Chocolate eggs and bunnies
By Kirtika van Hunen
As you must have noticed, the stores are full of chocolate eggs and bunnies in all sizes and colours. This can only mean one thing: Easter is just round the corner!
Easter in the Netherlands
The Netherlands used to be a predominantly Christian country. While a recent survey from the government’s socio-cultural think-tank, SCP, found that half the population is agnostic (argue that it’s impossible for humans to know if God exists) or atheist (deny the existence of a God), the country still celebrates official Christian holidays like Easter.
A social event
Although some people are aware of the religious significance and celebration of Easter, I have the feeling that it has become more of a “social event” here in the Netherlands. A time where family and friends are invited to Easter brunch or lunch and children have fun finding hidden Easter eggs and then painting them (and eventually eating them, of course). Not to forget, the consumption of chocolate eggs and chickens without the fear of bird flu!
Boosting the economy
Easter in the Netherlands is an “economy-boosting” event for the manufacturers of chocolate and the shops that sell them, as well as a time when animal rights group would be proud of you for consuming chocolate chickens and bunnies instead of the real deal!
Going to Ikea on Easter Monday?
Easter is celebrated on Easter Sunday and Easter Monday; however, you may notice that some shops, usually furniture and home decor shops, are open on the second day of Easter. In the Netherlands, some jokingly call this the “home decor marketing day”.
St. Matthew Passion
Want something else to do at Easter, besides eating chocolate or going to home decor shops? If you like classical music, you can always attend a St Matthew Passion Bach concert, which is usually played in many churches and theatres in different cities in the Netherlands during this time.
Whether you are a believer or not, I do hope you have a great Easter weekend!
Kirtika van Hunen is a certified intercultural trainer, writer, coach and founder of Between2Cultures https://www.between2c.nl/ Through her trainings; 'Leading Across Cultures', 'Working effectively with the Dutch', 'Intercultural Awareness and Communication', she helps managers and global teams understand the essentials of working across cultures and equip them with critical strategies and knowledge to work effectively across cultures.
She is a guest lecturer (Dutch Culture and language, for international students) at the Fontys University in Tilburg. She has also worked as a policy officer for the Dutch government for 17 years. Having been born, brought up and working with diversity in the East she now lives and works, for more that 26 years with diversity in the West.
As an experienced professional living between cultures she wrote a book ’Dutch-ess from the Himalaya’ https://www.between2c.nl/dutchess-from-the-himalayas/ which did catch the eye of the local newspaper and the National radio NPO1 also interviewed her. This book is written to inspire people living and working between cultures. Her second book, ‘Wanneer culturen elkaar onmoeten’ is in Dutch and was published in November 2020. Via this book she gives, The key to working successfully with other cultures to her readers.
Read more