VLOG: 7 everyday differences US vs the Netherlands, Utrecht to Amsterdam, Dutch Diaries

Let me take you through life in the Netherlands as an American by showing you some of the everyday differences that I notice in Dutch culture and the Dutch way of life. Moving abroad brings many surprises!
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I like to share my experiences of an American expat in the Netherlands. I describe both the unique and everyday aspects of Dutch culture, and life in Holland while enjoying every bit of it!
Blog website: www.dutchamericano.com
Instagram: DutchAmericano
Get in touch: [e-mail]
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[@user-rx4jg8lq7h]

I love how you have created such a nice life for yourself! And you spread a little joy and brightness whereever you go.

[@DutchAmericano]

That's such a nice thing to say-thank you.

[@LTimotheus]

The UFO and teapot were part of an art exhibition in 1999 called Panorama 2000. You could see all these art installations from the top of the Domtower.

[@DutchAmericano]

Ohhh, thanks for the info! That's so cool!

[@wisecat.]

You know, that UFO also used to have light and smoke effects. Like it just crashed on top of that building. Unfortunately they removed that after the exhibition in 1999

[@erik5374]

The tower was also in scaffolding back then.

[@FrankHeuvelman]

That's what we want them to think, etmekoe. (blink blink)

[@alexbernadina3082]

The singel was till the 60s water, than they closed it and filled it up to be roads for cars, and a few years ago they said: we got to get rid of this mistake, we change it back to waterways again

[@JanneWolterbeek]

Yep, seems to be a trend though, they’ve also done this in Breda for instance.

[@H1SCOTTY]

@@JanneWolterbeek indeed Zevenbergen also. To bad you can see it new hopefully in time this will fade. But it’s a beautiful trend that’s also due to the fact that more mobility for cars doesn’t makes less traffic jams it just makes more traffic. That’s why you will see more bigger biking-lanes biking-streets and is Amsterdam talking about a 30 Km/h speed limit in the city center.

[@alexbernadina3082]

@@JanneWolterbeek Almelo too

[@JanneWolterbeek]

@@alexbernadina3082 ah nice, so it is a trend, apparently!

[@JanneWolterbeek]

@@H1SCOTTY Good point, next time I am near Zevenbergen I will go have a look!

[@70ed81]

I really like the "New" Vlog-style,....taking us to different locations,....also changing the angles a bit at Home,....keep it up! :)

[@mavadelo]

The building with the UFO is called "de Inktpot" (the inkwell) and it has had the UFO since 1999. The teapot has been on the roof of Hoog Catharijne since 2013. Both were made for expositions. The UFO was just never taken down, the teapot was gone for a little while during the renovations and now has a permanent place on top of that parking building. When you wre walking on the Singel you probably saw some billnoards with people depicted on them? This is an exposition of fotos made by a friend of mine. Right in front of Karel V (the 5 star hotel, the big white building across the Inktpot) there is a board with two people on 1 foto, that is me and my wife :) Sadly she is no longer with us. As for Ocra, if you can find it anywhere it should be in Lombok/Kanaalstraat I would say. Loads of shops from all kinds of cultures can be found there.

[@FrankHeuvelman]

One of the UFO aliens married my sister. It didn't work out.

[@duncani3095]

Hey! The picture is up! Happy you love it over here. Lots of luck with the channel!

[@iamTheSnark]

"Their owners are nearby, and they do behave." Yes, but what about the dogs?

[@Charlz1980tv]

😆😆😆👍

[@nralbers]

The dogs generally behave. It's the owners you have to watch out for.

[@FrankHeuvelman]

@@nralbers Thank you, Niels. We needed that.

[@Doubleranged1]

Very nice video. This weekend I worked on personal projects like a weekend that I organize for friends.

[@Maatje1972]

What I like so much from your video's is that you mention subjects that are complete normal for me, as a Dutch man. And I don't think of it at all. So that's so nice to see that normal tings for me are new/strange for you...

