Halloween in The Netherlands
Halloween is not a big thing in NL at all. They sell a small amount of decoration in some shops but there is no big hype about it like back in North America. There’s no children out trick or treating, no big zombie walks like in Toronto (I soooo wish there was) and the only way you will have any Halloween in your life is if you bring it in yourself.
Hubby and I got two smallish pumpkins at Intratuin while my parents were here and have been waiting to carve them on Halloween. We had plans that we would ‘celebrate’ by carving pumpkins, ordering some take-out and watching a movie. So we did. We ordered Spare Ribs, watched Tropic Thunder (which was ok but kind of dumb… wasn’t as good as all the hype made it seem) and carved us some pumpkins!
Xander went with the puking pumpkin and I went with what you may think is a grim reaper pumpkin… but it’s NOT! It’s a DEAD LIKE ME pumpkin!! In honor of the upcoming movie and a show that died long before it was due.
George, this one’s for you!!
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About the Author: A Canadian girl living in the Netherlands with her Dutch hubby. A total TV and movie junkie who enjoys crafting, taking care of her mini-zoo and general geekery. Otherwise just working on getting by and making a life for herself in her 'new' country.
Terri | Nov 1, 2008 | Reply
It was Halloween one and two night here :-) … seen them both many times, but hey it’s tradition no matter where you live :) I love the dead like me pumpkin! Can hardly wait for the movie!
Sonya | Nov 1, 2008 | Reply
Those pumpkins look great! We carved some yesterday too. We had one set of trick or treaters. The kids had one a weird mask and when my husband answered the door they pointed a fake gun and said in dutch “your candy or your life”..watever the little shits,they cant even say the traditional greeting correctly. We gave them some candy and closed the curtains..lol We baked cupcakes and tonight I will roast the pumpkin seeds:)
Monica Van Maanen | Nov 1, 2008 | Reply
Eighty kids this year, not bad. About standard. Our pumpkin rocked too. It was this one that Claude found: http://blogginginparis.com/
DutchBitch | Nov 1, 2008 | Reply
OMG woman! You are a true Pumpkin Artist!!! I WISH Halloween was “bigger” in our country as I find it one of the more fun holidays…
DutchBitchs last blog post… Dutch-A-Pimpin’: That Bitchy Chick
Melissa | Nov 1, 2008 | Reply
I love your “Dead Like Me” pumpkin!
The only kids that came to my door, were mine and their friends lol.
Melissas last blog post… Paris - Day Two
Isabella | Nov 2, 2008 | Reply
Those pumpkins are great! We have our’s burning tonight again too :-)
At my house this year we had no trick-or-treaters. I was ready with candy to give out, filled in my plastic Halloween trick-or-treating pumpkin, which was what I used since probably my first trick-or-treating experience way back in the 70s.. But no one came. I told the neighbors this year to send their grandchildren my way, but maybe they thought I meant for ‘Sint Maarten’ on 11 November.. What I liked the most about the trick-or-treaters back in the States was their costumes. The parents watching from the driveway as I’d ask the children what they were. Tiny tots dressed like monsters would say, as spooky as they could or making the scary sound effects, “I’m a monster! Rrrrrrr!” Hahaaha! ;-) Or the hard work to make the costume.. I always felt bad on the rainy nights when kids had to wear coats over their cool costumes.
OK. Enough of me! Happy belated Halloween!
Gail at Large | Nov 2, 2008 | Reply
I am totally impressed by your “Dead Like Me” pumpkin! (I thought it was the Grim Reaper, but my excuse is I don’t own a TV.)
Did you do that freehand, or what? Wow!
I’ll take Halloween over Christmas any day.
Gail at Larges last blog post… Post-Halloween Gummy Message
Zhu | Nov 2, 2008 | Reply
Love the pumpkin with the reaper! I can never carve anything that good.
Zhus last blog post… Pumpkin Day
mj | Nov 2, 2008 | Reply
Oh goodness, so true about Halloween here. Quite depressing if you don’t bring halloween to yourself. I also did buy a pumpkin from Albert Heijn for the nephews, but their parents would rather do the carving when its close to Sint Maarten. :)
I miss the Halloween decorations too. Theres none of that here.
conortje | Nov 4, 2008 | Reply
I stumbled upon a great halloween party on Friday night when I was in UK - I’ve been in NL so long I’d forgotten how much fun Halloween can be!
conortjes last blog post… Better be home soon