Culture Archives

MidCentury Furniture Designer- Cees Braakman

21 May

21 May 2014

For my 32nd birthday, my ultra romantic, thoughtful and endearingly supportive Dutch husband gave me a writing desk. This aspiring writer and lifestyle blogger finally has her own desk to scribble down her thoughts and type away her musing about living a Dutched reality and motherhood.

It really is a lovely writing desk. It’s definite eye-candy for people who can appreciate mid-century design furniture, clean lines and quality craftsmanship.

But it’s not just any writing desk. And for those who know my Dutch husband, he’s not one to simply follow current trends.

The writing desk was designed by non-other than my husband’s grandfather Cees Braakman.

Designing furniture had been a family affair for two generations. Dirk Lubertus Braakman, Opa’s Cees’ father, was a manager and head draftsman at UMS-Pastoe. Following in his father’s footsteps, Opa (Grandfather) Cees joined his father when he was only 17 years old.

After recognizing the younger Braakman’s potential, the owner of UMS Pastoe sent Opa Cees in 1947 to the United States to learn about American design and the basics of furniture production. During his visit to twelve different US furniture companies, Opa Cees fell in love with the work of Charles & Ray Eames at the Herman Miller Company. Upon returning to the Netherlands, Braakman introduced the innovative bent plywood techniques to Pastoe. As the head designer for Pastoe from 1945 to 1978, Opa Cees helped revolutionize the development of the first modern furniture line in the Netherlands.

According to my husband’s foggy childhood recollection, Opa Cees was simply a furniture designer who lived in Oog in Al, a historically working class neighborhood of Utrecht, and he loved to go sailing. If we were to learn something from Opa Cees, it would be to simply find something that we’re passionate about, learn from the masters and carve out our own name.

And what better way to pursue my own writing ambitions than by a desk designed by Opa Cees. I’m so glad I didn’t believe anyone when they teased me about marrying the wrong Dutch guy.

p.s. If you’re interested in following my adventures in the Netherlands, come join me on my Facebook page. Guaranteed random updates about all things Dutch and inspirational material.

Going Dutch: Children Celebrating Freedom

5 May

5 May 2014

By Rina Mae Acosta

In 1911 editor of the New York Evening Journal Arthur Brisbane advised members of the Syracuse Advertising Men’s Club to “Use a picture. It’s worth a thousand words“. His words would reverberate through time. Brisbane insightfully articulated that photographers are essentially storytellers and their photos would provide us an intimate glimpse of a moment in time. Sometimes one photograph can encompass the entirety of the story, sharing with us an intimate understanding that history (other people’s words) might fail to deliver.

As a mother, I’m particularly drawn to historical images of women and children. Children, after all, have the innate gift of wearing their hearts on their sleeves. Women – mothers, sisters, grandmothers, nieces and daughters- carry the (untold) stories of their lives and the weight of the world on their shoulders in their eyes.

On this 5 of May, I’d like to commemorate National Liberation Day by sharing 10 powerful images of Dutch children celebrating their freedom as World War II comes to an official end in the Spring of 1945. Hopefully these images can become part of our collective consciousness as we remember the sacrifices, heartache and lives lost due to a senseless war – if only for another day.

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Princess Juliana and Princess Margriet eturning home to the Netherlands

(All photos (CC-BY-SA) courtesy of the Dutch National Archives)

P.S. If you like to get updates on parenting, my life in the Netherlands and other random stuff on the internet that move me to share, come join me on my Facebook page. I’ll try my best not to be too annoying.

Dutch Customs & Gifts from the USA

30 Apr

30 April 2014

By Rina Mae Acosta

An all too common experience for American expats in the Netherlands is the infamous Dutch import taxes on packages from the United States. The general scenario involves an unannounced visit from a Dutch postal worker, followed by a brief explanation that the recipient must pay import taxes and the unrealistic expectation that the recipient will have the exact amount in cash being demanded at that given moment.

Unfortunately, not everyone has the exact amount of cash lying around at home so packages are held hostage until the ransom (Dutch custom taxes + administrative costs) can be paid. For first timers, this can be a frustrating experience given that the situation often involves unsolicited gifts from well-intentioned loved ones from home. Welcome to the Netherlands.

What many people are not aware of is that gifts from individuals from the United States (or any other non-EU country) is officially exempted from import taxes up to a maximum value of €45. What can be infuriating experience is that even if the value of the gifts was actually less than €45, one may subject to still first paying the (necessary) tax to receive the package and then resolve the dispute via a formal complaint letter to the post-office.

Why would the Dutch postal service still charge me taxes and administrative costs if the official Dutch government tax office has clearly indicated that gifts under €45 would not be taxed? The secret lies in how the declaration statement (United States Postal Service – Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note -CP 72) of the package if filled out. If it is not properly filled out, the chances of being responsible for paying unnecessary import taxes increases.

The three important lines to be aware of are:
1. Detailed Description of the Contents (enter one item per line)

Clearly put down on the beginning of the line “Gift”.

5. Check All That Apply

Mark of the word “Gift”.

8. Total Value US$
The total “value” of the gifts must be less than €45 or approximately $72 to be exempt from Dutch import taxes.

