December is fast approaching and we all know that means Sinterklaas and Christmas are just around the corner. If you are wondering about Dutch Christmas traditions, then this is a post for you. Specifically, the gratis Christmas displays in the Dutch garden centres.
Gratis is ALWAYS Good
First things first. Gratis. That means free in Dutch. It is one of the favourite words in The Netherlands. The Dutch love gratis. And when it comes to the kerstshows in the garden centres here, you should too.
Dutch Christmas Tradition – Christmas Village Displays
If you go down to your local Dutch garden centre today, the chances are that the attempts to get customers into the Christmas spirit are in full swing. The displays of Christmas villages in garden centres (such as Intratuin) are impressive. Hours of dedicated attention have gone into making these displays of Christmas villages.
From ski slopes and mountains to train tracks, quaint villages and anything you can imagine related to the Elfstedentocht, the Christmas displays have them in abundance. There are oliebollen stands, flying Santas, English pubs and tearooms, red telephone and post boxes. In fact, you name it, it’s available.
I certainly don’t recall any of this growing up in England.
Free Entertainment for the Kids
What’s even more impressive is the fact that the festive displays keep children entertained for an afternoon at a time – and it costs nothing for looking. Gratis. Yep, that’s free entertainment!
When my kids were younger they were in awe of the trains chuffing their way around the villages full of twinkling Christmas lights, trees, grazing animals, playing children and snowy trees. They’re not immune to it all these days either, despite their age….
What’s more is that the Intratuin encourages you to arrange your children in front of some of the displays to take a photo which you can turn in to a personalised Christmas card – something I notice is getting more and more popular in the Netherlands. Selfies galore and delightful for oma and opa.
Intratuin Duiven
This particular kerstshow is a highlight. And lucky me, it’s actually my nearest Intratuin, now we’re in the east of the Netherlands.
It’s something special – the biggest and the best in the country, I dare to say. It’s a phenomenal display in terms of size and attention to detail – but be warned, it attracts an audience from far and wide and country borders are no barrier. Getting a parking space is the first challenge……
If you’re looking for somewhere closer to home, take a peek here.
The Only Problem is…..
The whole point of these Christmas displays, aside from instilling a sense of gezelligheid, is to encourage you to buy your own Christmas village to set up at home. And if you have the willpower to skip this particular Dutch Christmas tradition, then you are a stronger person than me.
If a trip to your local garden centre at this time of year doesn’t put you in the mood for Christmas, then nothing will.
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