New Year's in Nederland

We didn't really have anything planned for New Year's Eve. We figured we'd sit around, drink some champagne, go to bed. We had heard that people here go crazy with fireworks since it is the only time they're allowed to set them off, and that a lot of people go outside at midnight to set them off and watch the neighbors fireworks. Whatever, we thought.

Then we happened to meet some American neighbors who invited us over New Year's Eve, so we went and ate drank and were merry. And then, it was quarter to twelve. Our neighbor handed out 12 grapes to each person, to be eaten 1 per second at midnight while making 12 wishes for the new year. We all took our handfuls of grapes and went outside to see the neighbors fireworks.

And you should have seen these fireworks! It was like the 4th of July! In every direction! It was absolutely amazing, and we stood there in awe of all the bright exlpoding colors until someone yelled "10 seconds!" and started counting down. And with all of us standing there stupefied by the fireworks, we had forgotten about our handfuls of grapes. So Ben and I stuffed them all in our mouths as quickly as possible, raised our glasses to the New Year, and gave each other a very grapey New Year's kiss.

We stood outside and watched fireworks for a long long time. It was cold and rainy, but these Nederlanders just don't seem to care, and the fireworks went on and on. We can't even tell you how incredible it was to watch. We hadn't yet been charmed by the all the rain and cold and dog poop on the sidewalk in the Netherlands, but this was definitely cooler than any New Year's Eve in the states. We can't wait until next year.