This was also lovely. so one holiday is down, one more to go!
But New Years’ Eve is celebrated in a strange way in the Netherlands: People celebrate in their homes with delicious fried pastries called “oliebollen” and “applebeignets”, while outside bars and restaurants are shottered, public transportation ends at 8 pm, and it is the custom for many to set off fireworks, some so violent, that they resemble grenades!
Every year innocent bystanders get hurt and end up in hospital, Voices clamoring to stop this horrible tradition have been going up for years, among whom many emergency room doctors, but so far it has not worked..and many people have no choice but to barricade themselves inside their home That means if you live alone, you have to celebrate alone, crazy!
I only lived through this once before, and promised myself never again, (just a few hours away is peaceful Begium where the bars & restaurants are open, and there are a Christmas Market and beautiful official fireworks) but this year I am working so here we go again…. How the Dutch can put up with this beats me, but such is life here…?