The Netherlands

Amsterdam

There are plenty of options in Amsterdam throughout December. The hands-down favourite with the mamas is the ever-popular Westergasfabriek Funky Xmas Market (doesn’t the name say it all?) on 21 December 2025, showcasing lots of local foodies and homemade crafts in full Amsterdam-style.

For additional information on holiday offerings in the city, check this full list of Amsterdam’s Christmas markets and festivals.

And make sure you don’t miss out on any of this month’s festive happenings for families in Amsterdam by signing up to the Amsterdam Mamas’ newsletter.

Haarlem

One of the largest Christmas markets in the Netherlands, the Kerstmarkt Haarlem has a guaranteed spot in the seasonal top 5. As a backdrop to the hundreds of stalls in the picturesque square, there are live choirs singing Christmas carols.

If you are available in the weekend of 12 till 14 December and need no further arguments, then just visit the official website to get all the infomation on how to get there: approximately 20 minutes by train or by car from Amsterdam.

The Hague

The tenth edition of The Royal Christmas Fair will once again be hosted at Lange Voorhout from 4 till 23 December. With more than 80 Christmas stalls, a genuine and dedicated children’s fair, thousands of lights and an abundance of heated wine served in pfandbechers this is a Christmas fair that will appeal to the imaginations of both young and old alike.

The Hague is approximately one hour from Amsterdam by car. Regular trains leave from Amsterdam Central station or Schiphol Airport. Check the NS website for details.

Maastricht

Located on the Vrijthof, Maastricht’s charming Christmas market is open from 28 November – 29 December and features plenty of stalls, an ice rink and carousel. With gluhwein and oliebollen galore, you’ll have a great time.

Reaching Maastricht by car takes just 2 hours and 15 minutes. Travelling by train takes around 2 hours 30 minutes on ICE. Check the NS website for details.

Valkenburg

This charming town in South Limburg offers a unique Christmas experience – markets in caves! Visit the Velvet Cave and Municipal Cave from 14 November till 30 December for all the festive happenings whilst the Wilhelmina Caves are home to the sand sculpture nativity scene.

Valkenburg is a 2.5 hour drive from Amsterdam. It can also be reached by NS train via Maastricht. Valkenburg station is around 15 minutes’ walk from the centre. See the NS website for more details. 

Germany​

Köln (Cologne)

Perhaps the most popular of Germany’s Christmas markets, Cologne offers several different markets spread throughout the city from the beautiful Old Market in front of the Town Hall to the Market of Fairytales on the Rudolfplatz. Cologne attracts thousands of visitors to its markets, so The Mamas advise to visit during the week when it is less busy. The Christmas markets are open from 17 November till 23 December.

Cologne is around a 3 hour drive from Amsterdam. You can also take the ICE train straight through, which takes the same amount of time.

Düsseldorf

From late November until the end of December, Düsseldorf offers a number of charming and atmospheric Christmas markets throughout the city from 20 November till 30 December.

Düsseldorf is around a 2 hour and 40 minute drive from Amsterdam. You can also get there in a little over 2 hours by travelling by ICE train.

Aachen

Aachen offers a more intimate affair around the Market Place and Katschhof. Enjoy mulled wine, ginger bread and spekulatius (spiced biscuits) as you peruse the many craft and food stalls from 21 November till 23 December.

Aachen is a 3 hour drive from Amsterdam. Alternatively, it can be reached by train in 3.5 hours, with 2 changes. Check the NS website for more details.

Osnabrück

Considered one of the prettiest Christmas markets, the Osnabrück Christmas Market offers kids the thrill of meeting St. Nicholas (Santa Claus) every afternoon. Try the local Käsegriller sausage as you wander around the market. It is set around the town hall, Marienkirche and the Cathedral from 24 November till 22 December.

You can reach Osnabrück in 2 hours and 45 minutes by car or in 3.5 hours by ICE train.

Münster

The picturesque town of Münster offers delightful Christmas markets with jewellery, high-quality craftsmanship, toys, lights, delights, and of course, warm, aromatic mulled wine from 24 November till 23 December.

You can reach Münster by car in approximately 3 hours or by train with NS International.

This list has been compiled by our editors from the recommendations of our members on the Amsterdam Mamas Facebook group and has been updated for 2025.

photo credit: Pixabay

The post Our Favourite Christmas Markets 2025 appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

Top Trees

Every year, the conversation around the most sustainable Christmas tree reignites. While artificial trees might seem environmentally friendly due to their reusability, the reality is more complex.

