RATING SINTERKLAAS TREATS IN THE NETHERLANDS (americans try dutch snacks)

In this episode, Michelle and Alex continue exploring Dutch food, this time focusing on all of the seasonal treats that pop up around the Sinterklaas, Kerstmis (Christmas), and New Years holidays.
Episode 105 · Filmed on November 6, 2023 · Dordrecht, the Netherlands
☕️ Interested in supporting us directly? ko-fi.com/buncharted
📸 Follow us on Instagram! / buncharted
0:00 Introduction
0:29 Kruidnoten (Milka)
1:17 Chocoladeletters
2:03 Schuimpjes
3:22 Pepernoten
4:30 Taai Taai
5:54 Time to go to the bakkerij!
6:21 CROMPOUCE
8:27 Borstplaat
9:39 Speculaasbrokken
10:33 Gevulde koeken
11:59 Marsepein
13:03 Amandelstaaf
14:49 Time to head out again!
15:08 What couldn't we get?
15:36 The gebakkraam!
15:57 Appelbeignets
16:48 Oliebollen
17:51 Oliebollen met rozijnen
18:46 Wrap up
#netherlands #expatlife #dutchfood
---
WHO IS BUNCHARTED?
We're Michelle and Alex, an American expat couple living abroad in the Netherlands. 🇳🇱
In 2020, we quit our jobs to travel the world, and... well, that didn't happen. So in 2022, we decided to make an even BIGGER change by packing up our lives (and our cats 🐈) and moving from Austin, Texas, in the US, to Rotterdam, in the Netherlands. Subscribe for new videos like this every week!

[@peterf1]

I likely write too often from my perspective, but to tell a slightly different but totally related story, these Sinterklaas treats were one of the big 'links' to my wife's parents home. Every year her Dutch aunts would put together a giant box of these treats and send them from NL to the USA. The arrival of this box for Sinterklaas rivaled / surpassed Christmas presents themselves. And I have to say when one year, when I got my own chocolate letter from these aunts, it was a very big deal. I wonder if other viewers had a similar remote experience of getting 'the box' at holiday time because of being away from NL?

[@yvetteb2670]

For a long time we didnt have the Y chocolate letter, so I alway got a V. The one time my grandma found a Y letter and got me one. My excitement was through the roof.

[@ncoppens]

My mom sends me one every year. It is a treat!!!

[@_PJW_]

That's how good traditions should be dealt with! 😆

[@TheSuperappelflap]

Ironically these days in the Netherlands a Y letter is easier to find than a common letter like a J or K for a first name. I think they overcorrected a bit.

[@_PJW_]

@@TheSuperappelflap Then you were just too late buying. Common start letters are sold early and quickly quickly.

[@MarkDDG]

It is important to keep Sinterklaas and Christmas separate. It is not the same celebration unlike what a lot of foreigners say!! (Sinterklaas is the Dutch equivalent of Christmas, because then it looks like we don’t celebrate Christmas at all!!) Most people celebrate Sinterklaas somewhere around December 5th. Christmas is celebrated on the 25th and 26th of December (first and second Christmas Day). Both celebrations have their own treats, foods and traditions. One of the "rules" is that you cannot put up the Christmas tree before or on December 5th 😂. You shouldn’t eat Sinterklaas things at Christmas or the other way around for example. Christmas often has either a big meal (like thanksgiving) or people "gourmet". Some children (and adults) also get presents on both Christmas and Sinterklaas.

[@erikw8644]

Oh g.. our culture is so complicated I realise now. Let's not get started over when you should start decorating your Christmas tree and when you need to get it burned 😂

[@jbird4478]

@@erikw8644 You need to get it burned before Epiphany (called "three kings" in Dutch for... reasons) otherwise ehm... well, that's the rule.

[@Gebruiker7007]

Sinterklaas is more like the equivalent of halloween to be honest, we celebrate christmas, and instead of 1 we celebrate it for 2 days.

[@jbird4478]

@@Gebruiker7007 Santa Claus originates from Sinterklaas, and so does the way many Americans celebrate Christmas. So it's no wonder they're confused about this. American kids put socks out in front of the chimney with a treat for Santa; families buy gifts for eachother, and you'll find Santa handing out treats to kids in the city. Sounds familiar doesn't it? That's because it's the opposite of what many people think. American Christmas is the American version of Sinterklaas. It originates from Dutch settlers.

