One of the things I love about coming to visit Oma & Opa in the Netherlands is simply … being in the Netherlands. I love soaking up the different culture. It’s great to do and see different things, but I often enjoy the simple things the most.

Now that the kids are getting older, we’re talking more about these differences together.

Today was a rather dreary day – overcast skies, light rain on and off. In other words, a typical late-fall day in the Netherlands!

But that didn’t stop us! We walked to the shops, about 1.5 miles away. Just bundled up a bit to keep warm and dry.

We went to a snack bar for lunch. While PER had a broodje kroket (Kroketten are made with meat ragu, breaded, and fried. And you eat them on a roll – broodje – with mustard.). Froggy went with what he knows: chicken nuggets (kip nuggets), fries, and a vanilla milkshake. Of course, they don’t taste exactly the same as they do back in the States!

After lunch, we had a wonderful holiday treat: oliebol! It’s basically a fried dough ball. I had a plain one with powdered sugar. PER went for apple. And Froggy? He went all out and had the one with Nutella! Heerlijk!

One the walk home it rained. But hey, that’s Dutch weather for you! Just put up your hood – or not! – and keep walking 🙂