Netherlands: Houdoe Oirschot!
A week ago Dutch sister invited us out to a 12-kilometer hike through the forest in Rheden nearby Arnhem in the east part of the Netherlands. I was thrilled with the idea and was about to set-aside my Oirschot plan when Dutchman told me he needs to attend to something important during that day. Bummer, I was getting excited and looking forward to the hike, in the hopes of shedding off at least half a kilo, lol.
Anyway, Oirschot, located in North Brabant province (this is in the south of the Netherlands, about 1 hour drive from Utrecht, 1.5 hours from Amsterdam) was still in the schedule for the day, but it took Dutchman a long time to finish what he needed to do that we arrived in Oirschot later than expected, which was really disappointing. I didn’t get to do my original plan, which was to take one of the walking routes from the village center to the nearby countryside. You see, this little town boasts of a 180 kilometer walking route network which opened way back in 2004, says my guide, the 52 mooie dorpen book I recently bought.
Oh well, bummer again; there goes my half a kilo...
Nevertheless we managed to wander around a bit and appreciate the idyllic beauty of this village. The old and historical structures in the square were very charismatic and inviting, while the massive and stunning - especially at night when its lighted, St. Petruskerk (St. Petrus Church), is the main attraction.
In the middle of the square is an ice skating rink that is already picking up activity with the kids. This ice skating rink is part of the community’s winter fun paradise program.
Oirschot may be small, with a population of 17,000 but this village swanks a number of lekker and cushy cafes and restaurants. It even has a Michelin star restaurant resident.
As we all know and are aware of, in every country there are regional differences that can’t be missed. They are pretty much a standard odd thing that we encounter in every place we live and travel to. In the Netherlands the major regional difference that stands out is distinguished between the north and the south, culturally and linguistically.
The southern provinces, North Brabant, Limburg, and Zeeland are majority Catholics. They celebrate carnaval, they have a more laid back mentality, they love to eat out, and they tend to lead a quite hedonistic bourgeoisie lifestyle. Some might contest this and will try to prove the opinion wrong so I’m open for anything that reacts, he-he. In a nutshell, they are worldly and less confrontational than their northern counterparts, the restrictive and sobered up reformed Protestants.
The women too are more feminine and exceptionally fashionable in the south. Moreover, the people there speak with a softer accent, which to me, having been trained and exposed to the gurgling and saliva-spitting Dutch pronunciation, is sometimes undistinguishable.
“Hou-doe!” the woman hollered as the doors closed behind her, her voice echoing into the soothingly-lit bar and breaking off my La Trappe delight moment.
“What was that?” I asked putting down my drink. “Do they speak a different language here?”
“What do you mean?
“That – what the woman yelled, the woman who just left. I’ve heard the word many times today?”
Dutchman’s eyebrows rose up a bit and when he figured out what I meant he slowly beamed and put down the newspaper he was reading, “Oh, you mean HOUDOE!” (pronounced as how-du)
“That’s the Brabant way of saying GOODBYE.” (Standard Dutch version is ‘dag’ - formal and ‘doei’ - informal)
Moi wrinkling my nose, “Well, it sounds foreign to me. It feels like I am not in Holland anymore!”
Technically speaking I was not in Holland (province), I was in North Brabant. Holland is a province in the Netherlands, 2 provinces in fact, North Holland and South Holland. Amsterdam for example is part of North Holland whilst Rotterdam and The Hague are in South Holland.
Well, I’m 1 word richer today; I’ve learned a cool new word and had a very interesting linguistic experience in the south. So for now I think its enough to say -- Houdoe Oirschot!
Visit Period: December 2007
Destination: Oirschot (North Brabant), The Netherlands
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Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
A pretty row of old buildings in Oirschot by the town square.
Anyway, Oirschot, located in North Brabant province (this is in the south of the Netherlands, about 1 hour drive from Utrecht, 1.5 hours from Amsterdam) was still in the schedule for the day, but it took Dutchman a long time to finish what he needed to do that we arrived in Oirschot later than expected, which was really disappointing. I didn’t get to do my original plan, which was to take one of the walking routes from the village center to the nearby countryside. You see, this little town boasts of a 180 kilometer walking route network which opened way back in 2004, says my guide, the 52 mooie dorpen book I recently bought.
Oh well, bummer again; there goes my half a kilo...
Nevertheless we managed to wander around a bit and appreciate the idyllic beauty of this village. The old and historical structures in the square were very charismatic and inviting, while the massive and stunning - especially at night when its lighted, St. Petruskerk (St. Petrus Church), is the main attraction.
Sint Petruskerk, the pride of Oirschot.
Beautiful, traditional Dutch buildings on the main square.
The City Hall of Oirschot.
The skating rink beside the church was well attended.
I was feeling a bit cold =)
In the middle of the square is an ice skating rink that is already picking up activity with the kids. This ice skating rink is part of the community’s winter fun paradise program.
Oirschot may be small, with a population of 17,000 but this village swanks a number of lekker and cushy cafes and restaurants. It even has a Michelin star restaurant resident.
As we all know and are aware of, in every country there are regional differences that can’t be missed. They are pretty much a standard odd thing that we encounter in every place we live and travel to. In the Netherlands the major regional difference that stands out is distinguished between the north and the south, culturally and linguistically.
The southern provinces, North Brabant, Limburg, and Zeeland are majority Catholics. They celebrate carnaval, they have a more laid back mentality, they love to eat out, and they tend to lead a quite hedonistic bourgeoisie lifestyle. Some might contest this and will try to prove the opinion wrong so I’m open for anything that reacts, he-he. In a nutshell, they are worldly and less confrontational than their northern counterparts, the restrictive and sobered up reformed Protestants.
The women too are more feminine and exceptionally fashionable in the south. Moreover, the people there speak with a softer accent, which to me, having been trained and exposed to the gurgling and saliva-spitting Dutch pronunciation, is sometimes undistinguishable.
“Hou-doe!” the woman hollered as the doors closed behind her, her voice echoing into the soothingly-lit bar and breaking off my La Trappe delight moment.
“What was that?” I asked putting down my drink. “Do they speak a different language here?”
“What do you mean?
“That – what the woman yelled, the woman who just left. I’ve heard the word many times today?”
Dutchman’s eyebrows rose up a bit and when he figured out what I meant he slowly beamed and put down the newspaper he was reading, “Oh, you mean HOUDOE!” (pronounced as how-du)
“That’s the Brabant way of saying GOODBYE.” (Standard Dutch version is ‘dag’ - formal and ‘doei’ - informal)
Moi wrinkling my nose, “Well, it sounds foreign to me. It feels like I am not in Holland anymore!”
Technically speaking I was not in Holland (province), I was in North Brabant. Holland is a province in the Netherlands, 2 provinces in fact, North Holland and South Holland. Amsterdam for example is part of North Holland whilst Rotterdam and The Hague are in South Holland.
I was having trappist beer in the bar.
Well, I’m 1 word richer today; I’ve learned a cool new word and had a very interesting linguistic experience in the south. So for now I think its enough to say -- Houdoe Oirschot!
Skating is not for me. I would rather ski.
A nice half-an-hour performance by a girl band group on ice.
Oirschot at night.
Sint Petruskerk at night. She is well lighted.
Visit Period: December 2007
Destination: Oirschot (North Brabant), The Netherlands
Keep in touch and follow me on Facebook: Travel & Lifestyle Diaries by Dutched Pinay Travels
Happy Travels! Enjoy Life =)
