Emile and Filou have had a blast in the Netherlands! In our second week, we moved to the North-East province of Drenthe, and got treated by Opa and Oma to a fabulous week at Landal Green Parks “Hof van Saksen”. This park is completely set-up for families, and provides children with the opportunity to experience something new and exciting every day.
The boys built huts out of discarded crates, did target practice with a bow and arrow, spent an afternoon wood crafting and made a beautiful wooden horse and seal for their Opa and Oma, raced across the lake on self-made rafts, had dinner by themselves in the children’s restaurant, cycled around the beautiful surroundings (paths that led them through gorgeous forests and farmlands), saw the inside of a working windmill, fished, and must have gone a 100 times down the amazing water slide this resort offers (http://www.hofvansaksen.com/gb-en/holiday-park/the-netherlands/drenthe/hof-van-saksen). What an amazing time to have spent with their grandparents, who enjoyed every minute of their time with the boys.
Oma and Filou
Opa and Oma with Emile
Emile biking through the Dutch countryside and making friends!
Beautiful early morning ride in a Dutch Forest
Filou in the “BAKFIETS” (bucket bike)
As the resort is not too far from where my favorite cousin Marloeke lives, we met her, her husband Mark and her two adorable sons Coen and Ties at the Vlietland Climbing Park, a newly built nature & activity park with gorgeous surroundings, where our “monkies” could climb to their hearts content (and where cousins who had never met, nor speak the same language, could bond). It was a great success as the four boys instantly clicked and enjoyed spending time overcoming climbing challenges. Not only are they very similar in age, they have somewhat similar looks (and were even wearing the same colour t-shirt!). http://www.wscvlietland.nl/land/klimpark
Filou & Emile having fun with cousins Coen & Ties
Filou being a monkey at the Vlietland Climbing Park
Then it was onto my BFF (best friend forever), Frédérique who lives, with her husband Frank and three children (Bregje, Ted and Huub) in a gorgeous bungalow with spectacular garden in Oisterwijk, in the province of Noord-Brabant – very close to where I grew up. With good friends, you just pick up where you’ve left off, and so too in this case…It was “ouderwets gezellig” (this one is hard to translate! – but basically means that we had the same kind of fun like in the good old days).
BFF’s reunited again
Our first full day together was Emile’s 10th birthday – so to celebrate his double-digit status in a big way, we headed to “The Efteling” – one of Holland’s most spectacular amusement parks. When I was growing up, we went to the Efteling, for its amazing “sprookjespark” (fairytale park), but after all these years it has evolved into a real amusement paradise with shows and thrilling rides (with one ride – The Flying Dutchman – that Frederique encouraged me to try – although she knows rides are not my thing. And so, I hung on for dear life – as this ride went up-side-down and through the water at very high speeds– I had my eyes closed the whole time and it still has my knees shaking, just thinking about it!).
But the day ended well, as we sang happy birthday for Emile while enjoying a delicious Dutch “Pannekoek” (pancake) in a fabulous pancake house (appropriately named the “Globetrotter Restaurant”)– a beautifully decorated place where Emile was invited into the kitchen to create his own birthday ice cream dessert – which was eaten with a chef’s hat on, and big smile on his face.
The kids enjoying the fairytale park at the Efteling, seeing “Lange Jan” (Jan with its long neck).
Emile on his 10th. Birthday with his self-made icecream, at the “Globetrotter Pancake house”
The next day was Friends’ Reunion Day and my dearest high school friends (Karen, Leteke, Anoek, Frédérique, Yvette, Ingeborgh, Dorien, Nathalie & Wim with partners and children) gathered for a wonderful afternoon of catching up and barbeque. It was kind of surreal seeing some of these friends again, as for some it had been over 20 years.
It was interesting to notice that personalities really don’t change much over time, and that they are still the same fun, outgoing people that I used to love hanging out with. Moreover, they must have good Dutch genes because the aging process really hasn’t affected them much (judge for yourself but as you can see from the picture below– still a great looking bunch). And although everyone came to see “the Canadians”, it was as much a nice re-connect for everyone present – and I am grateful that our family could be the instigator to gather such an amazing group of friends again. Thanks bunches to Frédérique and Frank for hosting this very memorable afternoon – you are fabulous hosts & friends!
My high school buddies: Ingeborgh, Frédérique, Leteke, me, Karen, Yvette & Anoek
My dear friend Dorien van de Ven, who left Canada and returned to Holland
The next day, Emile and Filou were invited to Ted’s class to share their world tour experience – Emile happily answered the many, interesting questions posed (with a bit of mom’s translating help) – and as a result, now has more Instagram followers and friends.
Emile doing his “World Tour Presentation” in front of a class of Dutch, 12 year olds
Emile with his new Dutch friends
It was great to see that youth activities in Holland have not changed much, and that our boys enjoyed doing the same kind of things with Frédérique’s children as I used to love doing as a child. Filou was delighted to gather frogs in a pond by the house, with Huub and his friends. Emile loved seeing Bregje play a field hockey game (a sport I used to LOVE playing!!) – she even gave him a quick first lesson. And at the schoolyard of Ted’s school, Filou was corralled into playing “touwtje springen” with the girls – a fun jumping rope game, I spent hours doing at his age.
Bregje teaching Emile some field hockey moves
And even my old neigbourhood in Berkel-Enschot hasn’t changed much – the house I grew up in on the Panislaan – was the same I remembered it (although perhaps a bit smaller in reality then I had remembered it as a child). Being in my old hood, a stop at Auntie Claar’s house was inevitable and fun (such a sweet lady; a best friend of my parents, I used to spent hours playing at her house).
The four us with sweet “Tante Claar”
Then, we made a quick stop to visit the “Golden Girls”; my sweet aunties Grietje, Jetty, Else & Anneke. A delicious sandwich lunch was catered by Else and her husband Edwin in the backyard of their beautiful farmhouse in Biest-Houthakker. The kids loved the surroundings (picking fresh apples from the trees, and getting farm fresh eggs from the chickens). What a nice-catch up with these very fun ladies that despite their health and other challenges see life so beautifully and have a great deal of fun & laughs!
Me with the “Golden Girls”, my aunties Grietje, Jetty, Else & Anneke
After a few more wonderful days in Maastricht with Opa and Oma, where Emile and Filou visited the very impressive American War Cemetry in Magraaten, enjoyed swimming in a new, local pool, and strolled around this beautiful walled city, it was onto s’Hertogenbosch to visit our good friends Anoek & Sjoerd and their wonderful, smiley daughters Jip and Cato. A fabulous weekend that consisted of nice country walks, field hockey, dance parties, lots of good food, drink and chats and reminiscing over old high school pictures. A perfect ending to an amazing time in Holland! Thanks Anoek & Sjoerd for your wonderful hospitality!
Best Buddies Cato, Emile, Filou & Jip
Anoek, Yvette & Me – having a great time sharing old memories
Last evening with my parents
With some sadness, I say goodbye to “my country” and my trip down memory lane. To my dear parents – It was a wonderful occasion to celebrate your 75th birthday; a huge thank-you for this amazing vacation. It was priceless to see your laughs and interactions with Emile & Filou! And to my dear Dutch friends & family – you have made this leg of our tour unforgettable and so fun! We will miss you all.
Our family goodbye’s at Maastricht Train Station
And our final goodbye to Holland at Tilburg Train station – taking the Thalys to Paris
Tot de volgende keer dan maar weer!
Paris, here we come…..
Y.O.L.O! Mom on the Go... 