• A real tree, if disposed of responsibly (e.g., chipped for mulch or used as firewood), has a carbon footprint of about 3.5 kg of CO₂ over its lifecycle. If left to decompose in a landfill, this footprint jumps to 16 kg of CO₂ due to methane emissions.
• By contrast, an artificial tree’s production and disposal create a much higher footprint—around 40 kg of CO₂—requiring many years of use to rival the environmental impact of a real tree. Nearly 90% of them are shipped across the world from China and are made with plastic which is toxic and often ends up in landfills.

When sustainably grown (without pesticides) and recycled properly, real trees are the eco-friendlier option. Beyond their low environmental impact, tree plantations also provide habitats for various species.

In Amsterdam, the municipality makes it easy to dispose of Christmas trees sustainably. With 2,000 collection points across the city, residents can drop off their trees between December 27 and January 19. These are then turned into compost, closing the loop on tree waste. Find your nearest collection point on the municipality’s official website.

There are also even more sustainable ways to enjoy a Christmas tree:

1. Potted Trees: Purchase a living tree in a pot and reuse it every year. Not only does this reduce your carbon footprint, but the tree continues to absorb CO₂ throughout its life.
2. Rent a Tree: Services like Kerstboom.nu allow you to rent a tree that is replanted after the holidays.
3. Adopt a Tree: Programs like Adopteer Een Kerstboom provide an option to “adopt” a tree for reuse, combining the joy of a real tree with sustainable practices.
4. Skip the Tree: Create a festive atmosphere using natural, reusable materials—garlands of greenery, handmade wreaths, or even a creative wall display.
5. Use a home plant you already have and decorate it!
6. Forage for an already fallen branch, bring it home and use it as tree. Post Christmas you can return it to the woods and use it again for Easter as an Easter tak.

(Don’t) Shop till you drop

The Holiday season (most often) comes with a frenzy of shopping, but a circular approach can bring meaning and sustainability to your celebrations. If you’re new to these ideas, check out our recent article on The Circular Path to Sustainability, which offers practical tips on adopting circular principles in everyday life. Applying these ideas during Christmas can make your celebrations more meaningful and eco-conscious:

• Second-Hand Items: Surveys show that nearly half of the respondents believe the stigma around second-hand gifting is fading, and that platforms like Marktplaats and thrift stores (kringloop winkels) in Amsterdam offer pre-loved treasures. This approach is also certainly budget friendlier..
• Experience Gifts: If second-hand gifting isn’t your style, consider tickets to a museum like the NEMO Science Museum or an ice-skating pass for the festive rink in Museumplein. An ‘experience gift’, can be shared together and create lasting memories without producing waste.
• Mindful Consumption: Avoid the “buy-now” trap. (Try the documentary The True Cost, to see how overconsumption has hidden environmental and social costs.)
• DIY Décor: Get creative with the kids! Use natural elements like pinecones, dried oranges, and paper chains to craft unique decorations.
• Recycled Lights: Use LED lights, which are energy-efficient and long-lasting, reducing the need for replacements next year.
• Second-Hand Ornaments: Hunt for unique, vintage ornaments in Amsterdam’s thrift stores or markets for make a one-of-a-kind Christmas tree this year!

By rethinking your Christmas trees, Christmas gifts, and Christmas decorations, you can celebrate a Christmas that’s truly giving ‘joy to the world’.

The post I’m dreaming of a ‘green’ Christmas appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

Amsterdam Halloween 2024

Join a Halloween Parade!
Amsterdam Mamas Spooktacular is back! On Sunday 27 October gather together in your best costumes and parade around Beatrixpark with fellow ghosts, goblins, wizards and superheroes! Information and tickets available through our website. For the littlest monsters, up to age 8.

Trick or Treat!
What could be more fun for kids than going door to door in costume, with a goodie bag, ringing the doorbell, shouting “Trick or treat!” and (hopefully) receiving candy?

Trick or treating is NOT tradition in the Netherlands so the trick or treating that happens is privately managed. There are neighbourhoods in Zuid, Buitenveldert and Steigereiland Noord in Ijburg that have active trick or treating. Here is a map of homes participating in trick or treating this year. Consider becoming a host home yourself! It is really fun to decorate the house and see all the creative costumes and happy children. Speaking of which…

Dress up and Decorate!
Whether you are hosting trick or treaters or your own Halloween party, here are some popular local businesses ready to supply you with all your Halloween gear:

• Kinderfeestwinkel: This children’s party store in De Pijp has everything you need for a Halloween party or any other party throughout the year. Warning: if your child adores big, flouncy, tutu style skirts you may not leave the store without one.
• Witbaard: Oodles of Halloween stuff – both scary and fun. Check out the huge collection of children’s costumes upstairs! Witbaard is also located close to Duikelman in case you need to visit an amazing culinary supply store for Halloween-themed cookie cutters or sharp knives for carving pumpkins.
• Louis Wittenburg, around since 1901, knows its business and is ready to supply all of the Halloween needs of our Centrum dwelling families.
• Dam in Oost has an incredible array of Halloween and many other holiday items. You can shop in-store or order online.

