The people
in the Netherlands have different "food
habits" than people on the continent,
in the United Kingdom or in the United States of
America. This sounds probably a bit funny for
such a small country. But it is a fact and you
know the saying: "Do in Rome as the Romans
do". Freely translated: When in Holland, eat
as we so. May I give you a short description of
the way we serve our meals?
Breakfast
For breakfast we have bread and butter, or open
sandwiches with jam, cheese or
"ontbijtkoek" (see recipe). We drink
tea with it, or milk, maybe buttermilk. Sometimes
we have a boiled egg and children may have a
plateful of "pap"
Coffee
At 10 oclock we drink one or more cups of
coffee with cream or milk and treat ourselves to
piece of (buttered) "koek" or some
"boterkoek" or cake, for extra festive
occasions.
Lunch
At lunchtime we have another bread and butter
meal. Maybe some rolls are put on the table
(krentenbroodjes, cadetjes, croissants) and Dutch
rusks topped with cheese or jam. With it we have
some meat: liver sausage or ham; maybe a fried
egg or two or an omelette. When guests arrive we
make a special hot dish like croquettes or
macaroni cheese, or ham and cheese savory. Fruits
finish off the meal with which we drink coffee,
milk, buttermilk or cocoa.
Tea
At 3 oclock it is teatime, a cup of tea and
a biscuit is quite usual. For special occasions
we produce fancy cakes, cookies or chocolates.
Borrel
At 5 oclock some people drink a
"borrel" (Dutch gin), sometimes with a
little snack.
Dinner
At 6 oclock it is dinner time. Our first
hot meal, mainly consisting of: a hot entrée
(soup) or a cold entrée, meat or fish with
vegetables and potatoes, something a sweet or
fruit to finish. Only on special occasions wine
or beer is served. Coffee may be served after the
meal, but is mostly not taken at the dinner
table. (In some parts of the Netherlands the hot
meal is served at midday and a bread and butter
meal in the evening).
Tea or coffee
At 8 oclock tea again with biscuits, some
people prefer coffee. Cookies, cake or more
elaborate baked sweet is offered, when we have
company (visitors). Some people like to drink
beer or wine or Dutch gin (jenever), maybe a
liqueur or whisky later on. You see.... it is
different. But you will certainly enjoy it when
you are offered these things in the home of a
Dutch family. Mind you, I have nothing against
hotels but they do not serve you "real Dutch
meals", as you would be served in a typical
Dutch home. |