Filling the Void

Aweh, guys!

So, we have been in the Netherlands for a little over four months now and I can’t believe how much time has flown. During this time, we have adapted to our new world pretty well but there are certain things we definitely miss in a grumpy fashion but there have been things that have filled these massive gaps in their own charming way (friends and family can’t be replaced so they are not of this list, but they are greatly missed and loved). So, I thought I would compile what we miss most, and the alternative.

1. I Miss: Woolworths

I MISS WOOLIES SO MUCH! Not so much the clothes side of things, but the thought of the food side of their conglomerate makes me want to weep. Such selection, such quality, such bougieness…

Back home they were our number one for practically any shopping need. We would walk through the store and meal plan based on what caught our eye, fling in a bag of prawn cocktail chips and their brownies for a treat and wait for holidays to see what new offerings they had this year (and what we could get on sale a week after they ended). Out of everything not people related in South Africa, I miss Woolworths the most. Even though they haven’t been the most ethical store brand, I miss those anti-entrepreneurial bastards.

Self-Checkout: Has Replaced It

The stores here are definitely not on the grand scale they were back in SA. The closest we have is Jumbo which reminds me of Food Lovers’ Market and Pick n Pay combined. Annoyingly they pack shelves during store hours so you are always in the way of staff and the in store selection can be limited. However, there is one area (particularly at Albert Heijn) where they have South Africa beat… Self-checkout.

I do all my shopping and I don’t need to interact with a single person. All I do is go to the machine, swipe the products myself and pack my bag at my own pace (you have to do this in the queue anyway). If you are fancy, you can even use their “ray gun” to scan items while you shop and connect this at self-checkout. This is great if you are feeling anti-social, hungover or not in the mood to attempt bad Dutch. Definitely the best thing about shopping in the Netherlands.

2. I Miss: Parking

To put it bluntly, parking in the Netherlands is a pain in the ass. Parking is limited, the roads are narrow and, to top it off, it’s expensive. We also don’t have parking at our apartment, so Hubby has to park his car at a parking garage and pay for the privilege. We only recently got a subscription to the garage and before that we could pay up to €20 for parking over the weekend. You also pay if you park in the street, so nobody wins.

South Africa has it good in that regard. We didn’t mind paying for parking at shopping centers and malls because it was secure and generally wasn’t too expensive (the most I think we ever paid was R20 and we were at the Mall of Africa all day). I even miss our friendly car guard at our local Woolworths (even though car guards can be another pain in the ass) and the parking there was free.

Infrastructure: Has Replaced It

That being said, the Netherlands kicks ass at public transport and driving infrastructure for cars and, of course, bicycles. We have our own train station in town that can basically help us get anywhere in the country and we can then use busses and trams to venture further into cities and towns. If you ride a bike, you have right of way for the most part and if you are a pedestrian at a crossing, the drivers stop for you. The highways are butter smooth with clear road signs and markings, some that even change to update you on average traffic speed and warnings up ahead. It really is miraculous.

3. I Miss: Wildlife and Nature

South Africa has such a great diversity in every respect. We are a melting pot of culture with amazing history, but I really miss the diversity of our wildlife and terrain. The Netherlands has a few zoos, loads of seagulls, pigeons and crows and a local deer park in town but they do not have the amazing national parks (Pilanesburg is my personal fave) bursting at the seams with untamed animals living their best lives. Also, SA has the Big Five which is something to boast about!

Architecture: Has Replaced It

My beautiful little town of Woerden is home to some gobsmacking architecture, one of them most notably being the St Bonaventura Cathedral, Die Kasteel and their museum which used to be the old city hall that was built by the Romans in the 16th century. South Africa is a relatively young country that doesn’t have the old world flair that Europe has developed over time… The best part is, we haven’t even scratched the surface on what they have to offer us.

4. I Miss: Steak

Ah, beef. How I miss ye. We used to have steak about once a week lovingly selected off the shelves of Woolworths. If we were super lucky, they would have the free range ribeye which was a gastronomic delight. If not, we would just have their mature ribeye which was equally as satisfying. The prices were also really cheap compared to here. Here we don’t get specific cuts unless you are willing to pay for them and anything else is ominously labelled “biefstuk” with no other identifying information with super tiny portions. No 300 gram slab of perfectly marbled steak here. 150 grams at most at an average of €4.65. Hello chicken.

Cheese: Has Replaced It

Actually, hello cheese! One of the first things we had to eat here was a herbed gouda that arrived in a wonderfully curated gift pack we received when we arrived. Cheese is definitely a staple which definitely makes the Netherlands go round. It has such an influence that Woerden has it’s own dedicated cheese market as does Gouda (naturally!). Perfect on a sarmie or paired with a glass of wine on a borrelplank, there is a cheese for every occasion and our consumption has skyrocketed!

While there are things that are irreplaceable (like friends and family), there are other things to step in and fill the void the best they can… even if they don’t fill the mold entirely.

(And a huge thank you goes out to my sister, Caitlynne, who went out of her way to take photos of the things I missed! Love you!)