Carve a Pumpkin!
There are pumpkins in many grocery stores this time of year, as well as in garden centres. Don’t limit yourself to classic orange pumpkins – green, white, and yellow gourds add to the fun. Here are some ideas for beginners and more advanced carvers. Alternatively, for those who prefer not to have pumpkin flesh and seeds on the kitchen floors, consider joining a pumpkin carving workshop for children.

Get a Fright!

Halloween can be enjoyed out on the town as well.

For younger children, The Science Camp is hosting a Haunted House on Saturday 2 November. Adolescents or teens will be thrilled at the Amsterdam Dungeon which has extended hours on Saturday 26 October as well as Halloween itself. Reserve tickets now as they sell fast. Older teens (16+) can try to escape from the Amsterdam Catacombs – this escape room only minutes from Central Station will be sure to give chills and thrills.

Further afield is Walibi, a theme park about an hour’s drive from Amsterdam. During the weeks up to and just after Halloween, Walibi hosts Fright Nights for children over 12 and Spooky Days for children up to 12.

Watch a Movie! My kids are either bored or terrified by the movies I remember from my (admittedly long ago) childhood. Thankfully, there are guides for kid-friendly Halloween movies and where they are streaming. Popcorn, costumes, and a good spooky movie—you’ve got this Halloween covered!

When the kids go to bed, all of you Dutch learners/scary movie aficionados might consider watching the Dutch film The Vanishing (available for rent on Apple TV) based on the story The Golden Egg by native Amsterdammer Tim Krabbé (brother of actor Jeroen Krabbé). It was made into a Hollywood film (with a very young Sandra Bullock) but the original is much scarier – Stanley Kubrick called it the scariest movie he’d ever seen. And it’s good practice for your Dutch!

Halloween Travel in Europe

For many people, Halloween 2024 falls in the middle of Herfstvakantie. If you’re heading out of Amsterdam, consider traveling to some spooky destinations throughout Europe. Amsterdam Mama’s contributor Mary Petiet compiled a list of spooky Halloween destinations all over Europe, including two from here in the Netherlands

The post Boo! appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

Liberation Day in the Netherlands is a joyous national holiday that marks the end of the German occupation during World War II and celebrates the country’s freedom. Observed annually on May 5, it’s a day of various events like concerts, parades, and ceremonies honouring the sacrifices made for freedom. It’s a day when the Dutch unite to celebrate their past and renew their commitment to peace and democracy, fostering a sense of community and joy. ​

It is a special occasion where Dutch and international artists celebrate freedom through the Liberation Festivals. You can also visit ​Open Jewish and Resistance Homes​ situated in the heart of Amsterdam to hear about personal wartime experiences, watch films and enjoy music. There are Freedom Feasts, where communal meals foster unity, and children’s events are organised to educate them about freedom, providing an enriching and worthwhile experience for the young.

Multiple activities are available in the city to celebrate Liberation Day for families with kids. The complete agenda is available ​here​​ (in Dutch). ​

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Valentine’s day is just around the corner, but there is still time to plan the perfect evening out with your significant other, friends or the whole jingbang. As someone who grew up in a big family with food at the centre of every celebration, a delicious, sumptuous meal spells l-o-v-e for me. That said, I recommend the following Indian cuisine restaurants which, in my opinion, will make fabulous dining options for anyone looking to make their Valentine’s day extra special.