[@kapteinron]

​@@Gebruiker7007 its not close to halloween. its celebrating whit saint nicolase dit. he gave his robe to a slave and saved his life. its a childrens feast

[@roelkerkhoff578]

De gevulde koek is not realy a holiday treat: you can find them all year round. Gevulde speculaas on the other hand… you missed that one. One of my personal favourites 😋

[@wvonk9636]

Indeed you must try the gevulde speculaas! Delicious.

[@Pannemat]

... or the combination.

[@kingmickey666]

An amandelstaaf is suppoost to be eaten warm! You can put it into the oven to heat it up a little. It taste so good when it's warm :)

[@SwirlingSoul]

It's blasphemy to eat it cold! (only AFTER baking and cooling can you eat it cold, but still.... it's so wroooong! ;-)))) 😁

[@johnnydinnissen]

Hoe kom je daar dan weer bij dat die warm gegeten moet worden

[@kingmickey666]

@@johnnydinnissen wel echt aan te raden iig. Nooit geprobeerd?

[@bonique2]

Warm veel lekkerder.

[@mitchystuff]

ik ben 24 jaar oud en nu pas weet ik dit? woah, nooit gedacht dat je dat warm zou moeten eten, it doesnt make sense in my brain ahahaha

[@Wintertalent]

You can wake me up in the middle of the night for marsepein. It's so good, it almost makes me believe in the divine.

[@niwde73]

You really need to split Sinterklaas from Christmas. Everything you ate is from Sinterklaas, except the crompouce and gevulde koek those are always available. When Christmas comes around there are a hole lot of other delicious treats. 😜😉

[@marleenboonstra2386]

Oliebollen are not a typical sinterklaas treat. You can buy them all year long during any festive event but they're especially meant for new years eve or funfairs.

[@chrisislt]

Please keep Sinterklaas and Christmas seperated. So during the Sinterklaas part you wore the Christmas headband... and during the Christmas segment you forget... There's a reason you coudn't find christmas and NYE treats in your supermarket yet, they will be there from the start of december: after Sitnerklaas.

[@alamunez]

I like how after eating borstplaat, which is pure sugar, every sugary snack got a “this doesn’t taste sweet at all!” from both of you 😂❤

[@buncharted]

haha it definitely shocked our tastebuds

[@JelmerStienstra]

Rumor has it that the American donut is basically a Dutch oliebol with a hole in it.

[@Samplesurfer]

The apple beignet, made from a slice of a holed apple, was brought by Dutch colonists to America and it evolved into the donut. One of the Sinterklaas treat you missed: the "frogs and mice" chocolates with inside sweet fondant. And there are also "chocolate coins" in the stores in the weeks before Sinterklaas.

[@dennisellerkamp9489]

The frogs taste absolutely horrible

[@GiblixStudio]

the reason you couldn't get the kerst stollen/candy yet is because they're not in most stores. they will be in a few weeks when sinterklaas leaves the country and we go into christmas mode. Appelbeignet/banana beignet as well as the Amandelstaaf are my go to each year.

[@dennisbadtaxi2770]

De gevulde koek is one of the classic and typical Dutch pastery. Throughout history this cookie was very popular in different regions and had many names such as; vulkoek, gevuld heertje and gevulde herenkoek. It dates all the way back to 1510 and is not only rich with almond paste, but also history. it's my favourite 1000%!

[@thirzalebbink402]

But gevulde koeken are not typicaly a holiday thing, they are sold all year round And you should realy get gevulde koeken from a good baker, not from the supermarkt where the almondpaste is often replaced by a beanpaste with an almondflavouring

[@davegoderie7116]

There is also a sausage version of the amandelstaaf. That would be maybe more your thing. And you still need to try gevuld speculaas. A soft speculaas variation filled with, yet again, almond paste. Furthermore the kruidnoten is only part of what is thrown at the Kids. What is thrown is called "Strooigoed" which consists of kruidnoten, small borstplaat candies, schuimpjes (like you tried) and tumtum, which you haven't tried. It is a normal year round candy, sold at the grocery stores, made from jellied fruitjuice and coated in sugar. Keep up the good work. As I Dutchy, I love your vids.

[@buncharted]

definitely have to look for the sausage staaf and the gevuld speculaas! thanks for the tips! ❤️

[@RealConstructor]

In about half n hour it is Sint Maarten time! Hope you bought some candy for the children going door to door.

[@michielroskam3877]

This only applies to actual houses, not appartments....also its a dying tradition sadly, since kids are so guarded nowadays.....back in my day, we were sent outside while our parents relaxed a little....

[@anouk6644]

It’s also very regional. In my area this isn’t a thing. I even didn’t know about it until I was an adult and temporarily lived in another part of the country.