I’ve also included a picture below that you can send to grandma and grandpa just incase they are visual learners.

One of the most challenging aspects of raising my son in the Netherlands is that he is thousands of miles away from his loving grandparents. Being the first and only grandchild, my parents love to send him gifts regularly to compensate for not being able to spend time with him. I hope that my tip can be helpful for other expat parents facing a similar situation.

Disclaimer: Dutch tax & import rules constantly change over time. Please refer to the official tax office of the Netherlands for the most current information about import taxes on gifts to individuals from individuals. This tip does not cover packages from companies and organisations which fall under a completely different set of rules and regulations. Furthermore, whether or not an import tax will be made on the package is prone to human error so this tip cannot fully guarantee that no mistakes will occur.

How To Celebrate King’s Day Like A (Dutch) Rock Star

24 Apr

24 April 2014

By Rina Mae Acosta

Arguably the best time to visit the Netherlands is in the end of April just in time to celebrate King’s Day (formerly known as Queens Day). Not only are the famous Dutch tulip fields in full bloom, but you’re going to be part of the world’s biggest street party. What makes this year particularly special is that for the first time in Dutch history, we will be celebrating King’s Day in honor of King Willem-Alexander.

In order to genuinely appreciate King’s Day, it’s crucial to have an understanding of the significance of this day. The United Kingdom of the Netherlands with a hereditary monarchy was only established a mere 195 years ago on the 16th of March 1815. Members of the House of Orange-Nassau, starting with William of Orange, have been in rule since 1559 as stadhouder (place-keeper). Interestingly, the first country in modern European history to establish a republic would become a hereditary monarchy in hopes of securing domestic stability. There’s something quite endearing about a country renowned for its liberal, progressive ideas and tolerance to hold such an antiquated idea of being loyal servants to a monarchy. The Dutch taxpayers happily contribute approximately € 39,405,000 annually to the Dutch royal family (not including security costs). According to research conducted by Belgium professor Herman Matthijs, the Dutch royal family is the most expensive in Western Europe (more than the media’s all time favorite – the British Royal family) and the taxpayers in the country proportionately pay the heaviest tax burden due to its relatively small population of almost 17 million people. To be completely fair, almost everyone, regardless of income, in Holland receives some form of subsidy anyway so it’s only right that our beloved royal family gets support too.

King’s Day serves as a testament to how tradition and progressive ideas can peacefully co-exist, a national celebration of Dutch cultural identity and heritage in the context of modern life, liberties and entitlements.

Here are my insider tips on how to celebrate Kings Day like a Dutch rock-star:

1. We’re Gonna Party Like It’s Your Birthday.
The national holiday commemorating the Dutch crown is actually an annual birthday celebration. The first official Queen’s day (originally known as Prinsessedag) was celebrated on 31 August 1885, the birthday of then- princess heir apparent Wilhelmina. When her daughter, Queen Juliana took the throne in 1948, the celebrations were moved to the 30th of April to celebrate Queen Juliana’s birthday. Since April generally had more favorable weather conditions compared to January 30th, Juliana’s daughter Queen Beatrix choose to keep the day to celebrate her own special day. Like any awesome birthday party, timing has to be taken into consideration and King Willem-Alexander has graciously allowed the festivities to happen on the 26th of April which falls on a Saturday. For future reference, King’s Day will be celebrated on the 27th of April on the actual birthday of King Willem – 27th of April. MTV’s My Sweet 16 Birthday parties can’t hold a candle to how the Dutch royal family celebrates their birthday every year with their guest list of 16,850, 506 people plus tourists. Contrary to misguided belief, Amsterdam is not the only place where King’s Day is celebrated. The entire country turns into one giant birthday party scene, hence appropriately being called the biggest street party in the world.

2. Bleed Orange.
Orange is the national color of the Netherlands as a special nod to the royal House of Orange-Nassau. Not only is it customary to don on your Orange best, but the latest trend is how creative and crazy you can get. The more ridiculous the outfit, the better. Think of it like Halloween with “orange” as the central theme. Let your imagination guide the way. For costumes, check out Kruidvat, Blokker, Albert Heijn and Action.

3. Head Over to Utrecht on King’s Night To Sell Your Junk and Buy Some Treasures.
Perhaps the most endearing attribute to all this Dutch pomp and circumstance over royalty is the nationwide flea market, the Vrijmarkt. It is the one time in the year where anyone and everyone can freely sell their stuff. And in true Dutch fashion, most of the stuff are at bottom low prices, encouraging camaraderie and brightening up the spirits of the traditionally frugal, stoic Dutch. Utrecht holds the coveted title of being the largest Vrijmarkt in the Low Countries. The Utrecht Vrijmarkt is a 24 hour extravaganza, beginning on Friday evening at 6:00pm (25 April 2014) and ends the following day at 6:00 pm on Saturday (26 April 2014).