• The Indian Kitchen
  One of my all time favourites, this restaurant offers a huge selection of authentic Indian dishes, and an enviable wine/cocktail list. That’s not all, the interiors are intimate and perfect for a romantic meal with your beloved. Just be sure to make a reservation for your visit as the restaurant can get pretty busy.
• India Poort
  Operating in two locations, India Poort aan de Amstel in Ouderkerk and India Poort Utrecht, this restaurant has it all. Located on the waterfront, this restaurant offers delicious Indian fare with a view of the water! They have a nice wine collection and offer cocktails too. The interiors are warm, cozy and will decidedly add to the feeling of love on Valentine’s Day. Take a romantic walk by the water after dinner to round off the day of love.
• Atchaya
  Simple and home-like, this restaurant is perfect for celebrating Valentine’s Day with family and friends. I like the ‘unembellished’, true flavours of South-Indian cuisine offered in an unassuming yet intimate ambience. I’m sure that a visit to Atchaya will make your tummy and your company very, very happy. Just a heads up that they do not serve alcohol.
• Anjappar
  Located in central Amsterdam, Anjappar offers a delightful selection of Chettinad cuisine. There is a huge variety of delicacies to choose from and they offer a fair selection of beer and non-alcoholic drinks. A big plus is that you can take a romantic walk to Museumplein after dinner. Little tip: Try the chicken 65, though it’s not for the faint-hearted.
• Mayur
  Another old-time favourite and fabulous Indian restaurant located in central Amsterdam, Mayur, offers authentic taste, intimate ambiance and a wide selection of drinks. Make sure to book yourself a table if you plan to have a cozy evening at Mayur on Valentine’s Day.

These are a few of my suggestions, from the wonderful (and extensive) selection of Indian restaurants that have popped up in and around Amsterdam in the past few years. A meal at one of these will make Valentine’s Day especially memorable, for you as well as your special other(s).  Life is short, so let’s make sure to celebrate love at every opportunity. Happy Valentine’s Day!

The post Let Indian fare ‘spice-up’ your Valentine’s Day appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

Passover/Pesach – the Celebration of Slavery to Freedom

Passover, also known as Pesach in Hebrew, is a Jewish holiday that falls during early spring in the northern hemisphere, close to Easter. It is commonly known as the time when one can find matzah crackers on supermarket shelves (which are delicious with butter and jam, or some cheese, by the way).

Morre importantly, Pesach is a celebration and appreciation of freedom, and this story of the ancient Israelites exodus from 400 years of slavery is a powerful one. The eight-day holiday is celebrated from the 15th to the 22nd of the Hebrew month of Nissan, which in 2021 falls between 27 March and 4 April, 2021.

What is Pesach?

Pesach celebrates the emancipation of the people of Israel from the Egyptians in Ancient Egypt. God, using Moses as their leader, helped the people of Israel to escape their servitude by casting 10 plagues on the Egyptians so that the Pharoah would free them from slavery. These 10 devastating plagues affected everything from their livestock and water to their health and homes, but still the Pharoah would not free the people of Israel until the 10th and final plague: death to the Egyptians’ first-born children. To be spared, Israelites were told to mark the doorposts of their homes with the blood of a lamb. By doing this, God would spare them and “pass over” their homes, hence the name of the festival.  

Pharoah eventually gave in, and he ordered the Israelites to flee. They had to leave in such a hurry that the bread that they had baked for their journey didn’t have enough time to rise, and so instead ate unleavened matzah, which is why we commemorate Pesach by not eating bread or any other leavened products. 

How We Celebrate

We celebrate Pesach with a seder (which means “order”) on the first night of Pesach, and in many countries outside of Israel like The Netherlands, on the second night too. The seder is a festive meal in which the Haggadah (the Jewish text) is read. 

We read prayers, sing songs and eat food that is symbolic of the story of Pesach. These include maror (bitter herbs, usually horseradish, to remind us of the bitterness of slavery), charoset (sweet paste made of nuts and fruit, symbolising the mortar the slaves used to build the pyramids), salt water (symbolising the tears of the slaves), zeroah (shank bone, representing the Passover sacrifice), egg (hard-boiled egg, symbolic of life and birth associated with the spring season), and karpas (a leafy green vegetable, symbolizing spring and hope). It is also customary to drink four cups of wine or grape juice throughout the seder to celebrate our freedom.

For Ashkenazi Jews (those who originated from Russia and Eastern Europe), the main meal might include matzah ball soup, gefilte fish (stuffed fish dish), brisket and tzimmes (sweet carrot and fruit dish). Unlike Ashkenazis on Pesach, Sephardi Jews (from Spain and Portugal) eat corn, rice, legumes and beans.

Local Resources for Kosher Food:

This is not an exhaustive list, but here are some local businesses where you can find specialty food items for Passover/Pesach:

Davids Corner

Mouwes Kosher Delicatessen 

Slagerij Marcus ORT 

Kosher food is also available in chain groceries. Of note are:

Albert Heijn Gelderlandplein 

Jumbo: several locations

Amstelveen

Amsterdam Buitenveldert

Amsterdam Stadhouderskade

Amsterdam Velu

How to Wish Someone a Happy Pesach

If you want to wish your friends Happy Passover, the greeting is “chag sameach!” (happy holidays) or “chag Pesach sameach!” (Happy Pesach holiday).