[@expatfamilylive9041]

We love your vlogs! We're Russian people living in the Netherlands 🇳🇱 and there are a lot of surprising things here for us but we live this country 🤩🙏🚲🏡

[@DutchAmericano]

I can imagine that it must be a big change! Do love the bikes and cute houses/buildings =D

[@expatfamilylive9041]

@@DutchAmericano we watched your videos a lot before the relocation 🙏

[@themadsamplist]

Your cat is great! Chunky is just happy to see you in the morning

[@herby4911]

Thanks for your vlogs! I enjoy them very much. Plus I love Utrecht, especially the terrasjes beside the Oude Gracht. :) I’ve visited them countless times. This Sunday afternoon I’m going to watch one of the Star Wars movies together with my daughter (at home).

[@bobbieboothroyd8531]

Hi I'm in the UK. I think I would be a bit shy being on your video as well. but I enjoy watching them. it rains here as well. the thing that strikes me about the Neverlands is how clean it looks on the videos. even tho I've never been their keep up the good work

[@dutchman7623]

Once, a long time ago, a Frenchman sighed: I wished they kept their bodies as clean as their pavement!

[@FritigernGothly]

I used to live just off Amsterdamsestraatweg and rode my bicycle home from the Oudegracht past the Singel. I can't believe how much that has changed, that used to be such a busy road and now it's a canal!!!!

[@damouze]

I loved seeing different bits of Utrecht. I don't visit there very often anymore, which is really a shame, because the city definitely has a place in my heart. Also, your cat is a total cutie! How did the gumbo turn out?

[@MarcelVolker]

Really like these vlog style vids, hope you'll be doing more of them!

[@PJHMX]

Love your new style 'show more of my life' vlogs ! By the way, okra is not a dutch staple, so you probably won't find it in your neighbourhood AH. The exotic supermarket should have them.

[@willemh3319]

eva i linked your vids to my still Dutch speaking relatives in california and colorado arizona they love it

[@reggywedding]

Always enjoy all of your vlog videos, keep it up 😃 👊

[@adriaank75]

I have a friend from New Orleans. When she visited me soms time ago, she made real cajun Gumbo. I must say, your gumbo looks so different. I haven't even tried to cook gumbo here in Nederland because of the lack of ingredients. Sassefras is a herb that she used but which I also can't find anywhere. She loves nasi and frietje oorlog. I sometimes send her food packages, even though US customes sometimes return the package. Anyway, love your vids...and it's so cute how you talk Dutch :-)

[@AkborVideo]

Thanks for showing the tea pot. I have been walking there, but never noticed it.

[@erictaylor5462]

When I was working in Yosemite we had a Dutch family come in the afternoon after a huge blizzard. It was very cold outside, well below freezing, and there was 6 feet of new snow on the ground outside on the patio. With the bright sun it was extremely pretty with the sparkling snow. But as I said it was really cold. This Dutch family wanted us to open the patio so they could sit outside (the patio was never open in the winter) and made me get my boss so they could make their case to her. Thank God she told them emphatically no. I think that their behavior was atypical for Dutch people, but the only other Dutch people I actually know are family friends, so it's possible they are the weird ones.

[@mardiffv.8775]

The Dutch like to sit outside, some patio's have outdoor heating or are turned into glasshouses. And yes, the weather is useally bad in the Netherlands, so the Dutch are used to the cold/ rain/ wind.

[@Yvolve]

We don't get that kind of snow, nor do we have the views like that. This is probably the reason they wanted to sit outside, to enjoy it. We're used to the cold, it's super humid here in winter so the air cuts through everything, it's not a crisp cold. It is not common for Dutch people to be this adamant you open up the patio, but I understand they wanted to soak up the view. The Netherlands is very flat, like the American Midwest, but without the rolling hills.

[@erictaylor5462]

@@Yvolve I have been to the Netherlands, but it was in the summer. I do remember the humidity. Other than the weather, and the smell of the canals, I really liked the country. Though I felt Amsterdam wasn't like the rest of the country. Where the most of the country was neat, and tidy, Amsterdam was the opposite. We stayed with friends in Leek if that helps. And it was in 1986.