4. Party on a boat in the canals of Amsterdam or Utrecht.
An absolute must to check-off your bucket list is to get on a party boat in the canals of Amsterdam. Reservations need to be made in advance (unless you have direct access to a boat yourself), but your careful, meticulous planning will pay off. Amsterdam canals are one of the most enchanting canals in the world and what better way than to celebrate King’s day on a boat with your friends? Come to think of it, wouldn’t it also be a memorable experience to get on a boat in Utrecht which was recently crowned as having the most beautiful canals in all of Europe? Which ever city you choose, Amsterdam or Utrecht, you can’t go wrong. Why choose? Try both.

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5. Start drinking beer (or champagne) at 11:00 am.
One of the most surprising and liberating aspects of living in the Netherlands as an American is how socially acceptable it is to start drinking before lunch on this national Dutch holiday. After seven years, I still can’t get over the state-sponsored public inebriation, complete with bars set-up on the streets. All the drinking of course leads to the infamous public urination stalls. Simply watch where you step and enjoy good old fashion drinking with your best buddies and random strangers – all for the gezelligheid of course. And if you have more discerning tastes, bottles of champagne are also sold for your drinking pleasure.

6. Enjoy Dutch delicacies such as herring sandwiches, kibbeling, poffertjes and Dutch fries.
Forget eating at fine dining establishments and head over to the stands offering Dutch delicacies such as herring sandwiches, kibbeling, Dutch fries and bitterballen. Don’t forget to wash the salty treats with some more Dutch beer.

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7. Celebrate in mind that it’s a family affair.
King’s Day doesn’t discriminate against age. You’ll find everyone of all ages, from newborns to pensioners, all partying for the King’s birthday. There will be face-painting, performances, games and sport events directed especially for children. There’s something admirable about the Dutch introducing responsible partying starting from the cradle, instilling the important cultural attribute of celebrating life till the grave. Is it a wonder then that the happiest kids in the world happen to reside in the Netherlands?

Wishing everyone a wonderful King’s Day festivities! P.S. If you’d like to waste more time, come connect with me on Facebook for updates about my life in the Netherlands as a mommy and other random stuff that I find interesting. Here’s to Finding Dutchland, wherever you may be.

7 Reasons Why Utrecht Is Awesome (Most Beautiful European Canal City)

16 Apr

16 April 2014

By Rina Mae Acosta

Contrary to popular belief, the most beautiful canal city in all of Europe is not Venice, Amsterdam, Saint Petersburg, Annecy, Hamburg or Bruges. Rather, according to Berlin-based travel search engine GoEuro, the honor is bestowed upon our very own city of Utrecht.

In what appears to be a democratic process of voting, the canals of Utrecht have won the hearts of voters around the world. This is an incredible honor for a Dutch city that has remained virtually obscure, especially in comparison to mesmerizing, world-renowned Venice and the more internationally acclaimed sister, Amsterdam.

I’ve often been snubbed (on more than one occasion) by other expats (mainly from Amsterdam and Americans) when they learned that I lived in Utrecht. I don’t blame them. After all, it takes a certain je ne sais quoi to recognize the gem of a city that Utrecht is. To be able to appreciate Utrecht, arguably a genuine hipster’s paradise, you need to embrace independent thinking, creativity, progressive politics, and hundreds of years of history – preferably with a Dutched state of mind. Most importantly, Utrecht attracts only those who yearn to go off-the-beaten path.

For the culturally-sheltered mainstream tourist, Utrecht will appear a bit too far (35 kilometers away from Amsterdam) and too unknown (who’s ever heard of Utrecht?). And with all the accolades that Utrecht has been receiving through the years and yet still remains in the limelight, I have a sneaking suspicion that the locals would actually prefer to keep tourists away. After all, part of Utrecht’s charm is that it’s the best kept secret of the Netherlands. Utrecht for the Utrechters some might say.

So please forgive me for joining the bandwagon of publicly recognizing Utrecht as a wonderful place on my little space on the internet. Since I’m a firm believer in appreciating not only the aesthetic beauty of the canals of Utrecht and yearning beyond the superficial, I would like to further elaborate why Utrecht is awesome:

1. Utrecht is awesome because it is the only inner-city canal in the world to have wharfs.

As mentioned by GoEuro and my Dutch husband (as local as you can get), Utrecht’s canals are one of a kind in the world with its wharfs and wharf cellars. Back in the Middle Ages (circa 12th century) when the main flow of the river Rhine moved south, parts of the old river bed were dug out to create the Old Canal (De Oudegracht) and wharfs were added to create an inner city harbour system. Clearly a direct example of Dutch ingenuity, boats were able to directly dock and unload their cargo onto the wharfs lining the canal. The wharf cellars had pedestrian walkways and provided storage at water level, hence creating a unique two-level street system along the canals. While Utrecht may no longer be an important trade center, the unique wharfs of Utrecht now dotted with restaurants, craft shops, cafés and boutique still hold tribute to its former glory and significance.

2. Utrecht is awesome because it embodies the European café and restaurant terrace culture.

If you want to experience an authentic, genuine Dutch city, head over to Utrecht. Thanks to its canal wharfs and various squares serving as restaurants, bars and cafés, Utrecht has arguably one of the largest outdoor terraces in Europe. An added bonus is that it’s a car free pedestrian zone albeit everyone should be on the lookout for cyclists.

