Mussel Days Zierikzee

Every August we are celebrating the start of the new season for Mussels and Oysters in the Southern region that’s called Zeeland. This is the part of the Netherlands I was born, so it of course is a special place for me. This year we visited Mussel Day in Zierikzee, a small harbor town on the top island of Zeeland. They celebrate the start of the new season and at the same time ask Poseidon to look over their fishermen by saving him from an island. Eight ships sail out and everybody is welcome on board. The Mussel princes is on the first boat and that the one to save Poseidon.

Afterwards you can eat loads of Mussels for a very low price, yummmm. Next year we'll be visiting the Oyster days :)

Tagliatelle with Purslane

Cook 200 gr of Tagliatelle. Heat 100 ml of Cooking Cream slowly in a big pan. Add 50 gr of butter, zest and juice of 1/2 a lemon, keep stirring till the butter is completely melted and than turn of the fire. Add the Tagliatelle and 2 hands full of Purslane to the warm cream, stir.

Cover with 2 tbsp. of chopped Parsley and 2 hands full of grated Parmesan and ready! Serve with a small green salad on the side.

Note: The ancient Greeks used purslane for its medicinal effect. It is said to help against inflammations and heartburn.
 

Blauwe Theehuis

One of the best spots in town on a day the sun comes out is 'Het Blauwe Theehuis' in the 'Vondelpark'. Or actually any day it doesn't rain and even than they have enough space to stay dry under their balcony. For a croissant and coffee breakfast in the morning, a sandwich in the afternoon or a piece of their lovely apple pie. Don't mind the dogs running around.

Chicken from the oven

Preheat the oven at 180C. One of my favorite, very simple, chicken recipes. Just put 2 chicken legs in a pan with some potatoes (not peeled, just cut in pieces), cherry tomatoes (cut in half), cloves of garlic (about 8) and a whole lot of fresh basil. Salt, pepper and olive oil on top:

Shove it in the oven for 1.5 hours. Stir the tomatoes every half hour and voila!

Very nice with some green bean salad and fresh bread

Goat Farm Ridammerhoeve

In the middle of the "Amsterdamse Bos" you can find the wonderful goats farm De Ridammerhoeve. A perfect place to visit with kids, but also without or with really small kids it's a nice please to visit. 

You're allowed to just walk among the goats, cuddle them en bottle feed them before you go and admire pig Yolanthe and all of her newborn piglets or get a goats cheese tosti to accompany your goats milk cappuchino while the kids are playing on one of their playground with a goatsmilk ice cream 

IJmuiden

To clear your head after a day behind a computer the beach of IJmuiden is a perfect place to go. A long stroll with the dog - IJmuiden is one of the few Dutch beaches dogs are allowed unleashed all year long. No sunworshippers here, just people that love to be active on the beach. And than take place at the the terrace of the Beach inn (not for people who don't like dogs), eat some fish, drink some beers and watch the sun sink into the sea.

De nieuwe meer

Just outside the city, on your way to Amstelveen there is the forest of Amsterdam "Amsterdamse bos". There are loads of activities you can participate in here: canoeing, running tracks, visit the goat farm, swimming pools for children etc, but it mainly is a place to escape the city, especially if you have a dog. 

On nice and sunny Sundays it can be really busy in the forest so we take a D-tour and walk along the "nieuwe meer". Dogs can run and swim freely while not bothering anyone.