Fall Impressions

It's October. Back in Vancouver that means a significant drop in temperature, a significant increase in rain, and the anticipation of Thanksgiving dinner with close family and friends this weekend. Although Thanksgiving is not a Dutch holiday, Chris and I still pause this weekend to reflect on all that we are thankful for here in Amsterdam. The fall months have been such a blessing as we have experienced the dramatic and beautiful change in season and enjoyed a number of visits with old friends, new friends, and family from back home. Here are a few of our first fall impressions in the Netherlands...

City of Colour: Delft

A few weeks ago we ventured out on one of our weekend day trips to the town of Delft, located south of Amsterdam and typically known for its Delft china factories and the setting of the famous painting, book and film titled "Girl with a Pearl Earring" (see below).

We were delighted to wander through relatively quiet streets, over hundreds of ornate white bridges (unique compared to the black iron bridges more commonly seen in Holland), and through a bustling food and flower market in the main town square. Of course, our day wouldn't have been complete without stopping for coffee and lunch at one of the many cafe terraces lining the streets. We weren't alone in our enjoyment of the cafe terrace as it was difficult to find a seat! Sad in a way, since it seemed to confirm everyone was making the most of the final remaining sunny days of the season.





As you can see in the pictures above, what impressed us the most about Delft was the vibrant colour change of the trees. The leaves had already turned a bright yellow, providing a perfect contrast to the white bridges, gray cobblestone paths, and green waters. It was a beautiful visit on a beautiful fall day.


Visits with Family & Friends

When living abroad there is nothing nicer than having family and friends come visit you. We were delighted to have Chris' aunt and uncle from Edmonton stop through Amsterdam for a few days on their way home from a vacation in Latvia and Poland. Our weekend with Ed and Wendy included a visit to the Van Gogh Museum, snacking on herring and frites at the market, sitting on countless terraces trying local beers (check out how many Ed and Chris both have in front of them below!), eating a lot of bitterballen, and finally attempting to see the remaining minutes of an Ajax football game after not reading the start time on the tickets and missing the first half!



We also had a brief visit with an old Vancouver colleague of mine, Ivan, and his wife, Frances, who made a quick weekend trip to Amsterdam from France where Ivan is completing some courses for his MBA. Our visit with Ivan and Frances once again confirmed how small our world is when you meet old friends from Canada in Amsterdam, but who live in China and are currently studying in Singapore and France!



Finally, the months of September and October have also included meeting some new friends. Jannie and Annelise have already become dear friends and they recently joined us for Chris' birthday dinner at our favourite Ethiopian restaurant. At a similar stage in life as us, Jannie and Annelise moved to Amsterdam from South Africa and are enjoying a few years living, working and travelling in Europe. We are excited for all the memories we plan to make with this great couple!

Elephant Mania

It's elephant mania in Amsterdam. Since September, hundreds of elephant statues, painted by local artists and organizations, have been placed around the city. Similar campaigns with different animals (i.e. eagles, cows, pigs, etc.) have taken place in other large cities around the world, yet I have never been a fan of the concept. Tourists, however, lap this stuff up, as can be seen below by the picture Ed was dying for us to take with him beside his favourite elephant!

Dutch Fall Fashion Trends

I always enjoy observing style and fashion trends in the cities where I live or visit. In the past, Europeans have always seemed to be "ahead" in terms of what they wear, but thanks to universal stores like H&M, Zara, Esprit and Mexx, very little seems to separate fashion trends from one place to the next these days. Regardless, I had some fun this week (or maybe too much fun!) using an online program to put together some of the common fall fashion trends I see Dutch girls wearing this fall. Are any of these styles showing up in your stores?

1. Thickly woven chunky sweaters in neutral colours: cream, beige, chocolate & grey
2. Leather bomber jackets in brown, grey and black colours
3. Tall knee-high equestrian boots in black, brown, and grey leather
4. Hints of fur and feathers on purses and jackets
5. Thick long scarves wrapped twice around

1. Skinny jeans, both dark and light, and slightly ripped or faded
2. Fringe on boots, bags, and jackets
3. Plaid shirts
4. Over sized men's shirts in silky or denim fabrics
5. Vintage graphic tees

1. Embellished bib necklaces
2. Soft pinks. taupes, and blushes
3. Sharp black blazers embellished with studs, zippers, or cuffs
4. Sequined mini skirts or cocktail dresses
5. Large leather carry-all bags

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So, instead of feeling sad that we will not be joining our families for Thanksgiving dinner this weekend, we have chosen to reflect on all of the wonderful memories we have already made in our new home. Who says a tiny roasted chicken, cooked in an oven the size of a microwave, can't compare with our moms' roasted turkeys?!?!?! We'll make it work.

Happy Thanksgiving Canada!