3. Utrecht is awesome because it is quintessentially Dutch.

If you want to get a genuine, unadulterated impression of the Netherlands, you’re seriously wasting your time in Amsterdam. Amsterdam is an enchanting, international city, complete with a strong expat bubble community, but it fails to represent what the Netherlands is all about. Utrecht will definitely show you what it is like to live in a bustling Dutch city, complete with a lasting accurate impression of the Dutch culinary scene, how the Dutch translate customer service and hospitality, and other Dutch pleasantries. Guaranteed you’re in for an experience, especially if you take advantage of the wharf terraces that can’t be found anywhere else in the world (not even Amsterdam).

4. Utrecht is awesome because it is one of the happiest places in the world.

According to BBC travel, Utrecht is the fourth happiest place in the world. Utrecht provides all the big city amenities while still maintaining a provincial, small town vibe. For happy-obsessed Americans, it might be worth visiting Utrecht to see what true happiness looks like.

5. Utrecht is awesome because it has Hoog Catharijne.

One of the largest indoor malls in The Netherlands, Hoog Catharijne houses over 150 stores. It is connected to Utrecht Central Station, making the city easily accessible to the rest of the country, Europe and the rest of the world via Schiphol. And it is usually the first impression a tourist gets when they venture into Utrecht. Whether or not that is a positive first impression depends on who you ask.

Hoog Catharijne serves as a litmus test as to whether or not you are a genuine Utrechtser. If you loathe Hoog Catharijne, than welcome to the club of Utrechters who vehemently despise the monstrosity. If you actually enjoy visiting the mall, then chances are you might be a foreigner and/or an outsider. On the positive note, Hoog Catherijne works to filter out the nearby villagers and foot traffic streaming into the city. It also provides a welcomed, consumer-driven distraction for those who are less inclined to appreciate the cultural aspects of Utrecht.

6. Utrecht is awesome because you just need one day to navigate the city center by foot with your eyes towards the Dom tower.

Part of Utrecht’s charm is that the city center is actually quaint, especially in comparison to other world cities. Initially designed and preserved as a Medieval fortified city, the heart of the Utrecht is enclosed by an inner canal ring that is a little less than 6 kilometers around. You’ll naturally gravitate towards the Dom Tower, the tallest church tower in the Netherlands and the reigning symbol of Utrecht.

7. Utrecht is awesome because it masterfully relishes in the old world beauty that inspired the Dutch masters while gently embracing the beauty of its present.

Utrecht thrives not only in the aesthetic beauty of its canals and stately buildings, but also in her artists, poets, musicians, writers and anyone else who possess an artistic spirit. Utrecht is a slice of bohemia, a haven for everyone and anyone that wants to call her home- free thinkers, philosophers, wanderers, conservatives, and entrepreneurs.

To fall in love with Utrecht is to fall in love with life, its possibilities and all the different hidden and unexpected treasures that await you. I hope you’ll consider visiting Utrecht, one of the world’s unsung heroes.

Insider tips when visiting Utrecht:

1. Visit Utrecht on a Sunday morning, preferably before 9:00am.
Since the Netherlands is the part-time work champion of Europe, visiting Utrecht during a weekday may not guarantee avoiding the crowds. After all, since a lot of people work part-time chances are that the terraces will be filled with people, especially if there is a remote possibility of sunshine. The most ideal time of visiting the canals of Utrecht would be on a Sunday morning before 9:00 am when the rest of the city is still sleeping in from a night out. Once you’re done strolling around the canals and taken the requisite photos, terrace cafés will be opened.

2. Contrary to popular belief, the best place to get a panoramic view of Utrecht is not climbing the Dom Tower but at the V&D Department store in the East side of Hoog Catharijne. Located at the top floor of V&D is La Place café, a glass covered cafeteria style eating establishment offering sweeping views of the city. Plus, it saves those who are less physically inclined a trip up the 465 steps of the tallest church tower in the Netherlands. Out of politeness, grab yourself a cup of coffee and take in the views.

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p.p.s. You can also follow me on Instagram, capturing random moments of my Dutched reality.

Bram Junior’s Nijntje Themed First Birthday & Baptism Celebration

9 Apr

9 April 2014

By Rina Mae Acosta

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I can’t believe that it’s been a year since my son’s first birthday and baptism celebration. We wanted to create a sentimental baptism and a fun, filled colorful birthday extravaganza that incorporated our family’s three cultures – Dutch, American, and Filipino. Since he was getting a double-celebration I wanted to take extra care with all the details and was fortunate to stumble upon vendors who was willing to work with my vision (after of course, countless hours of research, interviews and budget considerations). It was also a fun challenge preparing a party for 100 of our closest family and friends – we’ve been very blessed to have wonderful people welcome us into their lives and we couldn’t resist not sharing the joy of such a special day with each and every one of them.

For the theme, we we naturally gravitated towards Nijntje for sentimental reasons. Nijntje is a beloved nursery character created by Dutch writer and illustrator Dick Bruna. Dick Bruna is one of Utrecht’s most distinguished residents. Our son also happens be born in Utrecht (and so was his dad/my husband), spent his first year living in the heart of the city (Oudegracht) and celebrating his first year of life in Utrecht. Don’t you just appreciate how everything falls together?

