In January we will be half way through our time in the Netherlands. I can’t believe it. I am continually amazed at how fast life goes and how thankful I should be.Â
Our youngest is now engaged to be married! It is a little tricky being on another continent when trying to help plan a wedding. But doable. My daughter and her fiance seem to want to do alot of the planning themselves, which I am not complaining about. I have been able to help with a few online tasks and of course always available for a phone call. The tricky part is determining how many trips we will need to make to the U.S. ahead of time, how much time in Iowa around the wedding, and how much to pour into the time we are home. I just want to be a help to them and not have a bunch of incomplete tasks the week before the wedding. But as everyone says, the wedding will go on no matter what.Â
One thing I LOVE about my life here is meeting foreigners like myself. Well, they are like me in that they are foreigners. In my Dutch language classes at the local library, I meet people from all over, Syria, Yemen, China, Iran, Ukraine, Bulgaria. Some of these people have amazing stories about war torn lives in their home countries, and how they fought to get here to the Netherlands. I can’t begin to imagine what they have been through, and I feel guilty telling them that I followed my husband here for his job. I have so much to be thankful for in my life. But one of those things I am thankful for is meeting these sweet, hard working, special immigrants who are also thankful to be in the Netherlands.Â
Jeremy is traveling this week for work. He doesn’t travel very often, but I think he enjoys the break in routine once in a while. The rest of this week he is in Poland. He has been to Portugal a couple of times, and Italy. For the most part, he manages the operations here at Vermeer Goes. He is a factory/production guy, which keeps him grounded to one site. But sometimes, when a company who supplies parts to Vermeer threatens Vermeer production, Jeremy makes a trip to the problem. And that is the case this week. So I am eating whatever I want for meals and staying up all hours of the night. Not really. I am actually going to bed earlier than when he is home. 🙂
We have have a myriad of fun experiences this fall. I am just going to show you a few pics of each activity. Hope you enjoy.Â
The Arboretum in Kalmthout, Belgium
In September, my Dutch friend Annet took me on an adventure about 45 minutes away. We went to a nature preserve in Belgium that is so peaceful and beautiful! And I was there on a rainy fall morning. I imagine on a lovely spring day it is even more breathtaking. Annet, her dog Jammie, and I explored the grounds, drank coffee in the cafe and shopped in the plant and gift shop. It was a morning to remember.Â
A bee hive.
Cyclamen is in bloom.Â
De Cocoon- a camping sphere for rent. You get a ladder to enter the cocoon if you choose to sleep here.Â
Second Annual Oyster Harvest
In November Jeremy and I went to our favorite oyster harvesting spot. It is a 10 minute drive from Goes, located on the North Sea. We went at low tide and filled our bucket. Last year we made oyster stew with our harvest. This year we just sauteed them in white wine. The stew was better.Â
Sinterklaas in Goes
Last year we totally missed Sinterklaas coming to town, and we only lived two blocks from his arrival spot! This year we were sure to see him. He rides by boat into the city harbor and then parades through the city center, handing out Kruidnoten and candy to the kids. It is quite the spectacle. He accompanied by his helpers, the Piets. According to Dutch legend, Sinterklaas comes from Spain by steamboat at the end of November, stays in the Netherlands to hand out gifts until December 5, and then takes the bad kids back with him to Spain.Â
I’ve never seen this many people around the Goes harbor before.Â
The first sight of Sinterklaas. The black tugboat leads the way.Â
Complete with a band.
And there he goes into the harbor. The boat ties up on the left to let out Sinterklaas and his Piets.Â
Intratuin Garden Center near Bergen Op Zoom
My friend and Pella native Cherie Schemm told me about Intratuin, which is only minutes from Goes! This garden center by summer transforms into a Christmas wonderland in the winter. This huge building hosts winter plants, decorated christmas trees, miniature villages, christmas decor galore, household items and even coffee shops and food cafes. It is amazing. It seems to go on and on as we wandered through the lights and glitter. I think it took about two hours to go through. Some pictures aren’t great due to the lighting inside. But you get the idea. Intratuin is about 30 minutes from Goes.Â
Brugges Christmas Market (Belgium)
We have been to Brugges, Belgium several times, but never for their Christmas market. This is a trip we can make in an afternoon, and it was a VERY rainy one. But still enjoyed the holiday spirit there.Â
Valkenburg Christmas Market in the Caves
We made a weekend trip south about 2 hours. We hit Valkenburg, Maastricht and Aachen.Â
Valkenburg, Netherlands is an area with deep limestone settlement. The limestone, or Mergel as the Dutch call it, goes well below the earth’s surface, and also forms hills above the surface. For years people have dug into the limestone to make bricks for building, and also to make caves for many purposes. You can tour these caves year round, but around Christmas time, they house the Christmas markets. The caves give a unique feel to holiday shopping.Â
Maastricht, Netherlands Christmas Market
Maastricht is a bit smaller that the others, but had some unique features. They had an ice skating rink in the middle of the market, some Curling lanes (the sport), and several places to sit under shelter from the rain. It is fun to see the differences in the Christmas Markets.Â
These cubbies are heated and contain food items for sale. You just pay with a card for the item you want, the chosen door opens, and you take out your sandwich (or whatever).
Aachen, Germany Christmas Market
The Aachen Christmas Market was my favorite of this season. The market stands are situated around a huge, elaborate cathedral. And they seem to go on and on for blocks. So much to see! And so many food choices. And so many decorations. Just a lot of fun.Â
German Eggnog! In my opinion, not as good as AE. 🙂 AE stands for Anderson Erickson, a wonderful dairy in Des Moines, Iowa.Â
We tried this open pita with cranberry and white soft cheese. Very good.
The Countries at Once
There is a spot outside of Aachen where Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands touch. If a person had three feet he could stand in all three countries at once. They honor the spot with a lookout tower, cafe, hiking trails, and scenic forestry. The D on the cement monument stands for Duitsland, or Germany. The other two letters are self explanatory.Â
Ghent, Belgium Christmas Market
We have been to Ghent before, but this is the first time we experienced their Christmas market. They do a great job with their lights and many food options. One of Jeremy’s co workers lives in Ghent, so he showed us around a bit. Such a fun evening.Â
Inside of a downtown Ghent cathedral.Â
Gravensteen Castle- we toured it last summer. They open the dungeon at Christmas and use it as a cafe/bar.Â
Entrance to Gravensteen dungeon.
Gravensteen dungeon.
And that is our Fall and holiday season for 2025! I am getting used to life here but try not to take these special experiences for granted. I love seeing new things, trying new food, and enjoying my surroundings. I am noticing that I understand signs and spoken words (in Dutch) more and more as my Dutch language lessons progress. I love that too!
Thank you so much for taking an interest in my pictures and experiences. I appreciate you! Until January, 2026!
Oh congrats to Janae!!! and her fiance . How excitingfor you all. When is the wedding?
You are living a dream! Can’t wait to have you show us around! Hope to see you at Christmas maybe? Have a blessed Christmas and New Year!