The first time I came to Nederland, I  thought it would be a once in a life-time event.  Little did I know that I would love it so much that I would begin to make a home for myself here. 

As time goes on, I am learning many of the cultural differences.  Sometimes they make a great deal of sense to me......other times....................................... I just don't get it. :)

Communications is not real difficult in that almost everyone knows a few words in English.  What makes it difficult, is that, while we may be speaking the same language, our meanings can be quite different.  It has become a matter of always remembering to make myself clearly understood so as to not offend or to confuse the person I am talking with.  Of course, anyone that knows me, knows  I am totally confused most of the time anyway. hehehe ;)

I'm also learning that it is much more expensive to live here then in the states.  Housing, cars, gas, some clothing, and some groceries, are much more spendy.  But in all fairness, the wages are also much higher.  In some respects, working 

in Nederland is far nicer then in the states, as far as job security goes.  That's right....Nederland HAS job security.  Unfortunately, the states have pretty much forgotten about that.

A few statistics about Nederland

Population: 16,000,000

Square surface miles: 16,033

Pop./sq. mile:   1,000

If you would like to know more about The Netherlands, please check out these links:

Statistics and Information about The Netherlands

Information for traveling The Netherlands

Here is a small  portion of Rotterdam's early history.
 

"The city of Rotterdam has been officially in existence since 1328, when count Willem III granted "city rights" for the town that had been growing around a dam in the river Rotte.           
                (Hence the name: Rotte-dam.)                            
                                       

"A Sketch Near Rotterdam"
This sketch was published in a travel guide in 1874

   
Initially Rotterdam was just a small, quiet fishing harbor in a bend in the Rotte. It slowly grew, but on the whole it remained a town of very little significance, especially when compared to its main competitors Delft and Dordrecht, which were much more important in trade and industry in those days. But Dordrecht suffered severe damage from the St. Elisabeth flood of 1421, while Delft failed to excavate the larger harbor it needed to support the trade, mostly as a result of internal political machinations. Rotterdam had no such problems.  Trade flourished, and many goods started to pass through Rotterdam on their way to and from the ships that frequented her.

In the 18th century the population of Rotterdam no longer grew significantly, but remained stationary around an estimated 50000 people.  Only in the 19th century, when the port facilities were enlarged again, it started to boom once more.   Rotterdam embraced the industrial revolution of the 19th century.  As often happens during periods of rapid expansion, older buildings were often sacrificed to make way for new ones.
This process continued well into the 20th century.

If  you have an interest in history, be it WWII, or much earlier, this is a great place to visit. Holland, as well as other parts of Europe, are rich with history. I am a WWII history buff, and traveling throughout Holland gives me plenty of history to look at.  Everywhere, can be seen old bunkers, plagues commemorating battles, ruins of camps, photographs of  the unthinkable destruction, and stories from the people of the time as to how they had to live in order to survive. Living in the Rotterdam area, I have taken a particular interest in what happened to this city.    World War II breaks out.  On 10 May 1940, the German army  attacked the Netherlands. Part of the German 'Blitzkrieg' strategy was an extensive bombardment on the heart of Rotterdam on 14 May. Blockbusters and firebombs laid the heart of the city to waste. Casualties were numerous. Clearing away most of the rubble took over a year. The Dutch government was forced to capitulate after only five days of war in order to prevent further bloodshed.  After five days of war,  five years of German occupation followed. But the damage had been done,  and of all Dutch cities, none suffered as greatly as Rotterdam did.  The heart of the city was gone completely, most of it burned down during the firebombing in  1940 and the rest torn down because of  severe structural damage and the subsequent danger of collapse.

 