To keep it small and intimate, we held his baptism at a small chapel in Saint Augustine’s cathedral presided by our family priest. Taking advantage of our talented friends, we had two guitarist and three singers singing This Little Light of Mine, He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands, and the Prayer of Saint Francis.
Going Dutch style, we choose the Chapel room of the Centraal Museum of Utrecht conveniently located a 5 minute walk away to host the festivities. Guests enjoyed a Filipino buffet with lechon (roasted big), pancit (Filipino stir fried noodles), two types of lumpia (shrimp and beef), rice and mechado (Filipino meat stew). For guests who had more discerning Dutch tastes, we provided ham and cheese Nijntje Dutch sandwiches. The dessert table featured treats such as red velvet cake pops, mango cupcakes, ube cupcakes, three types of chocolate pops, ube ensaymada rolls and colorful macarons. To satisfy our guests thirsts, we served organic juices, coffee, tea and other beverages.

For the children’s entertainment we set aside a special play corner filled with toys. We also had a photobooth set up so they can take home an extra keepsake. A special wishing corner was set up asking guests what they would hope for our son in his grand adventure of life. We also made sure that our guests didn’t leave empty handed, providing take-away Nijntje boxes to fill up with sweets on their way home.

And truth be told, it was a great experience in design & event planning for me. I really love celebrating life and making all the pieces come together. While I am a bit disappointed that I won’t be able to throw another birthday extravaganza for my two year old birthday boy, I’m still looking forward to making memories on his special birthday weekend. Stay tuned for what we did with our blossoming toddler.

Photography: Melody Rae Photography | Cake & Sweets: Sweettoot | Birthday Stationery: Alex Tebow Designs | Birthday Banners, suitcases, props: Dille & Kamille | Catering: Kimara Party Catering
Venue: Centraal Museum Utrecht | Church: Chapel at Saint Catherine’s Cathedral

You’re Welcome Mr. President

25 Mar

25 March 2014

By Rina Mae Acosta

Photo credit: Wikipedia Commons

Being an American in the Netherlands leading up to and during the Nuclear Security Summit (March 24-25) has filled me up with lots of irrational pride. For the past two days, the Hague has been the center of the universe as world leaders from 53 countries and 5 international organizations negotiate on reducing and securing nuclear supplies and keeping them out of terrorists’ hands. Who wouldn’t be proud that we’re one step closer for not blowing up our beautiful, irreplaceable planet earth?

Inspired by Buzzfeed’s article Welcome to the Netherlands Mr. President, I’d also like to share some interesting tidbits of Dutch-American influences. We all know about the soft power America has on the rest of the world. Little does everyone else know about how influential the seemingly obscure tiny Northern European country of only 16,839,840 has on American culture (past, present and future).

The Dutch were the original New Yorkers

Image of Native Americans watching the arrival of the first Dutch colonists at the Hudson river.
Photo credit: Flickr Commons

Actually, the Native Americans should be the undisputed first inhabitants of New York state and the rest of the United States. But it was the Dutch who founded New Netherlands (now New York) in 1614, being among the first to ~~steal~~ barter the land from the Native Americans and create a flourishing, world city of New Amsterdam (New York City). Knowing their time was up in 1667, the Dutch exchanged Manhattan for Suriname. What the Dutch left behind is a city of love for liberty, entrepreneurial spirit, tolerance, an established banking system and a future concrete jungle where dreams are made of.

Yankees

Photo credit: Flickr Commons

The Dutch names Jan (“John”, pronounced as Yan) and Kees (“Cornelius”) were and continue to be common names for boys in the Netherlands. Urban legend has it that the word “Yankee” is a combination of the two names originally referred to Dutch-Americans but is now the beloved baseball team of New York.

Many famous and influential people in America were Dutch or had Dutch ancestry.

President Theodore Roosevelt Photo credit: Flickr Commons

Thomas Edison, Audrey Hepburn, Eddie van Halen, the Roosevelts (Theodore, Franklin and Eleanore), Walt Whitman all had Dutch ancestry. And let’s not forget that Carice van Houten who plays Melisandre on Games of Thrones is a beloved Dutch actress.

Many all-American nostalgic food is actually Dutch in Origin
The Pancake Bakery by Pieter Aertsen (1508-1575) Photo credit: Wikipedia Commons

Many of the current mainstays of the American diet were introduced to the New World by the Dutch such as pancakes (pannenkoeken), waffles (wafles), doughnuts (oliebollen), coleslaw (koolsla), pretzels and cookies (koekjes). While over time these Dutch treats became Americanized (bigger, sweeter, and fluffier), the culinary contributions of early Dutch settlers should not be forgotten.

The closest foreign analogue to Obamacare (Affordable Health Care Act) is the Dutch Health System
When the United States of America, thanks to the leadership of President Obama, decided to join the rest of the world and try to provide health insurance for all of its citizens, they looked towards the Netherlands as their example. The Dutch Health system and the Affordable Health Care act were both inspired by Stanford Health Economist Alain Enthoven’s theory of managed competition.

