After two weddings in two
continents, I'll admit I am short on vacation days and funds for another transatlantic journey. While we decide on our next destination, I will not only
discover what lies on a 100 mile radius of Washington, DC but also discover
different cultures. This is quite easy with all the cultural events DC has to offer. Sometimes we
become too fixated on getting on a plane to experience something different. The
reality is there is much to discover from other cultures right in this city.
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| Embassy of the Kingdom of The Netherlands |
This past weekend, the EU Open House took
place. The Delegation of the European Union to the
United States and the Embassies of 28 EU Member States to the United States
open their doors to the Washington public during the EU Embassies’ Open House Day.
This annual event is the highlight of the Washington May calendar and is
celebrated during Europe Week.
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| Making Poffertjes in Delft Blue Apron |
With a large
domestic agenda at the van Dop household (which consisted braving 95 South on a
Saturday to go to IKEA) we only had time to visit one embassy. Family bias took
us to the Embassy of the Netherlands, the homeland of my beloved. Not only is
my husband from Rotterdam, I have many special memories of my border crossings
from Belgium to The Netherlands visiting good friends and biking around the
canals in Amsterdam with friends.
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| Poffertjes with sugar and butter |
The
Dutchman as any expat wants to keep close ties with his countrymen while in the
US and the visit to the Embassy gave us both a great feeling of what the Dutch
are doing in DC. The weekend prior, we went to The Netherlands Carillon to
observe a moment of silence in remembrance of the liberation of the
country during World War II hosted by the Embassy. This Saturday, we were
welcomed with the same hospitality we received last week and during all my prior
trips to the country.
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| Kaas! |
As soon as
we arrived, we were welcomed with my favorite Dutch product (after my husband),
kaas (cheese). I must admit kaas is one of the first words I learned in
Dutch. We got to sample my favorite cheese, Old Amsterdam and other favorites
such as young Gouda and cumin cheese. We followed on to the beer room, where we
sipped Heineken and a watched a screening about of another popular Dutch
Export: DJ's such as Afrojack and Tiesto.
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| Poffertjes in the Making |
We walked
around the embassy and got to see all the presentations from Aruba Tourism to a
woman in the traditional Dutch costume next to the main Dutch mode of
transportation: a bike with Delft blue storage bags. We ended our tour with
yummy Poffertjes (mini pancakes) with butter. I remember my first time
having them late night in Rotterdam, it's a tasty underrated treat.
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| In my Dutch Shoes |
Unfortunately,
I cannot hop on my car and cross the border into The Netherlands anymore and
there are times my husband misses home, but it's great to have these moments
where you can be transported to another culture without having to leave your
city. I am certain this will be the first of many EU Open House days we will be
visiting.
CONVERSATION