The post Passover/Pesach: An Explainer appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

While many people are putting finishing touches to their Christmas trees, hanging up lights, and buying presents, Jewish people are celebrating Chanukah (or Hanukkah), The Festival of Lights. It’s an eight-day holiday held on the Hebrew date of 25 Kislev, and because the Hebrew calendar is based on the lunar cycle, the dates of Jewish holidays according to the Gregorian calendar change each year. This means that Chanukah can start at the end of November, or late December. Chanukah has been a Jewish holiday for thousands of years but has also been added to the list of ‘intangible Dutch Heritage’ holidays compiled by the Netherlands Center for Popular Culture and Intangible Heritage. In English there are two common ways of translating the word from the original Hebrew: Chanukah (the Ch sounds a bit like the Dutch g) or Hanukkah; either spelling is perfectly fine.

This year, 2020, Chanukah starts at sundown on Thursday December 10 and lasts until sundown on Friday December 18.

What Is Chahukah?

In the year 168 BCE, Jerusalem and the Jewish temple had been occupied by the Syrian Greeks, who had outlawed the practice of Judaism. The Maccabees were a small band of Jewish fighters who managed to defeat the Syrian Greeks and reclaim the Jewish temple they had occupied.

Once the temple had been reclaimed, the Maccabees relit the “eternal flame”. Although the one jar of oil that was found in the temple would normally only last for one day, in this case the flame continued to burn for eight days, which was the time it took to secure more oil to keep the flame burning. Hence the famous eight candles.

This is the miracle that is celebrated each year, along with the successful rededication of the temple. The word Chanukah means dedication, referring to the purification and rededication of the temple after the Greek occupation.

How We Celebrate

At the heart of the Chanukah celebration is the nightly lighting of the menorah or chanukiah, a candelabra that holds nine flames, and which is placed in a doorway or window so that people passing can see the lights and remember the story of Chanukah.

On each night of Chanukah, a candle is lit by the shammash (the helper candle), which is used to light the other candles from left to right. On the first night one candle is lit, on the second night, two are lit, and by the eighth night, all eight lights are kindled. Special blessings to thank G-d are said before the lighting, and traditional songs are sung afterwards.

Food and Fun!

Food plays a significant role in Jewish celebrations, and on Chanukah, favourite foods include those fried in oil to remember the miracle of the oil lasting eight days in the temple. These include latkes – pancakes made with potatoes – usually served with apple sauce and sour cream, and sufganiyot – round jam-filled doughnuts that have been deep fried in oil. The latter are extremely similar to oliebollen and show up at the same time of year.

If you want to try some of these traditional foods, here is a list of Kosher shops and restaurants in Amsterdam.

Adults and children also play dreidel, a game with a 4-sided spinning top. Everyone contributes something (chocolate coins, matchsticks etc) to a pot as game tokens, and depending on what letter the dreidel lands, one either takes from the pot or adds to it. When a single player has all the tokens, they are the winner for that round.

Chanukah is also a time for many for giving and receiving, and presents or gelt (money) are typically given.

Chag sameach to all those celebrating this year!

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What Is Ramadan?

Shehre Ramazan, or Ramadan, is the name of the ninth month of the Islamic year – the month when the Quran Sharif (the Koran -Islam’s holy book) was revealed to Prophet Mohammed. To honor and celebrate this month Muslims the world over refrain from eating and drinking anything from sunrise to sunset. Fasting during the month of Ramadan is one of the pillars of Islam. Barring the exceptions of being unwell, pregnant, travelling etc., all adults are expected to fast during this holy period.

 Here, I hope to share the joys this month lends.

Why? There are several reasons for fasting – I suppose they include physical, mental, spiritual cleansing, a time to slow down and look inwards etc., but that is not the scope of this article. Here, I hope to share the joys this month lends. The month commences with 30 days of fasting and culminates with a big celebration – this day of revelry is known by different names in different languages but the most common one is Eid-ul-Fitr. In The Netherlands, perhaps owing to the large quantities of sweets consumed, it is called Suiker Feest.

While Ramadan is foremost a month of prayer and introspection, it is also a month of wonderful family time and a time for the daily preparation and consumption of especially delicious foods at sundown.  Like most traditions, every home, community and country has slightly different practices that they follow during Ramadan. However, the basic practice remains the same:

1) The family wakes up well before sunrise to eat breakfast, called Sihrori in Arabic, and guzzles down as much water as is possible at that hour

2) This is followed by morning prayers, and then back to bed for a quick snooze before the day begins.