Wishful Thinking: That American Kids can be just as happy as Dutch Kids

Photo credit: Flickr Commons

I’m also hoping that Americans can also be influenced by the Dutch on how to raise the happiest kids in the world. Perhaps your (brief) time here Mr. President Obama may have inspired you to help pave the way for American kids. The future generations will thank-you.

Oh The Places to Live: Homeownership vs. Renting in the Netherlands

12 Mar

12 March 2014

By Rina Mae Acosta

Writing about homeownership in the Netherlands is like talking about politics with Republicans and Democrats gathered around the dinner table. Or some would even suggest trying to convert someone of a different religion to your own. It is incredibly personal and can easily be misconstrued as being offensive and causing personal injury despite one’s best intentions not to be.

Yet I have a sneaking suspicion that my family and I are not the only ones in our current predicament – to rent or to buy a house. And while occasional whispers among friends, neighbors, colleagues and acquaintances are being exchanged on how to tackle the dilemma, the housing crisis in the Netherlands is left unwritten and silent in the blogosphere. Before delving more into the conundrum of homeownership, it’s crucial to provide some context.

Contrary to popular belief, the most indebted European households do not reside in Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain. Rather, the infamous title belongs to households in the Netherlands – the Dutch who ironically are world renowned for prudence, frugality and thrift. In 2013, household debt in the Netherlands was more than 250% of disposable income, according to European Union statistics agency Eurostat. Much of this can be directly attributed to mortgage debt.

Years before the financial crisis of 2008, Dutch banks granted mortgages that often exceeded 125% of the value of a home – generously covering taxes, transactions costs, renovations, furnishings, and even new-car purchases. The Dutch government also encouraged homeownership by providing substantial mortgage tax breaks. All interest paid on a mortgage loan is deductible from taxable income, creating substantial tax relief and thus a strong incentive to buy rather than to rent. The amount of tax relief depends on factors such as the marginal tax rate with benefits increasing proportionately with income and the amount of the mortgage.

A paper written by analysts Windy Vandevyvere and Andreas Zenthöfer for the European Commission in reference to the housing market in the Netherlands concludes, “Taxation policy, and in particular the favourable tax treatment of home ownership through mortgage interest deductibility (MID) creates incentives for a misallocation of capital toward housing, artificially raises housing prices, disproportionately favours high-income taxpayers, has ambiguous effects on housing tenure and has encouraged high household indebtedness.”

Since 1 January 2013, reforms by the Dutch government have been implemented to address the current housing market crisis. Part of the measures include no longer allowing interest-only mortgage where the loan amount is greater than 50 percent of the value of the property.

From a superficial glance, homeownership would be a more pragmatic option. As the universally accepted adage goes, ” Renting is like throwing your money away.”

Casual conversations regarding the allure of the mortgage tax relief often neglect other costs (both in time and money) that should be taken into consideration, such as but not limited to:

Insurance premium
Home maintenance (roof leakage, faulty drains, water boiler, clogged toilets, etc)
Yard work, pest control
Remodeling
Fluctuations of the housing market

Other tax-deductible fees such as valuation fee, mortgage broker fee, notary fee, percentage of the mortgage interest, administration costs, etc are still expenses out-of-pocket.

Like the American dream, homeownership in the Netherlands is considered by many to be a symbol of success, a right of passage into being responsible, honest, hardworking citizens. Owning a home, we were raised to believe, was the essence of the good life, at the very heart of our material aspirations. The belief that a house was the best investment one could make is so ingrained in our collective psyche that it’s almost a religion. But how much truth lies in that sentiment given today’s economic climate and the current reality of the Dutch housing market?

Now that it is no longer a given that home-prices will appreciate in value, homeownership is no longer a straight-forward prudent buy. In fact, it could spell out financial disaster.

University of Amsterdam analyst Johan Conijn asserts that approximately 700,000 Dutch households are at risk for negative equity, owing more to the debt of the house than the actual market value attached to it. According to Rabobank, one of the major banks responsible for mortgages, house prices are on average 20% lower than the peak of 2008. Rabobank urges caution amidst improved overall sentimentality, stating that “The rise will be modest, as borrowing capacity has declined in recent years and a relatively large number of households are still saddled with potential negative equity.” Thus, just like their American counterparts, many Dutch households face the reality of being underwater and may have to wait a while for prices to recover.

And another important fact to consider is how much choice do people in the Netherlands really have? The private rental market in the Netherlands is quite small, selection is limited and highly competitive. As more people are waking up to the reality that homeownership or upgrading may have to wait, rental prices are also increasing with growing demand. Furthermore, the private rental market is not regulated by the Dutch government, allowing real estate agents and homeowners freedom to fix the rent and are not restricted to a price maximum. Many people have sucumbed to homeownership simply because they genuinely feel that they have no choice but to buy – priced out of the private rental market and yet earning too much to qualify for subsidized housing rentals.

Based on my own personal experience as a home renter, I am a vocal proponent of “try-before-you-buy“. There’s only so much you can learn about a house until you actually live in it. Due to the current stalemate, many homes for sale are also available for rent for one year with the possibility to extend until sold. The year gives you and your family a trial period to become familiar with the house, all it’s quirks, and whether or not the neighborhood is the right “fit” for your family. It gives you more time to get a more accurate valuation of the house for sale beyond the initial superficial impressions of the house. Renting also affords you the freedom and flexibility of moving without major financial repercussions, of being tied-down to a house or apartment that may not be worth its current mortgage.

