RAVISHING ROTTERDAM TO COLORFUL KEUKENHOF

In our previous post, we experienced the Dutch countryside and some of the things they’re known for, especially their cheese and windmills. The countryside never disappoints us, and after our sub-par trip to Brussels, we weren’t quite ready for the city yet.

Rotterdam took me by surprise. T has been there previously; thus, I think he knew I would love it. Unfortunately, I had to experience the pinnacle of the trip alone.

Markthal & StroopWaffel

T couldn’t wait to take me to Marktha l. We dropped off our suitcases at the hotel (which was across the street) and dashed to Markthal. From the outside, it’s a huge building shaped like a pencil sharpener. I didn’t come up with that comparison the Rotterdammers did, and I’ll explain later.

The inside is framed by apartments people live in. And in the middle of that is a food market packed with excitement, flavours and smells. And if you’re still not sure that’s exciting enough, it’s rounded off with the most colourful murial/roof I’ve seen.

This would become my lunch and dinner destination for the remaining week.

Stroopwafel

As much as I wanted to look at everything on offer, T was on a mission.

I’ve had my first Stroopwafel in Giethoorn, but it could be better, according to T. And it was. It was warm, gooey, sweet, crispy with a hint of cinnamon. The moment was so big that there was no evidence of that point in time.

For those unfamiliar with a stroopwafel: “Stroopwafel is made of a thin crisp waffle cookie usually spiced with cinnamon. The waffle is then cut open and filled with a syrup-filling typically made from butter, brown sugar and syrup, creating a caramel-like consistency.”

They are a popular souvenir and easy to buy everywhere in the Netherlands. But none of those come close to having them there and then, fresh, hot and gooey. Probably one of the best treats out there.

Below is a small video of how they are made.

Food.

While we’re on the topic of food…

I saw a saying/joke the other day (author unknown) which said the following:

“I try to find the good in every situation.
Sorry, that was a typo. I meant food.
I try to find food in every situation.”

Well, instead of I, it’s we. We love eating, whether it’s something as simple as fresh bread, something that reminds us of home, something we don’t eat often, something we do eat often but still love or something we haven’t tried before.

The food was very similar to what we know from South Africa. Apart from obviously the stroopwafels, my treat of the trip was poffertjes. They’re like mini flapjacks/pancakes dusted with icing sugar and topped with (you guessed it) syrup.

Rotterdam

Since the primary purpose of this trip was T’s conference in Rotterdam, I was alone most of the time. I always miss not having T experience stuff with me, but I have grown used to it and still enjoy it.

I came across a “free” walking tour of the city and decided to join. Although technically free, donations or gratuities are suggested at the end. What I like about this is that everybody gets to join the tour, and you pay what you can afford or what you think the tour is valued at. Honestly, I ended up paying more than I would have for a paid tour because it was so much fun.

The knowledge and inside info I got during this tour made Rotterdam even more special. For instance, the Witte Huis (Calex building in my photos) was the first high-rise building in Europe in 1898. It is 43m tall with ten floors. Since it was built only 1m above sea level, scepticism was relatively high for its stability. The irony is that it’s one of the few buildings to survive WWII.

They also like naming buildings after everyday objects. Remember I referred to the pencil sharpener earlier? Well, the other two mentioned were the pencil and the UFO. See if you can find them.

Kubuswoningen – Cube Houses

The yellow cube houses is an iconic landmark for Rotterdam. They were designed in the late 70s inspired by a forest to create a pedestrian-friendly urban environment.

Santa Claus / Kabouter Buttplug

Santa Claus, or its more informal name “Kabouter Buttplug” (Buttplug gnome), is a controversial artwork by artist Paul McCarthy (no, not Sir Paul). It resembles Santa Claus holding a bell and Christmas tree in his hands, but the artist has implied with the exaggerated features that it could also represent a buttplug. The sculpture is thus also about the consumer community – as a commentary on material consumption in the Western world. The irony is that he is located on a shopping street in Rotterdam.

The Rotterdammers also have a superstition that if you rub its right foot, you’ll have seven year’s good coitus (as Sheldon would put it). They also have a peculiar sense of humour by naming the hotel behind it “Unplugged”.

Keukenhof

I don’t have the “win-the-lottery” kinda luck. But I have the kind of luck where Keukenhof’s first day of the season is my last day in the Netherlands. Tulips are my favourite flowers. Plain, simple, yet delicate and breathtaking. I was still too early to see the fields in full bloom, but Keukenhof was an excellent second prize.

I was one of the first visitors of the season. Like the fields, the gardens weren’t in full bloom yet, but that didn’t matter as there was still so much to see. The gardens were perfectly manicured, and everyone was ready for spring. I saw some of the most beautiful and exotic tulips and flowers I’ve ever seen. I didn’t even know the number of different species, and I felt like a bee in a flower field, not knowing what flower to go to next. Some were as big as my hand, and others had pedal leaves like shark teeth (also called shark teeth tulip), some the softest pastel colours and others bright as the sun.

The lack of flowers in the gardens shouldn’t be disheartening. A few pavilions act as greenhouses where the flowers are in full bloom. I thought I lost my breath when I got to the pavilion with the orchids. They were abundant in many shapes, sizes, colours and breeds.

I hated experiencing this on my own. I loved being there, but the urge to share can sometimes cloud my excitement and amazement. Luckily I could video call my mom to try and share it with her.

I’m pretty green in flower photography, but I had a blast trying to capture their beauty. My camera and I both had flat batteries and full memories. I hate to admit it, but this was the highlight of my trip, as I missed T terribly.

What’s next?

This was an incredible and colourful start to our travel calendar for 2023. Thank you again, T, for letting me tag along and exploring another corner of the world with you. But next time, you’re joining me at Keukenhof.

During our time in Rotterdam, we were fortunate to celebrate our 10th Anniversary. I couldn’t have asked for a better friend and husband. Thanx for being you and sharing in our adventures and love. I love you lots like jelly tots.

Next, we’ll keep the anniversary celebrations alive at a honeymoon destination and probably have one of the best vacations we’ve ever had.

Seychelles, here we come.