Next it was off to visit Maaike’s brother Sjoerd in Nijmegen. Nijmegen is the oldest city in The Netherlands. Or, at least, it thinks it is. Well, even if it doesn’t actually think it is, it *declared* itself the oldest. Either way, it’s a groovy city – not least for the hot chocolate (more about that later).

Nijmegen is traditionally a city for hippies and liberals. Sjoerd seems to have made his way into one of the most hippyish and liberal accommodations in the city. And it’s very very cool. Basically back about 40?! years ago a bunch of like minded individuals bought 4 houses in town beside each other to make a small community. They took out a mortgage and ran the whole place as a community (knocked down the garden walls to make a really big allotment). As time progresses people (inmates?! ;) come and go, but the basic philosophy stays the same. Rent is cheap, you cook and eat together (if you want), play games (more on that later) and generally it’s not completely unlike the place where I live (and love). What’s interesting is that the mortgage is coming to the end of its life – and I’m not quite sure what happens then – but it would be a shame if it fell apart.

Anyway, seeing as it’s unlikely anyone is actually reading this (rather than skimming to pictures ;) I’ll put in a picture of Sjoerd and his friend Merijn, and the fine, fine dinner they gave us one evening (honestly, it was, as they say, scrumdiddlyumptious)

Dutch oddity #4 – Clogs

This is a picture of a clog (wooden shoe).

Now, as you know the Dutch are renowned as an economical people – which should be recognised as an excellent trait in our current consumer age. Now, as wooden shoes have a very very long shelf life – basically everybody wears them – all the time. It’s kinda disconcerting the first time you walk down a street and hear what sound like millions of tap dancers – but hey – you get used to it.

One day we went for a cycle around the outskirts of town – seeing all the polders (reclaimed land).

This was followed up by, frankly, the best hot chocolate I have ever had in my entire life. If you’re in Nijmegen – this is an absolute must do. A must must do. Its served in De Blaauwe Hand – (The Blue hand – so named because of the textile makers who had blue hands from the dying process). Basically they get quality flakes (well, 5mm diameter balls) of good Belgian chocolate, steamed milk, and an aperitif?! and you mix it up yourself. It was sensational.

This has turned into quite the gastronomic post really.. still, this was followed up another day with just my favourite thing for lunch – a fresh Baguette and Boursin cheese. Honestly, my favourite. Still not sure if / where you can get Boursin in NZ.

Oh – and we played a really fun game of Werewolves and Villagers. In the basic game everyone gets given a card (You don’t have to have special cards (though we did, and I want to get a set soon!)) with a picture of a werewolf or a villager on it.

With 9 people, 2 would be werewolves, and the rest villagers. The werewolves get to identify themselves secretly to each other (everyone closes their eyes at ‘night’) and kill someone. Then everyone wakes up (villagers and werewolves) and try to work out who did it. At the end of each round the villagers vote to kill someone they think is a werewolf. So the werewolves have to try to sneakily get the villagers to kill one another.

It’s a really fun (and stressful ;) game. Well worth a play.

Unfortunately it was then time to leave Nijmegen and cycle to Maaike’s parents place in Posterholt. That was about 100km cycle or something. My bum wasn’t quite up to it. No idea why, it has plenty of padding – but I think just not used to their saddles / the position you sit in on the bike. Or something. And yes, I am making excuses, but it’s my blog and I’m allowed to. :Þ

So we took the cycle networks – complete with maps showing you where to go. It really is the ideal country for biking.

Then when I really couldn’t hack it any longer – we put our bikes on the train for the rest of the journey.

And a short video of us leaving Nijmegen.

And finally, a picture I thought was funny ;)

After Utrecht we headed up to Amersfoort to meet up with school? friends of Maaike’s. Two friends (Danny and Charlotte) were getting engaged – and this was a surprise party.

Simone and Sander who I had met before in NZ organised an excellent outing. We hired a small motor boat and went for a slow putter about on the canals.

Unfortunately it completely bucketed with rain…

and was really quite cold. Fortunately, the blanket I’d bought the day before came in very useful – so I tucked myself up nicely ;)

Played lots of games, had delicious food and wine evening – and had a generally lovely weekend.