[@dutchgamer842]

It's not a national holiday at all

[@buddy1155]

They havet a bag of taai taai and maybe some other leftovers.

[@wilco8729]

​​@@michielroskam3877not everwhere😅. Some towns in our country they are also going to appartements. They ring on one bell in the hope they open up. Of they open up, they go from door to door and all away up😅.

[@bartobruintjes7056]

Santaclaus comes from Sinterklaas. The history of this lies in the Netherlands, and the Americans (emigrants from Europe) took over from the Dutch emigrants a long time ago. So when you celebrate Christmas with Santa Claus in America, think of Sinterklaas from the Netherlands.

[@bonique2]

Coca cola heeft er een kerstverhaal gemaakt. Ik weet niet meer precies. Maar is vast wel ergens te vinden.

[@toaojjc]

Taai taai is actually my favorite Sinterklaas candy. Acquired taste I guess. Schuimpjes are usually mixed in with the kruidnoten (just as tum tum which you might enjoy more or some really hard candy) to create "strooigoed" which literally is candy that is meant to be thrown on the floor by Piet for the kids to gather (indoors). That was one of the highlights how I celebrated Sinterklaas at school. Schools nowadays want less of a mess so usually no candy throwing anymore but the scrambeling under desks and chairs to get your hands on as much candy as possible was great fun. Nowadays usually it's Piet that makes a round in the class that deposits the strooigoed on the table for each of the kids.

[@boneitch]

I love Taai taai. Can't really eat it tho, cuz my jaw dislocates easily 😭.

[@fvt1979]

me toooo! @@boneitch

[@darknessblades]

1:56 the best time to get these is when the holiday is over, meaning they are 50% off. which is a great price if all you care about is the chocolate/ want to eat/use it like regular chocolate.

[@Needlestitch]

Finally.. the clove flavor mentioned; that is of the essence, so to speak.

[@kplkasteel]

I have been living abroad since 2008 but still order my Dutch goodies on an almost monthly base. Just ordered all the Sinterklaas goodies for my kids and obviously the biggest kid in the house.... myself.

[@rickweijers500]

Nice! Always fun to watch this kind of videos as a dutchie!

[@marcelrombouts8607]

One sinterklaas- staple you forgot is the "taaipop". I remember getting a king-sized one at school with little baggies of glazing and smarties to decorate it with. And of course their button-shaped counterpart: PEPERNOTEN. While kruidnoten are these tiny fun sized speculaas buttons, pepernoten are tiny portions of "taai". I prefer kruidnoten myself, but pepernoten are THE iconic sinterklaas treat. Dec. 5th tradition also dictates you do some creative gift-giving. Doesn't need to be expensive. In fact it's quite Dutch to keep it cheap. But it's a kind of sport to box it in, in a whimsical way and call it a surprise (pronounced like this: sur-pree-sah). I prefer the artistic approach like hiding a chocolate bar inside a home-crafted optimus prime, but some take the prank approach like filling a huge box with a bunch of tedious or yucky layers to work your way through to reach the tiny box containing the gift. Or just plain old wrap it if you're pressed for time. But you must, must, MUST include a little poem that usually starts with: "Sint zat laatst te denken, wat hij Alex zou gaan schenken" I did my best to come up with a simillar opener in English and came up with this: "Saint Nic had Alex on his mind. When he left this lovely gift behind." and you do the rest. Usually a few lines that hint what the gift is and maybe a bit of good natured ribbing thrown in.

[@SwirlingSoul]

Never before have I seen the "Sinterklaas gedichtjes" explained so well in English. That is just awesome. I love languages, I'm Dutch, grew up with Sinterklaas en zwarte piet, and made many many surprises and poems, but to translate the feeling that goes with it, I never really succeeded in. You just did that perfectly. Awesome! 😊

[@fvt1979]

wauw, that translation!!

[@MichelBaek]

That was a lot of nice holiday treats. That crompouce looked superdelicious 🤤. ❤❤❤

[@CakeboyRiP]

I've been thinking about a video idea. You have been living in the Netherlands for a while now. What is your experience with the Dutch? Like the (in)famous hospitality, work culture (actually interacting with the Dutch colleagues) and making Dutch friends (like do you have any? maybe they are open to speaking out about how they percive your adaptation to the Dutch life, etc)

[@marklageveen1697]

The “roomboterstaaf” also has a savory version with a minched meat filling instead of the almond filling, it’s really nice!

[@TiemenRTuinstra]

Usually you toast the amandelstaaf for a few minutes in an oven to heat it up, even better.