[@Yvolve]

@@erictaylor5462 Our weather is so terrible. I always carry a backpack with a jacket, because I will need it at some point. Either it starts to rain or it gets really cold, or the wind gets even worse and cuts to the bone. I hate wet winters with a fiery passion. Things are very different now, Amsterdam was pretty rundown back then. The canals weren't kept up, as was the city, so it got pretty seedy. The smell is gone, because the canals are now maintained, the city is clean for the amount of tourists and very clean in the non-tourist areas. Amsterdam also is it's own thing entirely, nothing is like it. It's western neighbour Haarlem looks similar. but is much more relaxed. Amsterdam did provide the Netherlands with its wealth in the Golden Age (17th century), so is very important for us, but also disliked by many for big city arrogance. The rest of the country is much more down to earth, we have a saying "act normal, that's crazy enough", meaning that there is no need to act up or out. Just be you, go with the flow. The people in the province of Groningen, where Leek is, are some of the most stoic, down to earth people I know, and very friendly. I hope you enjoyed your time there!

[@mariadebake5483]

Nice vlog! And I had never heard of okra before so I've learned something. You have a beautiful cat. And I can assure you, children need far more attention and care than pets do!

[@Dutchbelg3]

Hey Ava, I did not much today (Sunday) .. The weather was like real autumn with lots of rain and I woke up at a rare late time 10:30 AM so lunch was pretty much my first meal. Here is one of the advantages of living in Belgium: There are a multitude of bakeries open on Sundays! So lunch on Sundays is with freshly baked pistolets (crispy crust little buns) and "koffiekoeken" a typical delicacy of Belgium: Sweet pastries with flaky dough (kind of the same as good croissants but filled with raisins or chocolate or baker's cream or... there are so many kinds! The buns are cut and we put all kinds of savoury toppings on them. It is a total sunday morning party. We watched some tv in the afternoon and went for a good pizza (the Italian - we don't share or cut in slices ;-) ) and our Pizzeria owner Franceso always offers grappa or limoncello :-) Luckily we walked up to the pizzeria so we had some movement today.. Yep a lazy sunday!

[@jandemanist]

schilderij hangt mooi eva! weer een klus geklaard!

[@arjenlaan4103]

For okra, go the Kanaalstraat, you should be able to find it there, I do recall buying it in one of the many stores there.

[@arjan_speelman]

Okra you can find at Amazing Oriental (at least the frozen variety) and perhaps also the Target Mart. You can find both stores almost next to eachother on the Amsterdamsestraatweg. The Amazing Oriental in Hoog Catharijne (next to the Mediamarkt) might also have them.

[@FacelessJanus]

Okra you can't find in the supermarket unless they have some specific theme week. Different types of Toko, should usually have them. (same thing for whole coconuts etc)

[@eefneleman9564]

Hey, the painting is up! Good job! Cats need attention. Well, I guess all pets do, as do kids. Just play with them until they're exhausted. Unfortunately, that may exhaust you as well. Beautiful cat btw.

[@DutchAmericano]

Thank you!

[@42earthling]

@@DutchAmericano Hi, the same here with my cat Veleda, mostly during winter when she can't go outside i'm playing a lot with her but i also have bought electric toys with which she is playing a lot such as 'funny butterfly'. :)

[@macmartin86]

Dutch people will go through great lengths to sit outside for as long as possible until it actually becomes too cold, but you can kind of guess that already since we're big on terras heaters, so we'll sit outside until the climate becomes too cold.

[@GraffitiDulce]

it most be possible to find some okra in Utrecht, im sure! Amazing oriental on Amsterdamsestraatweg, or mayb in a store in lombok on the kanaalstraat. and mayb even on the thursdays market on Vredenburg, if hats still a thing tho

[@aphexart]

I love Okras, and also not a German thing, so i go to the Asia Market if i want some. What i love are the croissant out of a can that you can bake yourself... Oooh the smell on a sunday morning of croissant in the oven... Devine!

[@jtb357]

I love that you are really vlogging nowd 😊

[@kaydesign]

Nice spontaneous episode!

