Planning the Trip

About five years ago, our family went to Ireland, rented a boat and spent a week traveling on the Shannon River.  We all enjoyed ourselves (a fact both kids dispute) and wanted to have a similar experience in another country.  The first trip, we went thru a company called Crown Blue, which is now called "Le Boat".  While our trip was great, the boat was pretty beat, and leaked water onto the kids when it rained.  (Maybe that's why they didn't like it so much?)  So, before we could plan anything, I had to find a different boat rental company.  After some searching on line, I found Locaboat.  They run a very similar operation to Le Boat, but their boats are called penichettes.  

This is what a penichette looks like.  We decided on one that David can steer from either inside or outside, called a "flying bridge".  Here is the layout of our boat:  

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And then, we decided to travel to Holland.  After making this decision, booking the trip, etc., I wanted to research Holland.  My paternal grandfather emigrated here from Holland.  Unfortunately, there is no one left alive from my parents' or grandparents' generation from my dad's side of the family so I undertook a huge ancestry project, the details of which can be found at:  https://searchingformydutchroots.blogspot.com/

I also wanted to look into what kinds of foods I might expect to eat while we're there.  I know there are all kinds of cheeses, and herring's a popular item.  But what else?
Well, there's snert.  This is pea soup with sausages.  Ok...   Then we have stamppot.  This is a dish with vegetables, potatoes and meat mashed together in one stew. There are varieties with kale, sauerkraut, onions, carrots, sausages and bacon. The final touch is an indentation in the middle of the stew that is filled with gravy. 

Gotta have fries, right?  They have patatje met, which are fries with mayo.  Also, the previously mentioned herring is known in Holland as haring.  It's the most popular fish in Holland.  They eat it on a bun with onions or pickles, or eat it the original way and bite while holding the fish in the air by its tail.  What?  No cream sauce??

More interesting to me is poffertjes, a kind of mini pancake, but thicker and sweeter which is often served with sugar and butter.   Not too bad!  Also hagelslag - chocolate sprinkles on a sandwich!  Finally, one I've heard of (besides herring) - stroopwafel is a flat waffle which is a typical Dutch treat. So, I guess if I don't like the food, I can go straight to dessert!