[@tubularap]

Even though you are jeopardising your assimilation into Dutch culture by not giving all treats a five-stroopwafel rating, your enthusiasm for and appreciation of the oliebol got you through !!! 🙂

[@buncharted]

😅😅😅

[@fvt1979]

have you also tried musketkransjes for christmas?@@buncharted

[@dikkiedik53]

For my foreign cousins I made a Speculaas recipe in English. From scratch and no special ingrediënts. Speculaas (filled with almond paste) a traditional Dutch winter pastry Speculaas-spices All ingredients are powders • 8 parts cinnamon • 2 parts nutmeg • 2 parts clove • 1 part ginger • 1 part cardamom • 1 part white pepper maybe add a little bit of star anise powder but I don't like that. Almond paste • 150 gr white almonds • 150 gr white crystal sugar • zest of app ¼ lemon peel preparation: When you only have almonds with a brown fleece. Blanche the almonds 1 min in boiling water. Take a sieve and take the almonds out of the boiling water. Cool them instantly in enough cold water. Take the almonds out of the water and now it’s easy to push the brown fleece off with your fingers. Let the almonds dry in the air before processing them more. Put the almonds, the white sugar and the zest in a food processor with knives blades. Let the machine run until you have the almond paste. When too dry, add slowly some water. You can make this paste in advance. I put it in clean film or a clean glass jar. You can store this for a couple of weeks, preferably refrigerated. My mom made the almond paste with the meat grinder and later with a special mill for almonds. Speculaas baking tin 15x30 cm / 22x22 cm dough: • 200 gr all purpose flour • 125 gr dark brown caster sugar • 150 gr butter (cold) • 12 gr / 2 tablespoons speculaas-spices • 3 gr / 1 teaspoon baking powder • 0,3 gr / a pinch of salt • 30 gr/ 2 tablespoons of milk filling: • 300 gr almond paste • 1 egg • ½ tablespoon water garnish: • 1 egg • some whole or half almonds Preparation: 1. Put the baking powder, the flour, the brown sugar, the speculaas spices, the salt throug a sieve in a batter bowl. Mix all ingredients in the bowl and put the icecold butter in little pieces in the mixture in the bowl. You can cut the butter with two knives while the butter is in the flour mixture. Wash your hands in very cold water so your hands are cold too. Dry your hands and knead the dough to a smooth ball of dough. OR (more easy) Put all ingredients for the dough in a food processor with knife blades. Run the food processor till all ingredients are mixed well. Put the mixture on the counter top en form it to a smooth ball. Put the dough in clean film, form it to a 2 cm thick slice of dough and put it in the refrigerator to rest for at least 30 min. 2. Put the 2 eggs with the ½ tablespoon of water in a bowl and make loose with a fork or so. Crumble the almond paste in another bowl and but half the egg-water mixture in that bowl too. Mix the almond past and the egg mixture with a fork until it gets smoochy. 3. Preheat your oven to 175°C 4. Sprinkle some flower on your worktop and your rolling pin. Divide the dough in two even parts. Roll out every piece of dough on a piece of baking paper, until it’s app 15x30 cm (app 6x12”). I have a 22x22 cm (app 8 ½ x 8 ½ “) backing form so I roll the dough in that shape. Spread the almond paste in an even layer over the dough and leave the sides of the dough app 3/4 cm free of almond paste. Put the second piece of rolled out dough over the almond paste. Push the sides well to the bottom layer of dough. 5. Take the egg-water mixture you still have and take a baking brush and coat the top of the dough with this mixture. Decorate with the whole or half almonds and coat that with the egg-water mixture. 6. Put the baking tray in the middle of the oven. Bake the speculaas for 40-45 minutes. The almonds on top should be goldenbrown by then. Let the speculaas cool down on the baking tray. When cold, you can cut it into pieces. It’s also possible to bake the dough as cookies, without the filling. Have fun and enjoy

[@fredgfr]

A tip: when buying chocolate, the colour on the packaging indicates what chocolate it is. E.g blue is milk chocalate, red is pure.

[@deheermailmum5036]

great fun, a treat to the eyes

[@damienzwikstra1667]

im really looking forward to your response to the festivities on 5th of december and the week before hand

[@legendareNz]

The amandelstaaf, put a small piece for 30 seconds in the microwave.. careful will he insanely hot inside. But totally different taste

[@buncharted]

ooh great idea 🤤

[@NL-001]

No! Not in the microwave, because the pastry gets soft, which should stay crunchy. Using the regular oven is the best. Besides all this, I think its quite amusing how two Americans are tasting Dutch treats. May ben you should get a link advice from a real Dutch person. Now you make bad choices.