3) At sundown – an hour which differs considerably depending on the time of year and country you live in – you pray evening Namaz and ‘break your fast’ with a date and water or milk. Why a date? Because this is what Prophet Mohamed ate to break his fast! Dates also have plenty of natural sugar to give your body an energy boost after a day of fasting.

4) Breaking the fast is followed by a delicious savoury meal called Iftaari. It’s common to invite friends over for Iftaari and share your meal, or go out to different eateries serving iftaari, like Khao Gali in Bombay. I know this tradition is also common in Dubai, Cario and Kuala Lumpur where street food vendors are open all night during Ramadan.

The Food

The Muslim community in India, where I come from, is well over 11 per cent of the population, spread all over the sub-continent, and each follows slightly varied traditions in Ramadan. In my hometown, Bombay, at sundown we firstly pray, eat a date, and then start on the daily gastronomic feast. We make two special drinks for Iftaari:

Gud Ka paani: made by soaking jaggery in water for a day and then drinking it chilled with soaked chia seeds and lime juice.

Harira: a delicious, warm, milk-based drink prepared by roasting almonds and pistachios in ghee (clarified butter) and then adding to it milk and sugar and allowing it to slowly simmer while constantly stirring, so the speckled liquid thickens and turns sublimely delicious.

The gud ka paani is prepared because it is especially ‘cooling’ during the warm fasting days, while the harira is full of good fat – required to pep you up and keep you going during the fasting period.

This is followed by fruit, chai, and then then a variety of savoury delicacies ranging from deep fried mince samosas, mince cutlets, bhajjiyas of onions or potatoes, different bakes, kebabs and any other favourite food of the family. Often, the Iftaar also serves as dinner but sometimes you might reach for a post-iftaar snack or meal before you go to bed. For me the first few days and the last few days of fasting are hardest. The first because my system has to get used to not being indulged several times a day, and more so, being denied it’s caffeine fix. The last few days are the final lap and tend to drag on.

Eid-ul-Fitr

Luckily, the thing to look forward to that makes the long fasts manageable, is the grand day of celebration at the end of the month of fasting! Eid-ul-Fitr is celebrated, when possible, by meeting extended family and friends, by having one or several meals together as you pop in to visit relatives, and by thanking God for the joy He bestows on your family. Most often children, or even the whole family, get new clothes. Girls get to decorate their hands with henna. Men and women both rush to the hair salon for a colour or style, which were neglected during fasting.

Here we saw cousins (the ones we liked and those we hated), aunts, uncles, grandparents, newborns, slightly estranged family members, newly acquired family members, in-laws of second-cousins etc. – each one dressed to the hilt, flaunting freshly coloured hair (no greys), deep brown henna on the hands, and brandishing a new piece of jewellery if they were lucky enough to have acquired one. 

My strongest memory of Eid is visiting my grandparents, aunts and uncles, and family friends, mostly in order of seniority by age – starting with the oldest and working our way down. At each home we would do a salaam to the adults (kissing their hands as a sign of respect) and in return receive a crisp white envelope with a crisp note of money as Iddi (Idd present). The amounts of money received varied, but I am certain the aunts used to call each other and pre-fix an acceptable amount for a certain category of relative. The Iddi could be pocketed and spent as you wish, however, my Iddi went into a ‘collection pouch’ that lay safely with my Mom and was used to make me a piece of jewellery when an adequate amount had been saved – often over several years.  Each home we visited also offered a small cup of Sev Khurma – a delicious sweet made with ghee, vermicelli, nuts, milk and a special dried version of a date called kharak. By the end of the day, we might have gone through 10-12 cups of this indulgence, and yet, always had space for one more at the grand finale of the day – the Idd party. This event was held at the home of my uncle, who literally invited everyone!! Here we saw cousins (the ones we liked and those we hated), aunts, uncles, grandparents, newborns, slightly estranged family members, newly acquired family members, in-laws of second-cousins etc. – each one dressed to the hilt, flaunting freshly coloured hair (no greys), deep brown henna on the hands, and brandishing a new piece of jewellery if they were lucky enough to have acquired one. The meal mostly included sev khurma, biryani, Hyderabadi kebabs, nalli niharis, fresh naan, chatter, love and a growing warmth, that even surpassed the childhood grudges held against mean cousins, and made the day more special each year.

Eid-ul-Fitr in the time of COVID-19

The coronavirus pandemic has been tragic for families who have lost loved ones. For others it has meant not being able to travel home to see family, and it has also meant the debilitation of several wonderful celebrations like Eid-ul-Fitr. This year we were lucky to celebrate Eid with friends who are like family, in Amsterdam.

