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.
