditions
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February 20, 2010 – 12:31 pm
My brother-in-law, Laurie, recently completed a 6-year part-time degree in archeology at the University of Bristol. During his studies he spent most of his spare time visiting and exploring burial sites in the British Isles and continental Europe. Before long we started to refer to his activities as ‘itching and scratching’. Not very respectful, […]
By Annemieke Waite
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Also posted in Sweden, Travel Writing
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Tagged burial tombs, hunebedden, Jamtli, Netherlands, Sweden, Tapestries, Teens Travel, Travel, Travel Guides, Viking
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