STAMPPOT When I asked my Dutch friends which food was the most classically Dutch, most of them immediately answered 'stamppot'. The dish consists of potatoes mashed with different kinds of vegetables like spinach, carrots, or onions. Traditionally it is served with smoked sausage ('rookworst'). If you are vegetarian, however, you can just leave the sausage out. Stamppot is usually served for dinner during winter months. This hearty food can be traced back to the 15th century. Back then the Dutch would cook everything in one pot and only had a few ingredients available, thus the creation of stamppot was virtually inevitable. On October 3rd, the inhabitants of the city of Leiden eat stamppot to celebrate their liberation from the Spanish. HOLLANDSE NIEUWE If you like eating fish, you must try Hollandse Nieuwe. The snack consists of raw herring served with gherkins and chopped onions. The Dutch eat it in a very special way. They lift the fish by its tail and then bite upwards. The dish exists in different variations; you can eat it on a sandwich, known as a 'Broodje Haring'. You will find this food at market stands. APPELTAART Appeltaart is a Dutch classic, and its creation can be traced back to the Middle Ages. It was already included in the first Dutch-language cookbook, 'A Notable Little Cookery Book', written in circa 1510. Appeltaart is similar to an apple pie. The apples are sliced and covered with pastry. It is usually served with whipped cream. You can buy appeltaart at most cafes. The name 'appeltaart' comes from the Dutch word 'appel' meaning apple, and 'taart' meaning cake. The Dutch have many more amazing foods to offer, such stroopwafels, vla or bitterballen. Go out and give Dutch food a try! PAGE 26
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