[@Overwijn01]

No! Put it in the oven!

[@PatQuakernaat]

Oliebol met krenten en banketstaaf yumm !!!!!!

[@ElMariachi1337]

All the christmas stuff will be in stores on Dec 6th a day after Sinterklaas, same goes for trees and lights and what not in the streets. That's a bit of the tradition, Sinterklaas first then Christmas right after, even though Christmas is catching up on Sinterklaas when it comes to the holiday season.

[@CHRN71]

Next saturday "Sinterklaas" will arive in Dordrecht. At 12:00 in the Wolwevershaven. 🥳

[@LostinBlue88]

Great video :D You should try Musket kransjes around Christmas (filled chocolate wreath s)

[@daluzsoares]

Goede morgen to you too!!

[@bridgetvogelgregory]

My Oma made large, more cake shaped gevulde koek every Christmas. I wish I still had her recipe. She told me they used to make them in wreaths and decorate with candies. That is 100% Christmas for me.

[@666Maeglin]

My fav is the amandelstaaf.. especially re-heated in the over before consumption with hot chocolate with whipped cream😋😋

[@kokkiemo2578]

You should ask the butcher if he has a saucijzenstaaf. It is the savoury version of an amandelstaaf. Only few butchers sell them and only at sinterklaas-time. Basically it's a huge saucijzenbroodje... 😋😋😋

[@buncharted]

oh baby! 🤤

[@hellmuthschreefel9392]

Have had all of those in my lifetime (early on when I lived in the Netherlands) but would have to say that Tompouce and Amandelstaaf are my favorites.

[@ncoppens]

My favorites are banketstaaf, taai taai and Oliebollen with raisins and appelbeigneits.

[@vincentubachs6129]

It’s even better when you heat The amandelstaaf up a little

[@AlbertBos-rz2vs]

Tried a crompouce today.it is indeed great. Plus we starting the holiday season already with Thanksgiving with our American friends. I call it pre- Christmas dinner 😊.

[@ImLucaszie]

I love that as a dutch person i havent tried/heard of almost half of these things

[@yvonnesopacua9901]

Oliebollen (not plane) with a lot of powder sugar and appelbeignets 😋 Our favorite

[@kochichris]

Kerstestol find by aldi and lidle, theres big ones, vegan one and nuts version with all raisins, small ones can be find everywhere😅in the bakery and supermarkets

[@noxipoxi]

I love your videos, and i am so glad you usually do get the options that are not popular or seem less popular. Keep doing you and please please keep travelling around, trying all new sorts of things. (Food and activities included :D) Do you guys also have an introduction video where u tell more about yourself? :)

[@buncharted]

we used to but it felt like it was so outdated :) it was one of our first videos... we're doing an update video here in a few weeks with a Q&A and stuff - and you'll learn more about us there and on our instagram! @buncharted

[@bertschalk1798]

Well, you can wake me up for ALL of these treats.....just love it !! Taaitaai......SIX stroopwafels 😂😂

[@woei4877]

When you mentioned Van der Sterre, I shot up from my bed and had to do a double take haha! Definitely an unexpected yet pleasant surprise to learn that you two live in my beautiful city. Glad you liked most of the food you tried! I personally go crazy for the almond-filled stuff. You should definitely try gevulde speculaas as well, absolutely delicious. I really like your vibe, keep it up! I've watched three of your videos now and will be watching more ^^

[@buncharted]

we went back for the gevulde speculaas! we posted it as a short :) and welcome to the channel! you'll see a lot of dordrecht here - and more soon!

[@erikw8644]

Wow, respect! I am Dutch and even worked at a bakery for many years (also working 14 hours a day during Holliday peak times) and you nailed it to get all the Holliday treats! If I had to list them, I would only get to 5 or so 😅 Nice video!

[@marcvanderputten310]

Hema chocolate letters are good quality chocolate for a very reasonable price, their amandelstaaf and speculaasstaaf are very nice as well. Btw, the amandelstaaf/letter tastes best when you warm it up in the oven first

[@royklein9206]

Eating a chocoladeletter 'lady-and-the-vagabond-style' is sooo romantic!😁😁👍👍

[@ronaldderooij1774]

Try the "drink" Bessola krentjebrij. It is available at Albert Heijn near the Chocomel. I thought it was medeaval, but it is only on the market since 1974. You have to love raisins though. It is very healthy.

