Today marks the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands following WWII. And although local celebrations across the country will be somewhat muted due to current circumstance, I think we can all rejoice in feeling a bit Dutch today.
Not only do I have a great Dutch surname and amazing family on my father's side who come from the Netherlands, some of whom we get to interact with here in this very forum, but during my time in the British Army I enjoyed several years of life in neighbouring Germany - which meant plenty of opportunity to skip over the non-existent border to explore the welcoming way of life in the Netherlands.
Amsterdam is certainly a tourism hot spot, but there's so much more to Dutch life than the big city lights. Visit a village or a hamlet and take a walk with your new friends after dinner, get to know your cheese knife, or just write some birthdays down on a calendar you keep in your bathroom!
So join me, celebrate a bit of the Netherlands we didn't lose 75 years ago! What's your Dutch memory?