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Enjoy the Eating Habits of the Dutch

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Dining is a privilege in the Netherlands, and rich tradition follows this daily necessity. The Dutch are not known for using many spices, but they do enjoy gravy over everything. They eat three meals a day with dinner usually being the main meal, though in more traditional families lunch is the largest meal. Washing your hands before eating, making sure that you're there on time, and not beginning to eat until everyone is prepared and the host announces permission are all rituals that come with dining. While you eat, you should keep your hands above the table but not with your elbows resting, and you will use typical western silverware. Everyone will stay together until all have finished eating. If you're visiting the Netherlands for a short vacation, experiencing the dining can be a wonderful use of your time; here are some typical Dutch foods which you should try to experience while there:

• Vla - a thick and sweet milk pudding much like custard.
• Karnemelk - buttermilk which is quite healthy but rather sour.
• Poffertjes - something like small pancakes with powdered sugar all over the top.
• Hagelslag - a chocolate to sprinkle on bread.
• Muisjes - another popular bread spread
• Drop - a type of candy that comes in styles and flavors, often considered to be quite addictive!
• Stamppot - a typical meal of mashed potatoes, rookworst (smoked, mild sausage), and carrots, kale or endives.
• Pea Soup - a Dutch delight! This is full of all kinds of vegetables, bacon, and sausage.
• Patat - thick French-fries eaten with mayonnaise.
• Kroket and frikandel - fried snack rolls containing some sort of meat.
• Haring - a delicacy: ray herring with raw onions.
• Stroopwafel - a traditional cookie made of two thin wafers filled with caramel.
• Vlaai - a pastry available in Southern Netherlands filled with a variety of types of fruits.

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