[@buncharted]

we do love raisins - this looks tasty! thanks for the recommendation!

[@user-xi6nk4xs4s]

They could be in for a surprise.

[@casperrozenboom6408]

I totally forgot that existed and now I want it!

[@tubularap]

@@casperrozenboom6408 - I occasionally buy krentjebrei. It has a lovely taste, but after one liter I tend to let it rest for a while 🙂 I did not know it was only available since 1974. I also thought it had a medieval origin. So much for mind myths.

[@hannekehartkoorn5987]

The supermarket version has been around since 1974. The dish itself is much much older!

[@lordgandalf22]

the schuimpjes sometimes are mixed in with the kruidnoten and both are for sinterklaas and yes the schuimpjes are tooth breaking sweet. And the soft noten are like the og kruidnoten. Taai-taai is soft and also a sinterklaas treat.

[@murphycom]

Very nice video. Boterkoek is just so underrated! You should try it defenetly.

[@lindaraterink6451]

Michelle try the amandel staaf heated, It will make it even more great! Maybe Alex will like it better too that way.

[@rmyikzelf5604]

The oliebol with raisins are the best.

[@regiliok]

Spekulaas goes well with coffie U can dip it and itl be great if it doest break off

[@albertlay8927]

I love oliebollen! Haven't had them yet this year, but last year, I came across an oliebollenkraam and I bought two to take home. But I had devoured them before I had reached my car, so I had to go back for another two.

[@buncharted]

we went back and bought two more after we recorded the segment in the video 😂

[@B0K1T0]

You should try deep-frying your own.. it's great fun and brings out the real Dutch patriot in you, and makes your home smell like never before pro-tip: prepare rum raisins (better known as boerenjongens) some weeks in advance and mix them with the dough

[@Marijketn]

My favo snack for sinterklaas is Kikkers & Muizen , Sweet but love them! Gevulde koek you can have them the whole year round. I missed the gevulde speculaas, it is one of my favourites as well and when it is really cold, warm chocomel with wipped cream :) In the Netherlands there are Sinterklaassnacks and after that Christmas snacks two different themes that should not be mixed up ;)

[@buncharted]

we _just_ posted a short of us getting the gevulde speculaas! that was our mistake :)

[@aislingbooks]

Gevulde koek isn't a holiday treat but a very nice 'koekje bij de koffie'. Can't believe you guys didn't like it. It's my favourite. The stollen I also think of more for Easter, but that's personal. Olliebollen I love fresh off the kraam with something warm to drink to offset its oily sweetness, but I do think of this as a typically Dutch holiday treat mostly for New Years along with other hapjes, such as 'bitterballen en oude kaas'. Another holiday treat you haven't mentioned is advocaat, which is nothing like eggnog but sort of reminds me of it especially if you add rum to your nog.

[@TomboyVale]

I love oliebol, also the one with rum rosijnen and the one with sonnema beerenburg with cream, they are amazing 🤩

[@alteregotje2491]

You should try and warm up the amandelstaaf. It tastes pretty good like that too

[@jufjannie92]

You should definitely try the gevulde koek but then the speculaas ones! You can get them in some stores during Sinterklaas. Speculaas gevulde koeken are the best ❤

[@buncharted]

we will definitely look for these 👀

[@KESipples]

We were given pieces of gevulde spekulaas with our hot drinks at Stach today. They were ridiculously tasty.

[@thernymous]

I think both commenters are talking about different things. More traditionally you have 'gevulde speculaas'. It comes in a thick rectangle shape much like speculaasbrokken, and has three layers: the core one being almond paste. Then more recently bakeries (and the bakery areas in supermarkets) have started selling gevulde koeken with speculaas flavoring,. Flavor wise these might be similar, but I'd suggest getting both and trying gevulde speculaas first.

[@kayhoorn]

I have not yet eaten my first crompouse, you guys got me hyped 🤤

[@fem5927]

@fem5927 0 seconden geleden It really depends were you get one! Bakker Bart has a delicious one , but it’s without jam. The one from Albert Heijn is way too sweet!

[@phronsiekeys]

Good luck getting the right initial letter! Buy 'em as as you see them. These will make you very popular if you bring them home from a trip to NL as a souvenir.

[@RustyBumbleBee]

The speculaas spices that are also in the kruidnoten, are almost the same as the pumpkin spice spices.. there’s a small difference in that one of the minor spices in the mix are different. So if someone wants to make speculaas or kruidnoten in the US you can use the recipe with pumpkin spice.

