Hoi!
We could just as well say “Salut!”, as Dutch and French are both widely spoken across the Benelux region. Why should this matter to the reader? Hard to say. It did, however, matter to the students from classes 4d2 and 4c, who, accompanied by Principal Joanna Wojtynek, Ms Pyrsch, and class tutors Ms Wojciechowska and Ms Kasprzak, travelled by coach through the picturesque landscapes of Belgium and the Netherlands.
The first city on the itinerary was Brussels, where the six-day adventure began. Exploring the city took the students through places important both historically and in the present day – from the buildings of the European institutions to Brussels' most iconic landmarks and sites connected with the city's history.
Exploring on an empty stomach, however, is no fun, so there was, of course, plenty of opportunity to sample some local specialities: Belgian fries (NOT French fries, as every Belgian will passionately point out), waffles and the legendary Belgian chocolate, all of which can be found on practically every corner of Brussels.
Amsterdam is a city whose history is closely connected with the Amstel River flowing through it. The students therefore experienced the city from two very different perspectives: from the wooden deck of a boat cruising along Amsterdam's main canal routes and from the cobbled streets winding between its slightly crooked townhouses.
After the obligatory introduction to the rules of road safety – essential in a city dominated by bicycles and the usually calm Dutch cyclists (except, perhaps, when they are actually cycling!) – the students explored the historic part of the city. And once again, there was no escaping the local specialities: fries (which the Dutch would much rather call Dutch than Belgian) and stroopwafels filled with caramel.
A visit to the Rijksmuseum, the largest museum in the Netherlands, gave the students the chance to search for works by Rembrandt and Van Gogh, hidden among masterpieces by other great Dutch artists. Everyone then had the opportunity to put on a chef's apron and learn how to make their own stroopwafels – and, if they wished, decorate them. Although, as some might argue, covering a Dutch stroopwafel in Belgian chocolate remains a rather controversial matter!
But you cannot truly experience a country simply by wandering around its capital. The itinerary also included Zaanse Schans, the fishing town of Volendam and Utrecht. Each of these places highlighted a different aspect of what makes the Netherlands special – a country known not only for its tulips, but also for its fields, clever engineering solutions, trade, art and... tulips. ⚘
It is difficult to say whether the panorama of the open-air museum, with its historic windmills and agricultural fields, captures the character of the Netherlands better than the elegant university city of Utrecht or the picturesque fishing town of Volendam.
A postcard from the Netherlands would surely have to feature windmills, bicycles and tulips, preferably set against slightly crooked townhouses reflected in the waters of the rivers flowing through the cities of the Venice of the North.
But receiving a postcard is one thing. Seeing those postcard views in real life – or perhaps through the lens of a camera – is something else entirely.
Doei, or au revoir!
