Dutch Birthdays

February is the birthday-month for me. Not that mine falls in February, but many others do: my mother's, my sister's, my father-in-law's, and some of my best friends'.

Birthdays are of course celebrations, but they are not celebrated the same way everywhere around the world. As I have learned since I've been living in the Netherlands. No dramatic difference with French birthdays, but still...

The traditional birthdays, like the ones you experience at your in-laws, go this way: the birthday boy or girl will stay home all day in case anyone would show up unannounced. There will always be coffee, tea and cake available. If it's not a special birthday, don't expect an invitation, but know that you will be expected! And if it's your birthday, know that you are supposed to have cake in the house!
As I already said, coffee, tea and cake will be the main ingredients of the birthday. That's what you will be welcomed with. You will usually get one piece of cake, with one cup of tea or coffee, before moving on to salty snacks along with sodas, beer and wine. That's about it!

If you go out for drinks or food, know one more thing: you are expected to treat others for your own birthday! Yep, the other way around!

But still after 12,5 years living in the Netherlands, there is one birthday tradition I can't get used to. First of all, you don't really say 'Happy Birthday' to the birthday boy or girl, you congratulate them with their birhday: 'Gefeliciteerd (Congratulations) met je verjaardag (with your birthday)'. But the strange thing is that you congratulate their family, as well as any other person attending the birthday party. Really?! Why?! This still remains a mystery to me...

The best of both worlds

Sometimes you can feel torn apart when you're an expat. But a lot of times, you actually feel richer then others. Richer because you get the best of two worlds! The best of two countries and two cultures. How cool is that?

That's exactly how I would describe my feeling a few weeks ago.

On Wednesday night I went to a concert in Paris with my parents. I attended one of the greatest French music concerts: the concert of the Enfoirés. Every year, this is a much-awaited event, as it has been for years now. It's an adventure that started in 1986, with one song to support a good cause. It has never stopped since and keeps reuniting France's most famous singers, actors, stand-up comedians and others. They offer the public a 4 or 5-hour long concert.

It was my second time and, once more, I loved it! Great music, great artists, lots of fun and a great spectacle!

 It also felt good to sort of go back to my roots, with French music sang by French singers in a huge Parisian concert hall.

Les Enfoirés 2016, Paris, France

 

The Monday after, I was back in the Netherlands and ready for my second concert of the year. And this time one of the greatest Dutch concerts, with friends and family! Namely, 'De Vrienden van Amstel live'. This also has been a musical tradition for years in the Netherlands. Great Dutch singers and bands get together for a series of concerts (this year 9 in a row!!) that is sure to get you dancing, singing along... and drinking beer!

It's even called 'the largest café in the Netherlands'. This concert gives all its meaning to the untranslatable Dutch word 'gezellig': music, friends, cosiness, party and drinks, all together!

That evening, I was felt really Dutch, singing along with huge classics. I even had one of my dreams come true: seeing the former Dutch band Acda en de Munnik singing together again.

Can't wait till next year!

De Vrienden van Amstel live 2016, Rotterdam, the Netherlands