As a proclaimed homebody who loves to nest, I also have my heart set on the idea of a dream house. But our current reality as a single-income household, coupled with our commitment issues of not yet finding a place that truly speaks to both our hearts, also means that dream will just have to wait. Renting also enables us to live in a house with a reasonable rent that we would not be able to afford under a mortgage. And the reality is, which is true for many young families today, whatever house we could buy right now, is not the house that we envision staying in for the next three to five years. Until then, I have to confess that I’m having lots of fun re-discovering the Netherlands as we search for our next place to call home.

Disclaimer: There are a lot of variables that could make purchasing or renting more advantageous. The benefits of renting or homeownership are different for each individual’s personal circumstances. Please consult a financial professional before making any important decisions. The article written is more to illicit a discussion -an exploration of the Dutch housing market and an attempt to challenge the status quo rather than to provide a definitive answer.

Dutch Carnaval 2014

3 Mar

3 March 2014

By Rina Mae Acosta

Everyone knows about Mardi Gras in New Orleans and Carnival in Rio de Janeiro, attracting a fair share of revelers and tourists from around the world. Other pre-lenten celebrations, especially in the provinces of Limburg and North Brabant in the Netherlands, remain fairly off the radar and arguably one of the best kept secrets in Europe.

In North Brabant’s Den Bosch (‘s-Hertogenbosch), the fortified medieval city is transformed into Oeteldonk for three days preceding Ash Wednesday. Oeteldonk was officially established in 1882 yet carnival has been celebrated for much longer. A city after a history lover’s own heart, the oldest-known Dutch Carnaval celebrations took place in Den Bosch with accounts dating back to 1385.

If there’s one phrase to describe Oeteldonk to visitors it would be: a family affair. This description might initially be met with skepticism given that pre-lenten celebrations are universally associated with debauchery, public intoxication, and youthful indiscretions. Yet upon closer examination, everyone- young and old- are welcomed with open arms.

The official start of Oeteldonk begins with the parade of Prins Amadeiro Ricosto di Carnavallo who in Dutch fashion arrives at the Oeteldonk Centraol train station. The procession follows with at a snail’s pace towards the center of the city where he would stand meet his loyal farmer subjects at the city hall. This is arguably the sweet spot for families – 11:11 am (11 being the magical number of carnival celebrations), before the notorious Dutch masses congregate and the intense merrymaking and alcohol-aided abandonment sure to follow.

The crowds lining the streets are enthusiastic but orderly. The atmosphere is nostalgic, familiar and collegial, resonating what small Dutch towns do best – gezelligheid (an untranslatable Dutch word that must be understood and learned from the heart, not from a dictionary).

What can one expect? Locals can be found dressed in Oeteldonk boerenkiel, a traditional blue jacket, decorated with merit badges for each Carnaval celebrated and donning red, white and yellow scarves in reverence to the Oeteldonk flag. Others choose to wear elaborate costumes and groups can often be seen wearing a theme – from Superheroes, Native Americans, Hippies, Disco Ball Attires, Pirates, Japanese Geishas, Pandas, and French Baroque costumes (my personal favorite). The beloved frog mascot, a symbol for the Oeteldonk marsh can be seen everywhere, especially in the most unexpected places.

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As local Margo from Brabants Bontje shares with me, “Oeteldank is a big theatrical production, for us where for three days we get to all be like children and play our special parts in a marvelous fantasy.”While definitely more subdued in comparison to Mardi Gras and Carnival, the Dutch still know how to celebrate carnival in style. And if there’s one thing that the Dutch do very well, it’s how to party. Oeteldonk is like Halloween, a town festival, royal coronation and high school homecoming all in one.

And perhaps the biggest surprise and most pleasant experience of all were all the different brass bands. In between the costumed crowds, marching bands from different local organizations blast their way through Oeteldonk volkslied (folksong) and revelers are encouraged to dance along unabashed.

After a few hours of requisite snapshots, enjoying the random music and eating Dutch treats such as herring sandwiches, french fries and Bossche bol, it was definitely time to go home. While we didn’t get to see Prins Amadeiro in the town square (he happened to still be stuck on the second bridge entering the city), we definitely had our cup full with Oeteldonk merriment. First-time outsiders like us -exhausted, intrigued and excited- started entertaining the idea of being better prepared for next year’s Dutch Carnaval celebrations, just like the locals.

The Real Secret of Parenting the Happiest Kids in the World

24 Feb

24 February 2014

By Rina Mae Acosta

Sometimes it takes a single snapshot to get an accurate perspective of your life and where it’s headed. After a few laughs and the prerequisite Facebook post, I stared at the picture again. For a very long time.

I thought of myself as a relatively educated, down-to-earth (albeit neurotic) American who grew up in a working class family of Filipino immigrants. I thought I knew and understood the value of things. Or so I thought. Now as a stay-at-home mom married to a Dutch entrepreneur, I wanted to provide our son with the best possible life – and all the happy childhood memories I didn’t get to have.