The day started out, much to the dismay of the kids, with a(nother) wake-up before sunrise for special Idd prayers/Idd Khutba. After praying, we ‘broke our final fast’ symbolically, with a special date and then ate a non-traditional pancake breakfast before everyone went right back to bed only to wake-up to online school or work a couple of hours later! The special date (kharak) is quite particular to my community and is prepared by soaking a dried date in rose water for 24 hours, then de-seeding and drying the now slightly softened date, and finally stuffing it with a mixture of almonds, pistachio, and sweetened mawa (reduced milk cream). A traditional breakfast would have involved eggs, kheema (spiced mince), naan and of course Sev Khurma but the pancakes and maple syrup were a treat enough for us.

Since we couldn’t have an Idd party for our friends – a wonderful, annual tradition we started in Amsterdam a few years ago – we decided to celebrate the day with a food crawl through the amazingly eclectic and vibrant Dapper and Java buurt. These streets are lined with the most amazing eateries – we started with a Turkish pizza at Bakkerij Bereket on the Eerste van Swinden Straat and then crossed over to Authentic India for chai, mango lassi, and spicy samosas. We then walked to over to Sweet Asia to pick-up an old time favourite, an alleged beef dish baked for 24 hours in a clay pot but unfortunately we ended up with a beef kerrie – probably owing to our awful description of the dish we wanted. Still we ate it greedily in a children’s play area below the train tracks and a solitary cherry blossom tree at the start of the Javastraat. In order to balance the Indian samosa, we hopped over to Pakistani Curry House for a fiery Samosa chaat, which we then doused with a mild haloumi wrap at Tigris and Euphrates. We finally ended with ice-cream, not at the chic ice cream shop on Javastraat but with soft ijs at the Febo on Javaplein and coffee from the Coffee Company. With full bellies, and tired feet we walked home and instead of playing the intended Game of Thrones … we succumbed to Netflix and uitbuiken.

The post A Month of Prayer, Peace, Joy, and (very) Good Food appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

The kids have started the countdown to Christmas. More and more decorations can be seen in the street. Now is the time to decorate your house front to feel welcome and cosy every time you come home… and make sure that Sinterklaas will find his way to you!

Here are some simple ideas to brighten the dark days and add a smile to you, your family, and everyone passing by your home!

1) Frame Your Window Front with a Christmas Garland

A decorated garland with lights is definitely an eyecatcher and will make your kids happy, every time they come home. The safest and most durable way to do this, is to install weather-resistant yet very discreet wire. Such a simple structure will allow you to fix seasonal decoration and serve a climbing support for roses or other climbing plants.

Natural pine branches do look very nice … in the beginning, but are expensive and will lose their needles fairly quickly. Christmas garlands in artificial pine can be re-used every year and can be bought in various lengths and varieties in most garden centres like Tuincentrum Osdorp, Het Oosten in Aalsmeer or any Praxis or Gamma.

LED garlands for outdoors in any length and colours can be found at garden centres or Action for example. Their cable is so thin that you can connect it through the window on an indoor plug.

You can let your imagination and creativity run wild when decorating the garland. Just be careful if using any glass items; the wind can break them.

2) Decorate a Wreath with Your Kids and Attach It to Your Front Door

This time of year you will find nice evergreen or pine cone at your local florist or at the market that you can decorate together with your kids. On Albert Cuyp market at “Jan De Grote Kleinvakman” you will find ribbons in all varieties and colours with which to decorate your wreath or attach it to your front door, or to hang in your windows or balcony.

3) Transform your Front Door into a Giant Present:

Tie a bow around your front door. You can use a very large ribbon, but even better is to buy some inexpensive fabric (for example party fabric or tulle). There are many fabric shops on Albert Cuyp market, one of our favourite places is N&N Stoffen. Bring the kids, choose your fabric, and grab an oliebol to get you in the holiday spirit!

4) Place a Welcoming Planted Pot Next to Your Entrance

It is always nice to have some flowers in your entrance. Ideal are pots of approx. 50-80 cm high. An easy way to have beautiful plants is to fill the pot with hydrokorrels and plant seasonal flowers or green plants, and perhaps even a small Christmas tree? Why not?

5) Install Planted Window Boxes with Seasonal Easy Care Flowers

For a long lasting welcoming house front, it is always nice to have beautiful flowers and plants in your windows.

Windows boxes can look untidy and not in harmony with the architecture of your house. That is why we recommend installing a fitted weather-resistant wooden plank. They need to be painted in the official Amsterdam colours (Amsterdam white or Amsterdam green).  Perfectly integrated into your façade, they allow you to be totally flexible and change the plants and flowers in your window in every season or whenever you fancy.