Holidays in Nederland A few of the holidays that the USA and Nederland share, are Halloween, Christmas and Easter.   Easter The Easter season is pretty typical of our US Easter, and since it is a religious holiday, beliefs are pretty much the same. Chocolate bunnies and chocolate eggs are the sweets of the season.  Fluffy stuffed chicks and bunnies, cards, gifts and flowers all carry the Easter theme and make the weekend fun.   Halloween Halloween is NOT an old and honored holiday in Nederland.  In fact, it is only about 3 or 4 years old. The city I live in has only celebrated Halloween since 2003.  These are photos of the big community celebration in 2004.  It was great fun!  Each neighborhood has it's own party.  The children are invited to dress up in costume, a marching band leads the way as all the children, parents and Halloween goers walk up and down the streets of the neighborhood.  The neighborhood community center is decorated with all the great Halloween scary stuff, and a big lunch is served after that very long walk.  After lunch is eaten and drinks are finished, a local DJ plays music and a wonderful dance follows.   Christmas Ahhhhhhhh...........the Christmas season.   My absolute most favorite time of year.......whether in Nederland or the USA.  Every store and every person gets involved with the usual decorating and baking.  Dutch baking, of course.  Secrets are kept so that no one will spoil their surprise.  But while the religious Christmas is very important and basically held the same, around the world, the tradition of Santa Claus is always a bit different.  Here then, is a bit about Sinterklaas and his helpers, Zwarte Piet.    Sinterklaas         In History: Did you know that it was Dutch Immigrants who brought the tradition of Santa Claus to the rest of the world? That's right! It all started waaaay back in the 4th Century when a Bishop in Turkey named St. Nicholas became widely known for his good deed with poor children in Europe. His feast day became known as the Celebration of Sinterklaas and was held on December 6. St. Nicholas is also known as the patron saint of Amsterdam. Many different versions of the story of Saint Nicholas are told but there are some common characters in each one. First is Saint Nick's companion Zwarte Piet (Black Pete). Some believe that Zwarte Piet was a black slave. This is not the case. Zwarte Piet is said to be a Turkish orphan that traveled as St. Nicholas' helper. His darker Turkish features must have seemed black to the fairer 4th Century Dutch. The second common character is Schimmel, St. Nicholas' fine white horse. Sinterklaas, or St. Nicholas, is pictured in medieval and renaissance paintings as a tall, dignified man dressed in red vestments carrying a Bishop's golden crook. Zwarte Piet is depicted in garish Turkish garb with bright red lips and a gold earring. The legend describes St. Nicholas and Zwarte Piet traveling from their home in Spain across Europe helping the poor and bring food to children. Through the ages, the story of Sinterklaas astride his white horse with this helper Zwarte Piet grew into a tradition to celebrate the feast day on December 6th. St. Nicholas travels to Holland on a steam ship from Spain. He would leave in mid November and arrive on December 5th. Just in time to place small gifts and treats like pepernoten, chocolate initials, marzipan figures and fruit.In the past, Sinterklaas carried a Birch switch used to punish children who were naughty and Zwarte Piet was said to put bad children in his sack or would leave them a lump of coal in their shoes instead of treats. Today, St. Nicholas is portrayed as a more gentle figure and Zwarte Piet is a jokester.           Today: Today children in Holland still look forward to the arrival of Sinterklaas. Children are told that Sinterklaas is very busy and has many helpers who dress like him and Zwarte Piet so that no child is left out. Children place straw or carrots in their shoes for Schimmel and Sinterklaas replaces these with gifts and treats. Adults will also exchange gifts and usually attach a funny poem or verse. Christmas Eve and Christmas Day is celebrated with family gatherings and meals rather than gifts. Although some Dutch people will exchange gifts at that time as well. Another part of the fun is how presents are hidden or disguised. Recipients often have to go on a treasure hunt all over the house, aided by hints, to look for them.   They must be prepared to dig their gifts out of the potato bin, to find them in a jello pudding, in a glove filled with wet sand, in some crazy dummy or doll. Working hard for your presents and working even harder to think up other peoples' presents and get them ready is what the fun is all about.   Sinterklaas comes to visit with Zwarte Piet and children sit on his knee and are asked if they have been good. Zwarte Piet always tries to put one of the children in his sack, but always lets them wiggle out again. Treats of pepernoten or ginger snaps, chocolate and candy are given to each child. In many homes the tradition of exchanging chocolate initials of the first letter of each persons name is continued.   We look forward to all the treats available during Sinterklaas time like almond rings (rich pastry wrapped around almond filling) and marzipan (almond confectionary molded into fun shapes).   The cities are decorated for Sinterklaas Feest just as we are decorated for Christmas.  The stores are filled with Sinterklaas and his helpers so that the children may come and tell him what it is they would like for a gift.  Zwarte Pieten are everywhere.  Helpers to Sinterklaas in the stores and outside making music as a band.  Christmas trees adorn all shops and cities and the good smells of all the wonderful Holiday baking, fills the air.      The Holiday of Sinterklaas is great fun, and a tradition I am glad to take part in each time I am in Nederland in December.