And yet, this picture taken on an ordinary day left me unsettled. Several questions started following, one right after the other. Did my baby really need all these things for a happy childhood? Was having all these toys instrumental in enhancing his development? Why do we even have so many toys when they obviously failed to entertain him for more than two minutes?

From the moment I became pregnant, I was inundated with messages of baby and toddler essentials. They were strategically placed marketing campaigns with lofty promises of helping first-timers like me navigate the minefield of parenthood. Perhaps it was also because I was going to raise a baby in a foreign country far from family. Or simply because we naively bought into the idea that by being 110% prepared, we’d have the happiest baby on the block. What ever the case, my husband and I were the perfect consumers, spending an embarrassingly extravagant amount on anything and everything related to baby. Nothing but the absolute best for our bundle of joy as far as we were concerned.

But this single picture made me re-visit my role as a mother and really delve into the more challenging question- what was best for my son? Leaning into my mommy intuition, I got a giant moving box and threw 97% of all his toys inside to be donated to the local church. What was shown in the picture was only a fraction of all the toys my son actually had (let’s not even discuss his extensive library of books and impressive wardrobe).

I also had my light-bulb moment of trying to see how other parents around me were raising their kids. It’s worth mentioning that we were starting to feel (and still do) the financial strain of being a single-income household. Life in the Netherlands can be prohibitively expensive with much higher tax rates, comparatively lower salaries and generally higher costs of living. Yet the Dutch remain among the happiest people in the world. And since happy parents generally raise happy kids, I decided to start making mental notes about Dutch parenting and share what I observed.

I discovered that the real, ultimate secret to the relative success of Dutch parenting (success meaning raising well-adjusted, happy, responsible, self-confident children) was actually a simple one. It’s the gift of time. The Dutch (both moms and dads) have a lot of time to give to their children. AND that children have the time to simply be children.

As the part-time work champion of Europe (and thus arguably the world), the Dutch work the least amount of hours in any industrialized nation, averaging only around 29 hours a week. Dutch laws passed in 1996 and 2000 enabled workers to reduce their hours to a part-time schedule while maintaining job security, determining their own schedule, hourly pay, paid vacation days, healthcare and other pro-rated benefits. The four day workweek, especially among working moms, is more the norm rather than the exception. Dutch dads are also beginning to embrace the new status quo, choosing to work part-time and having their own “Papa day” to play a more equal role in childrearing. In a way, Dutch parents can have it all – be successful part-time professionals such as doctors, lawyers, teachers, accountants, consultants, secretaries and even entrepreneurs and still have the time and energy for their children. The choice of working part-time, full time or staying at home aren’t even valid options for most families in the United States.

Rather than buying into the myth of quality time, Dutch parents recognize that what their children need most is their presence. The quality of their relationships with their child(ren) is largely dependent on the quantity of time fostering the parent-child relationships in everyday routines. Dutch parenting seems to be about fully engaging in the mundane realities of life – waking up, getting ready for the day, going to and from school, mealtimes, laundry, and bedtime (rinse and repeat). And in between those times, Dutch parents do a lot of talking. They cultivate and foster dialogue with their children from the moment they’re born. After all, part of Dutch culture is having an opinion and it starts as soon as the children can open their mouths and babble.

While Dutch parents working only part-time may also mean a lot less fancy toys and gadgets, no Dutch child seems to genuinely feel they’ve missed out on something truly essential. Quite the opposite actually. In fact, some would suggest (including newly reformed “Dutchified” me) that Dutch children are better off and happier having less material stuff and more, much more of their parents who are a whole lot less stressed out. After all, isn’t it the culmination of the little moments in daily life that shaped our own childhood memories?

While we’re at it, there’s really no such thing as mompetition in the Netherlands. Dutch parenting doesn’t revolve around the anxiety-driven endeavor to be perfect parents raising super brilliant children as much as simply being good enough parents raising well-adjusted kids. There’s a lot less emphasis in expensive educational toys, personal computers, after-school activities, ballet and piano lessons, enrichment classes and test-prep courses. In fact, some would even argue that those things are quintessentially un-Dutch and more American. Here in the Low Country, it’s more about parents sitting down and listening to the children’s day at school, regularly eating meals together around the family table, reading stories, taking walks in the forests, dunes or to the local park, maybe (just maybe) doing some arts and crafts, and most definitely letting the children play outside and bike around (weather permitting).

“Doe maar gewoon, dat is gek genoeg (Just act normal, that is crazy enough)” is a Dutch cultural philosophy that also translates into letting children simply be children – free to discover, explore, make mistakes, use their imagination and play. The Dutch fully recognize and acknowledge that childhood only happens once. There’s absolutely no rush, no frantic concern over milestones being met. And our Northern European friends have long figured out that trying to raise the smartest, most accomplished child has no semblance what- so- ever on actual, genuine, long-lasting happiness.

One could even argue that Dutch parenting is actually universal parenting. The biggest difference (and which makes all the difference), however, is that the Dutch live in an egalitarian society that actually supports parents. And I’m simply grateful for living in a society that allows me to give and let my child have a simple, carefree childhood with all the time he can possibly hope for.

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