Which plants are beautiful at the moment?

• Skimmia: the absolute die-hard and available in all sizes. This evergreen plant typically has white or red flowers, some have nice red berries.
• Cyclamen: exist in beautiful colours from white over red to pink. Tolerate shadow very well, do not like to have wet feet.
• Hellbore: several varieties with white flowers, some special varieties with pink to dark red flowers. Flourishing all winter, give more flowers when you pick out the fainted flowers. While they like humid grounds, they do not like to stand in the water.
• Primroses and pansies add happy colours to your garden, even in winter, but prefer a sunny place.
• Decorative green plants in various shades: hebe, helichrysum, small conifers…

The post 5 Ways to Make Your Home Merry and Bright This Holiday Season appeared first on Amsterdam Mamas.

WHO/WHAT IS SINTERKLAAS?

After King’s Day, Sinterklaas is the Netherlands’ most important celebration. Sint and his helper, called Piet (Pete), bring presents to all children on December 5 to celebrate his birthday. Read all about him here.

SINTERKLAAS INTOCHT (ARRIVAL) 2020!

Due to the coronavirus, the official National Sinterklaas intocht 2020 (arrival) will be held in a secret place to prevent a large mass of interested people getting drawn to the arrival. The big yearly celebration will be broadcast on television on Saturday, November 14th, 12PM on NPO Zapp/NPO 3.

The arrival of Sinterklaas in Amsterdam will also be broadcast on television but just like the official National arrival, nobody will be allowed to be present at the arrival. The broadcast will be on Sunday, November 15th on AT5.

Starting November 9th more details will become available about the arrival of Sinterklaas from the official organisation, Sint in Amsterdam.

Please, DO NOT try to find out the secret locations for the Sinterklaas arrivals and attend them nor petition to make the arrivals open to the public. We are in a global pandemic and the coronavirus guidelines are clear, which makes it obvious that right now is not the time for large public events like the arrival of Sinterklaas.

KEEPING UP WITH SINTERKLAAS

Every year, kids can follow Sinterklaas’ progress on his annual travels to the Netherlands and the challenges upon arrival by watching the daily Sinterklaas Journaal on NTR/NPO Zapp.

WHAT’S UP WITH PIET?

Piet (Pete) is Sinterklaas’ companion and helper in Dutch and Belgian folklore.

Originally Piet (Pete) was called Zwarte Piet (Black Pete). However, in 2019 the official National Sinterklaas organisation decided to drop the blackface and have Sinterklaas only be accompanied by so-called Chimney Pieten. A move that was also followed by Het Sinterklaas Journaal and many celebrations in different municipalities in the Netherlands.

THE HORSE OF SINTERKLAAS

When Sinterklaas arrives in the Netherlands, he usually travels on his white horse. Over the years, this famous horse has changed and has had several names but since 1990, Sinterklaas’ horse was Amerigo. However, last year (2019), Amerigo retired after serving for over 30 years and Ozosnel made its debut during the official National Sinterklaas arrival of 2019. The name of Ozosnel was derived from the Sinterklaas song “Hoor de wind waait door de bomen” (“Hear the wind blowing through the trees”), in which the passage “Ja hij rijdt in donkere nachten op zijn paardje, oh zo snel” (“Yes,on dark nights, he rides on his horse, oh so fast”) is sung.

LETTER FROM SINTERKLAAS

As always, kids can send a letter to Sinterklaas and receive a reply from Sinterklaas. Weverkeshof is continuing the tradition this year, although Sinterklaashof itself will stay closed for the public.

To send a letter to Sinterklaas, please send letter by December 5th with a stamp to get a letter back. Please note if you want to receive a reply before Pakjesavond, your letter has to be received by December 1st. Here is the address:

Sinterklaashof

Postbus 368

5670 AJ Nuenen

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?

The Amsterdam Mamas Facebook group administrators will make sure to post more links and information on when to put the shoe out (and how often), Santa Claus vs Sinterklaas, what presents to buy etc. We will also have our annual thread where you can share pictures of when you spotted Sinterklaas and/or of Sinterklaas’ celebrations. Pictures of Sinterklaas at school and how he arrived are always a HIT! However, be aware that pictures with controversial Zwarte Piet will have to be removed due to Facebook’s blackface rules.

Fijne Sinterklaas allemaal!

Photo Credit: Picture taken from the Dutch National Archives. November 21st, 1953: Sinterklaas arrival in Amsterdam. Prinses Margriet standing with Majestuoso, the horse of Sinterklaas.

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