[@fvt1979]

chocoladebroodje tijdens het wandelen in de Franse Alpen!

[@edwinburggraaf8224]

I love your content and this is definitely the most tongue-in-cheek one, I guess an overdose of cinnamon gets you going (c;

[@eobi-edobi4275]

next week saturday, in Gorinchem, is the national entry of Sinterklaas, live broadcasted on TV it is an event to be with. maybe for you guys to see.

[@SwirlingSoul]

Speculaasbrokken: dip them in hot chocolate, hot milk, cold milk, coffee, tea.... You get the idea... soak in some liquid with that cookie, and it becomes quite extra yummy💛

[@maryannecomment3302]

The candy, the cookies and the chocolate letter are eaten for Sinterklaas, from the moment he arrives in the Netherlands until he leaves. The oliebol is typically eaten at New Year's Eve. Nothing of these items have anything to do with Christmas. Gevulde koeken do not have anything to do with Christmas or Sinterklaas. In the Netherlands, Sinterklaas en Christmas are two different events, that have nothing to do with each other. We have Sinterklaas from the day he arrives (somewhere in November) until the 5th of December, then we have Christmas (25th and 26th of December and then of course New Year's Eve. After Sinterklaas has left and went back to Spain, you will find Christmas chocolates and candy and so on in the shops.

[@dutchgamer842]

You find Xmas candies in stores around Halloween, the Sinterklaas candies are already available in September. They don't wait for Xmas candies in stores at all

[@Wintertalent]

Sinterklaas and Christmas have everything to do with each other. Santa Claus is based on Saint Nicholas, just as Sinterklaas is.

[@movo721]

⁠@@Wintertalent??? No! Still, in NL two totally different events.

[@Wintertalent]

Yeah, you're right. Two old guys with long white beards, dressed in red, aided by an army of helpers, who are both named after Saint Nicholas, and who, only once a year in December, give out presents to kids who've been good all year... so different. @@movo721

[@hannekehartkoorn5987]

Schuimpjes are like solid marshmellows 🙂 Schuim means foam.

[@daanjr175]

Alex his face @ the end 😂

[@petrapap]

I like the game of words for the Krampus that in many European countries accompany Bishop Nicolas (Sinterklaas)

[@brinylon]

Taai really must be an acquired taste! Albert Heijn actually sells it year round in the bakery section, and I tend to get it few a time during the year when the craving hits

[@tns5044]

You should try putting the roomboterstaaf in the oven for a bit, they're even better when warm

[@elisedelange6529]

I came across this video, I always like to see what other people think of Dutch food. But there is a plot twist. You went to the bakery.... And I recognized it, because that's near me. I have also been living in Dordrecht for a few months now! It's great that I now recognize things in the videos (if you are walking around in Dordt of course 😋)

[@buncharted]

we love dordrecht! there's another great dordrecht spot in our next video as well :)

[@andyhorvath6630]

Hi there! Greetings from an Hungarian Dutchie. I love your videos! And I really love all the treats you mention in this video; guess some things are an acquired taste though; I really detested marsepein when I was young and now I really love it. I have to restrain myself … You should definitely warm the amandelstaaf a little, not too hot (you’ll burn your mouth on the almond filling), just so it’s a little warm. So goooood!! You couldn’t find a stol? The bakeries and supermarkets in my neighborhood sell them all year round (may be a regional thing, I’m in the south), only they’re not called kerststol during the year, only around Christmas they’re called that. And around Easter it’s named Paasstol, the rest of the year it’s just stol. I do have the impression that the stols during Christmas and Easter are more richly filled though … Kerstkransjes are indeed only available around Christmas, in all varieties: cookies, but also as sweets and chocolate ones. They are hung in the Christmas tree and as a child you could have one every day (of course we never obeyed and ate as much as we could get away with). Interestingly, a similar tradition exists in Hungary, the Christmas tree over there is filled with szaloncukor, a wide variety of wrapped filled chocolate sweets that you also were also supposed to eat only one a day. Of course every child learned very quickly how to get the sweet out of the wrapping and to put the empty wrapping back in the tree … Nothing beats a good oliebol … but be aware that the quality can differ very much. There’s a yearly national competition for who makes the best oliebollen. My favourite is the raisin and the sukade filled ones from the local market stall, they are so good! Again, thanks for this video, I really enjoyed it.

[@buncharted]

the oliebollen we had last year from our local gebakkraam in rotterdam wasn't nearly as good as the place we went to in dordrecht in this video... they were SO good. we went back for two more!

