Saturday - Plenty of fish in Scheveningen

Almost unmissable for those out there wishing to have a close acquaintance with the Dutch culinary culture, is the celebration of the so called "new herring".

It means that the latest "harvest" of this prized blue fish has been marinated enough in its special brine and is now ready for consumption.

There's always a debate among expats about this Dutch rite which is perceived by many as weird and disgusting. For many is the fact that the fish looks slimy and raw. For others is the fact that it is normally served covered in freshly chopped onion, with a pickled cucumber on the side and you eat it with we could call a top bottom approach, by hanging it above your open mouth.

I personally have eaten it and found it delicious and I am always wary (not only when it comes to fish) about people who judge without trying things first, as long of course they don't have a medical reason.

The Vlaggetjes Dag (Little Flags Day, because on this occasion the ships were and still are decorated with small Dutch flags), or the festival of  Hollandse Nieuwe, will be celebrated today in harbour of Scheveningen, with a wide sampling choice, music and entertainment for kids and grown ups.

http://www.vlaggetjesdag.com

Friday - Blue suede shoes and the whole shebang

While browsing for a pretty summer dress a couple of weeks ago, I stumbled upon the Swedish brand Emmy and when I looked for local stockists the name "Benny's Fifties Store" in Scheveningen came up.

Even if you are not into frilly petticoats, this place is worth a visit: an authentic treasure trove of jukeboxes, Coca Cola memorabilia, records, gadgets and all those objects you have seen in Grease and American Graffiti.

If you actually are into pretty dresses, go and have a look: the variety of styles, prints, sizes, sales and actually wearable dresses is mind boggling, considering the average uniformity of nowadays high street shops.

http://www.fiftiesstore.com/

Thursday - These clogs were made for walking.

As a follow up to yesterday's post, a few words about the clogs' making workshop in the Zaanse Schaans.

Although I have been living in this country for quite a while, and I have seen more clogs that I could possibly remember (wooden ones, plush ones, porcelains ones, etc) I had never actually had the chance to see how they are made.

The Wooden Show Workshop offers around the clock demonstrations on how the clogs are made, using French and German machines and good old (and young) Dutch manpower.

I got so enthusiastic about it, that together with a group of giggling Chinese girls I stayed for two demonstrations in a row.

Before you get to the actual workshop, you pass through a "condensed" clog museum displaying a lot of weird and wonderful stuff (peat horses' clogs, ice walking clogs, designer clogs) and telling the story of the humble wooden show through the centuries.

Exit, as always, is through the gift shop, but I must confess that this time I succumbed and bought myself a pair of clogs, although, to my defence, at least not of the traditional red and yellow sort.

Wednesday - The green green houses of Zaanse Schans

As tourist destinations in NL go, this must score pretty high, although not overwhelmingly so, as say the Keukenhof or the Van Gogh Museum.

It's a collection of houses and buildings that are typical from the area, scattered along a polder, providing lots of picture perfect spots.

There are a cheese shop, a mini Albert Heijn museum (the giant of the Dutch supermarkets was born in the area), a cafe and a restaurant and the unavoidable pannenkoek house.

Along the canal, you can visit several very interesting functioning windmills producing oils, flour, spices, etc...

There's a also a clog workshop (but more about this on tomorrow's post).

Entrance to the area is free (the parking is 7.50euro) and some of the attractions have a small entrance fee.

It makes for an enjoyable day out and kids will love the abundance of pets and toys provided for their entertainment.

PS: if you are by car don't miss a visit to this amazing hotel in Zaandam. Bonus point: there's a Primark next to it!

http://www.zaanseschans-museum.nl/eng/home.php

Tuesday - Don your clogs and have your picture taken

It seems that one of the main trades of Vollendam, after the closure of the Ij and decline of its fishing trade and next to being the birthplace of countless Dutch celebrity singers, is the production of portraits of people wearing a typical Dutch outfit.

Along the short seaside promenade, scattered in between cafes and gebakken vis joints, there are several photographer shops offering to have your picture taken in an Oud-Hollandse outfit.

For people who brought their own camera, against the reasonable payment of 5 euro, there's even the possibility to just "rent" an outfit for a short time and have their picture taken by a friend.

Needless to say, countless pictures of local and international celebrities are on display in the windows, like this picture of Ronaldo, taken when he was still young and beautiful (yes, I do have a questionable taste in men) and playing for PSV.

Monday - Pixar is Up! in Amsterdam

A kiddies' friendly post after so many mainly dedicated to adults. Thanks to my good friend L. who himself is a sort of grown up baby (love you L.!).

The exhibition Pixar. 25 years of animation started last Thursday and runs till October.

Although the entrance ticket costs an hefty 16 Euro, it definitely looks it's worth the price, at least on paper.

More than 500 drawings, props, storyboards, sketches and models are on display, plus videos and the world première of the Making of " Monsters University", the newest Pixar production which will be released later this year.

Nemo,  Wall-e, Buzz Lightyear will all be there. Hopefully also Dory will remember where she needs to be too...

http://www.amsterdamexpo.nl/

Sunday - Somewhere, beneath the sea...

Last chance today to literally walk on the bottom of the Ijmeer.

For this weekend only the public is allowed in the tunnel of the metro that will be connecting Amsterdam proper to its North outpost.

http://www.ilovenoord.nl/2013/05/wandelen-door-de-nieuwe-tunnel-onder-het-ij-1-2-juni/

*This picture was actually taken in S.Korea*