Culture Questions - Holland
May 6, 2005 at 6:57 PM
by Ashleigh
What is (roughly) your daily schedule? What time does work begin? What time does it end? How about meal times? Does your country go in for the afternoon rest time?
Being a mommy, my schedule is different to most people, although there are a surprising number of stay at home mommies here. Childcare is difficult to find and expensive so most women just don't work while their kids are little.
I get up at 7.15 with the DH, who hogs the shower for a whole 20 minutes (who said men were quick in the shower, and no, he doesn't shave!). We wake up the kids, sit them down at the table with their Weetabix (cereal of choice for them), and while they're eating I'll make beds and put the washer, tumble drier and dishwasher on and make Seb's lunch if he has a long day at school. Then I get their clothes out and Seb dresses himself while Joe gets dressed by his dad. I eat my yoghurt with linseeds in it (yuck!) and drink my coffee at the computer while I check my mail. Brad leaves at 8 am to get the bus to work (a 40 minute ride) and I take my shower at 8.05 am. Then I leave at around 8.20 with the kiddies for school.
Seb needs to be at school between 08.35 and 08.45 so we walk him in and if I'm early enough I'll read him a story while we wait for the other kids to arrive. Then if its Monday, Wednesday or Friday, I take Joe to his school which he has to be at 09.00 and I leave him there and try and visit the grocery store on the way home. I usually get home by about 9.15 and then I'll fiddle on the computer a bit, do my chores, watch some morning tv while I stitch (if its Mon, Wed, or Fri) and then fetch Joe at 11.30.
If its a Wednesday or Friday Seb finishes early so I get to pick him up at either 12.15 (Weds) or 12 noon (Friday). They have lunch at 12.30 or so (sandwiches with cheese) and I have more linseed yoghurt (yuck!)
Usually if its a Weds or Fri my friend Natasja comes over with her son and they all play while we drink coffee and talk about nothing ;) And if the weather is good we all sit outside while the kids play in the sandpit.
Brad gets home around 6 pm and then we have supper which is usually something home cooked although we sometimes get take-out. Then showering the kids takes place and we put them in bed at about 8 pm after which tv watching and stitching ensue. I go to bed at 11.15 pm and Brad follows about half an hour later.
Our breakfast routine is not normal in Holland where most people eat a continental style breakfast - cold meats, bread, hard boiled eggs, yoghurt, coffee. Our lunch is standard - a sandwich with cheese mostly and our dinner is pretty standard too for Holland. Most people have a warme gerecht (hot dish) in the evenings.
Work hours can vary a lot as loads of people job share or work part time. My DH works 40 hours a week though as he works for an international company. He starts at 09.00 and finishes at 17.00.
There isn't a rest period but there is a time limit that you can stop making a noise in the evenings - 10 pm.
What is the predominant language spoken in your country? Are many people bi-lingual?
The predominant language is Dutch of course :) Most people speak English, German and French and it's quite embarrassing to come here as a monolingual foreigner and realise the proficiency that the Dutch have in the languages of their neighbouring countries! It is really necessary to learn Dutch as a foreigner to live here, but if you are visiting English is understood pretty much everywhere. As a family we are now all bilingual.
What sports are popular in your country?
Football, iceskating, Formula 1 motor racing, cycling.
Most people ride bicycles to and from work/shops/school. There are more bikes in Holland than people! We have bicycles too and spend a lot of time cycling - to school and back for me with the kids on the bike (front and back) and on the weekends we try and cycle 20 km to keep fit. Holland has many many cycle paths so that bikes are separated from the traffic which makes it safer to ride.
Are there supermarkets where you live?
Yes, but they are tiny! Its like being in Lilliput compared to supermarkets elsewhere. I have lived in four countries, including Zimbabwe which is a third world country, and I can honestly say the supermarkets here are the smallest I have ever seen! You can get basic supplies at the supermarket for bodycare etc, as well as vegetables, meat and bread, but most people still use a cheesemonger, butcher, greengrocer, druggist (for bodycare), and bakery. Over the almost 3 years we have lived here we have noticed that the supermarkets are getting more varied and we do have Internet grocery shopping, albeit with only one supplier.
Who are the real-life heroes in your country?
Unfortunately at the moment all the heroes seem to be political figures, like the assassinated Pim Fortuyn, or figures like the recently shot down Theo van Gogh. The best ones I can personally think of is Anne Frank (except she was really German) and Corrie ten Boom.
Is there a day you celebrate your country? What is the celebration like?
The best celebration day in Holland is Queen's Day! Its on the 30th April which was the former Queen Juliana's birthday and because the timing is right the current Queen (Queen Beatrix) left it on that day for us to celebrate in Spring. Its a fantastic day - the whole of Holland becomes a giant flea market and everyone gets decked out in orange while they sell their old stuff. There are flags everywhere, bands playing all over the place and its fun :)
The other celebration day is New Years Eve - the whole of Holland explodes in fireworks. Its fantastic to watch. We eat something called 'oliebollen' which is like a round doughnut with raisins or apple in it, dipped in powdered sugar and watch the fireworks.
Thanks for the great questions :)