Queens day (Koninginnedag) is a crazy day in The Netherlands and Maaike and I spent it in The Hague.

Mostly the country turns into one massive car-boot sale. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t the best, but I did manage to pick up some bargains!

I bought Rummikub for $2 (she tried to charge me 1, but I bargained her up), and a fleece blanket for $2, but I bargained up to $3.50 or something. There’s nothing quite like reverse bargaining for messing with Dutch minds ;)

Dutch Oddity #3 – Raw Herring

I also tried raw herring – which is a very Dutch thing to do… They even eat it with cream. Which is definitely odd.

Not tooooo bad actually.

Went for a wander around town with Catherine, Floor and Jip (college friends of Maaike’s) – and along the beach called Scheveningen.

Interestingly, after WW2 one way of catching Germans who were pretending to be Dutch was to get them to try to pronounce Scheveningen. Basically it’s impossible unless you’re properly Dutch.

Here’s a picture of the beach at scheveningen! (lots of kite surfing happening)

So off on the bikes to Utrecht where Maaike went to University and studied.

It would be fair to say that for the first day of cycling I was petrified. Well, at least more than a bit scared. Cycling on the right was different of course and obviously everyone expects you to know what you’re doing (which wasn’t remotely correct in my case).

Here’s a picture of Maaike’s secondary school. Interestingly, spent most of her time mitching and playing cards – and now ends up implementing literacy and numeracy programmes. Oh the irony ;)

So, as I said in an earlier post, this country is completely setup for bikes. Priority wise bike lanes are *a part of the road* – even though they’re physically separated. This means that drivers have to give way to you when crossing them. Also, there’s a law here (apparently – still seems bizarre) that if a car hits a bike *at all*… then the car is at fault.

Does this really mean that, say, I’m cycling the wrong way down a one way street and hit into a car – that it’s the cars fault?!?! Seems utterly utterly bizarre. If any Dutch care to enlighten that would be most appreciated!

Updated – Maaike’s dad rang the police to find out! Basically insurance wise the car is always at fault, but legally this may not be the case!

So, at the train station you can see lots and lots of bikes parked and also, below, you can see the clever little grooves they make to allow you to easily wheel your bike up & down accessing the platforms. Very clever.

First stop in Utrecht was IngeJudith – a flatemate of Maaike’s (with her baby Sjoerd – very well behaved!). Went for a lovely bike ride through Utrecht and De Bilt. Unfortunately my bottom was quite saddle-sore, so didn’t take too many pictures.

Maaike’s friend Annick was kind enough to put us up while in Utrecht (thanks! see you in NZ soonish :)

So the time in Utrecht was split nicely between touring about and meeting up with work, college and football friends of Maaike’s. Lovely bunch, but I think I’ll have to get substantially better at Dutch before venturing this way again.

Some pictures…

There were lots of these water towers dotted about the place. Not sure if they were defensive in nature too, but certainly impressive!

Had a delicious dinner with former work-mates of Maaike – can’t get tapas like these in ChCh. Or, if you can, I’ve not found them yet! Hopefully will see some of them NZ way.

Spent a few days at Maaike’s parents place.. eating yum food and going for some walks in the area.

Both of Maaike’s parents are excellent chefs – and have been good enough to prepare some of the local specialities. Pictured below is white asparagus. Maaike has been bleeting on about this for years – and while it was delicious – I didn’t find it *hugely* different from regular green asparagus. Yum though. Also pictured is, I kid you not, Maaike’s mum’s wooden spoon. Heh.

One day we went for a walk around the local environs. Their house is very close to the German (and Belgian) borders. We crossed and re-crossed the German border all day.. and I pretty much prooved the ‘you’ll never know when we cross the border’ proclamation false.

Pictured here is one of the border markers, with Maaike and Gerrit (brother in law)

We went to a pub and had a fine Belgian beer, and some bitterballen (deep fried left over meaty things). Heart attack on a stick, but very very delicious.

Maaike and Sjoerd also tried some gymnastic moves in the garden, and Sjoerd and I had a decent battle over a game of Tantrix (draw!)

Finally.. a video of the mountain near the house..