[@GoliathAngelus]

Amandelstaaf or letter is best to eat warm. Oliebol best to eat the same day when to buy,still warm and fresh

[@shad0wrune]

You are more dutch than I am (an I am living there for more than 50 years). Keep on going!

[@renevaanhold]

You should try gevulde speculaas in combination with espresso. Mmmm! You won't need sugar in your espresso. 😄

[@Leentvaar1964]

Getting hungry!!

[@MSwarriorNLD]

Cool video again! Fun to see what you think of the Dutch lifestyle. How long are you in the Netherlands already?

[@buncharted]

a year and a half 😄

[@MSwarriorNLD]

@@buncharted then the Dutch way of New Year’s Eve is not new to you, what do you think of that?

[@snroos1860]

Another well prepared review 🙂 . Although I'm Dutch, I haven't tried the Crompouse yet, but you've made me look forward to try it 😀. The "Speculaas brokken" were not the right brand. You need those with: 3 (x about 1.5 cm) thick (the bigger the better) pieces of speculaas in a package. As the name suggests, they taste like speculaas. They have only one disadvantage: It's hard to stop eating them before they run out :-( You know Sinterklaas and his treats like kruidnoten and speculaas. Next weekend (Saturday) Sinterklaas will arrive in the Netherlands in the town of Gorinchem, somewhere near Dordrecht. You can go visit and watch their arrival (it is also on television) and from that day on children are allowed to "schoentje zetten". Just before going to bed, they may place their shoe by the chimney (sometimes with hay or a carrot for Sinterklaas' horse (called Americo)) and sing a few songs to get his attention and please Sinterklaas. The next day, the children can look for treats in their shoes. You (their parents) can already find these treats at the supermarket. There are many things that Michelle will like (chocolate things). Maybe a suggestion for a rating? Keep up the good work!

[@jandirkvanleeuwen]

😂 again 👍 love you guys

[@RFGfotografie]

Hema is by my knowledge not a grocery store. Though I don't know how it's called then, it's more a have everything for your daily needs store. Have you been to one where there is also a cafetiria? As in here in Gouda they have that. And I almost always take the hot coco with wipped cream, it's such a treat :) Never had the Hema Rookworst though. Even if it's the Dutch thing everyone should have eaten at least once in there lives.

[@buncharted]

we have a whole video where we spent the day eating at hema. we looove hema!

[@pepo67]

I think the reason why you thought of lipstick,at the smell of marsepein,is because they spray it with cocoa butter. They do this so it doesn't dry out, and cocoa butter is also used in lipstick sometimes.

[@sim-one]

Crompuche like things go wild. In some pannenkoeken restaurant they have a filled pancake (rolled up) like a crompuche… 😄

[@buncharted]

i would definitely try it 🤤

[@almyrianna6956]

Later with easter, all those filled chocolate eggs you can buy, but jelly kind nah not realy, But get a bag of strooigoed (AH), there are candies inside for Alex. You have suikerbeestjes, the name says it. And for dinner with the holiday's gourmetten, fondue or any other social self cooking gathering.

[@svt9165]

The snacks you have eaten are for Sinterklaas. We celebrate it the 5th of December.

[@basvanzanten8452]

Next time u should heat up the banketstaaf, it is so good when u do it! Liked the vid :)!

[@Perriax]

Lotta suger in most of the treats😄. I guess my favourite is kruidnootjes, although I love Lebkuchen as well (German Christmas cookies).

[@framegote5152]

There are many recipes for oliebollen. When you want to make some yourself, try use beer in the batter!

[@gijsbertusvermeulen85]

Oliebollen are the best on first of january with a hangover

[@Foba10]

Going wild over the Blackpink sweater

[@buncharted]

blackpink in your area! 😄

[@SwirlingSoul]

After watching the first few seconds,...me; "OOOH! SCHUIMPJES!" ..... 🥰🤤💚💙❤ This is gonna be food torture, isn't it!?! Okay.... gonna make my mouth water now by watching the rest.

[@wilco8729]

Sint maarten.... i got for more then 50 kids by the door. I love it😅 and every song whas different. Sinterklaas is next and then santa in comming. I like the snacks alot😅.

[@travelpointone991]

Schuim is translated as 'foam' so soft.

[@Bricolage-ph]

Considering you guys live near Rotterdam you really should try 'kruidbroodjes', we always eat them on Christmas morning and on the 1st of January for breakfast.

[@buncharted]

omg these look so good - thanks for the tip!

[@Bricolage-ph]

@@buncharted I eat then with butter and a little bit of sugar (basterdsuiker) and some extra succade.