Back Amongst the Dutchies

Going back to where you’ve lived before after a long time can always be a little strange.

Usually though, it’s the changes that seem to get you, not the lack of change. Perhaps that’s the real difference between North America and Europe. Velocity of change.

In any case, a much needed networking visit with our Dutch office and an overdue personal visit propelled me across (under actually) La Manche on the beautifully comfortable, very environmentally friendly and six hour long train ride (fantastic for getting work done though I definitely need a longer lived laptop battery) from London to Amsterdam Centraal.

One thing I’ve noticed is that every time I visit Amsterdam I always have a fantastic time. I had figured since I had lived there for a year (and really not enjoyed my time living there at all), that things would be different this time, but it was still charming, the weather was spectacular and it was almost nostalgic walking round the city again. it was actually fun trying to speak Dutch again and I remembered a surprising amount of it even though I badly mispronounced much of what I remembered.

I spent the best chunk of the weekend visiting an old friend (who took sick Saturday night curtailing evening out plans), but the whole weekend definitely put some things in perspective (and apologies to all the people who I didn’t tell I was coming and didn’t get to visit – next visit… when I’ve got more time…). Went for a walk round the city and the old Albert Cuyp market before going up to the NoordMarkt to grab some fixings for dinner.

I had a fantastic meeting with our Dutch section which is now located across the road from the old Greenpeace offices on the Keizergracht. Which was very strange. The good thing about it was that I could sneak out at lunch and have one of the patented amazing sandwiches of the “old bastards” who ran HaartenKass, a phenomenal sandwich shop where they make gourmet sandwiches a scant 3 streets away from where I was visiting. It was a beautifully sunny fall day so I picked a bench on the canal and munched away while meditating on Amsterdam’s dutchicity.

Perhaps more importantly though, was that on the way out I stopped by Wynand Fockink, a proeflokaal (distiller) which has been making flavoured likeuren and genevers since the 17th century. With the same recipes. I picked up an appeltaart for a friend and a feenbess (cranberry) for myself. Should have grabbed more but didn’t want trouble at the border.

Oh, and also grabbed a big bunch of stroopwafels for my team on the way out as well which were eaten surprisingly fast while I was in meetings.

Anyway, mmmmm… as soon as I get my shot glasses unpacked. Feebess likeuren !