Good Friends, Good Bitterballs

Friends in Den Haag

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This weekend I was visited by my good friends Nico, Fiona, Butto and Jess. I arranged a highlight tour of the Hague. And top of the list….go-karting! What is a visit to Netherland without tearing a few laps around a race track?

The gang arrived late on Friday evening. After showing them to their hotel we went to a nearby bar for some “welcome drinks”. So was phase one of the beer sampling. We took it easy though, being a late start and race day was the following morning.

Next morning we meet up to head out to De Uithof…a mega-outdoor-indoor complex with all sorts of sporting things to do…ice skating, skiing, rock climbing, and go-karting! We signed up and got dressed in our leathers and hairnets…I’ve never felt sexier. The boys were testosterone-fuelled and in competition mode. The girls slightly less confident about the idea of ripping each other apart on the race track. We were joined by another group who seemed semi-professional, and they raced very assertively. It was less GO-karting and more BUMPER-karting with these guys as they would simply plough their way past you. The boys tried their best to keep up, but these guys (and one girl) were in a league of their own.

Afterwards we headed back into The Hague centrum, and put Mirjam to bed as it seemed last weeks Egyptian meal was still causing havoc. We then went for lunch at a nearby Dutch “brown café”, to sample some authentic Dutch (and Belgian) beers and snacks. The menu here is extensive and thwart with danger. The beers range from a 4% to around 12%, with the majority around the 6 to 8% mark. The aim was to try a range of beers and to add some more excitement to the day, we would choose each others beers. A bit like Russian-Roulette, Butto lead the day with the 10% alc/vol Forbidden Fruits beer from Belgium. He took it like a man, and faired well.

To compliment the beer tasting, we also indulged in the Dutch snack called bitterballen. An interesting name, but probably the best thing the Dutch have ever come up with. It’s a savoury deep fried snack of unknown contents that is served with mustard and fully compliments a beer like nothing else. They were a big hit with the group and will be talked about for many beers to come… try some next time you come visit.

That evening we turned things up a notch. Unfortunately Mirjam couldn’t join us as she was still revisting the Egyptian kofta. The rest of us headed to a local steakhouse to treat ourselves to a fine piece of Argentinean beef. Most of us went with the Beef de Lomo which was a gorgeous piece of meat, if only I could thank the steer for being blessed with such a tender loin. Complimented with a nice bottle of Argentinean red wine and good conversation. Again, 5 happy customers left with full bellies and proceed to fill the gaps with a few cocktails.

We headed to a Cuban themed bar/club which was just setting up the dance floor for the evening as we arrived. Time for a cocktail first, before we proceeded to work off the Lomo with some gyrating and hip shaking. It proved that the classic Tequilla Sunrise was the cocktail of choice this fine evening. Each one enabling us to perform even more advanced dance moves and show the DJ how much we appreciated his work. A few hours later we had done our dash, and a great evening winded up.

The next morning were some sore heads, but none-the-less we proceeded to Maduradam, a minature-land which models some of the nicest towns, icons and highlights of The Netherlands. Unfortunately the weather wasn’t playing nice, but we did get a mini-truck to drive us a mini-mars bar from the mini-factory. We ticked off all the major sights, so now everyone knows what other places around Netherlands are worth checking out in full-size.

Next stop was the beach, only a short tram ride away. We got down to the beach front, and the sea was angry that day my friends. The weather had churned up a mean-looking swell, actually quite impressive to watch. Time for another Dutch treat – lunch time at a Dutch pancake house. When I think pancakes, I think Nutella, honey, maybe some fruit? But the Dutch take it to a whole new level. Butto had a beef stroganoff pancake, I had italiano pizza style pancake, and Mirjam had a vegetarian pancake (yes she was feeling better – straight back into a nice light meal for the stomach!). The meal was very good, and we ended it off with the final Dutch desert delicacy –Poffertjes. These are little pancakes served with three kinds of butter and dusted in powdered sugar…ahhhh yeah.

We ended the day back at my apartment, before the group collected their baggage and were back on the plane to London. It was really great to have some good friends over and to show them some of Netherlands, and the town that is my home. It made me realise how much I miss having my good friends around. I am looking forward to catching up with them again. So consider this an invitation to you my friends to come over and visit. If not for me, then for the bitterballen!

See you soon.
Steve