[@Myriako]

Thank you for this video ! 😊🌷

[@SAMUDRAMAC]

Okra is not a Dutch thing. So no, not at Albert Heijn. But every Asian store should have it and many Turkish stores as well. So everywhere you be found. Amazing orientalist for sure at hoog Catharijne,

[@zuur303]

Okra is so very much a Dutch thing. Boerenkool however is seen as a seasonal foodstuff (autumn/winter dish), so it simply isn't available year around. At least in the big chain supermarkets.

[@mariadebake5483]

@@zuur303 Okra isn't a Dutch thing at all

[@madamnicknack]

@@zuur303 It is may available in supermarkets in the big cities/Randstad, but not in the whole country.

[@H1SCOTTY]

I live in a small village and the Dirk and Albert Heijn have canned okra, it's just not fresh if there is something like that (i don't use it). What's the origin of okra? If it's Indian the most simple explanation is we didn't colonize India so it isn't in our culture like Indonesian foods.

[@madamnicknack]

@@H1SCOTTY Ik heb net in de bestelapp van Albert Heijn gekeken, kan niet besteld worden. Dit lijkt niet landelijk te zijn. En Dirk van den Broek zit vooral in de randstad en op enkele plekken in Gelderland en Overijssel.

[@mrjules1982]

For the okra (and any other 'exotic' ingredients), you should go to Kanaalstraat in Lombok. Also for the best spekkoek you've ever had 😋

[@Rubber_Ring]

There's a really nice big toko named Toko Oriental at the Amsterdamse Straatweg 297 that sells okra as well.

[@RosesAndIvy]

@@Rubber_Ring I think you mean Amazing Oriental? Yes it does sell okra, and there is also an Amazing Oriental in Hoog Catharijne since a few months.

[@themrMarkinator]

I think you can find okra at Persepolis at the Twijnstraat. Otherwise you will be able to find it at the Kanaalstraat or the Amsterdamsestraatweg. You can also find it at amazing oriental I think (Hoog Catharijne). By the way, the UFO on top of the Inktpot was part of an art project through the city. The owners of the building (ProRail) liked it and decided to keep it (a bit like the Eiffel Tower).

[@davidharris3391]

Best Amsterdam VLOG and KZbin channel 👍🏾😀

[@vincenttayelrand]

I really like this multi day format.

[@DutchAmericano]

Thanks!

[@TheViperMan]

About sitting outside.. we just want to take the last sunshine of the year before autumn kicks in.

[@DutchAmericano]

I think the difference is for me that I already feel like autumn has kicked in, haha 😂But I can see that!

[@SandsOfArrakis]

@@DutchAmericano It pretty much has. It's been raining pretty much constantly since yesterday.

[@mariadebake5483]

@@SandsOfArrakis Yes 🌧🌧☂️☔💧

[@MiguelJW]

You can get Okra at the toko or at ‘the Turk’ (Turkish Minimarket)

[@chrislaarman7532]

I can confirm: at least supermarkets (or butcheries) run by people connected with Turkey. Probably not the smallest ones. I used to buy fresh okras, but I remember seeing them preserved in glass jars. Tokos: Amsterdam features two big oriental shops on the Geldersekade, near Centraal station. There are more. Utrecht: definitely in the Lombok quarter (North of the Jaarbeurs buildings).

[@H1SCOTTY]

@@chrislaarman7532 yeah I live in a small village and thought it was something Turkish, at Dirk and Albert Heijn supermarkets it’s not fresh but at the section canned foods

[@chrislaarman7532]

@@H1SCOTTY I can't find "okra", "oker" or "ocra" in the apps of Albert Heijn, Dirk and Jumbo. As expected, for I can't remember meeting any other Dutch person who knows them, so there would be too little turnover for supermarkets, and the fresh product is very delicate.

[@mistrants2745]

Chunkie is GORGEOUS!

[@dutchyjhome]

Hey Ava, It is so obvious that you have embraced Dutch society and welcomed the Netherlands as a country and the Dutch and Dutch culture in your life, you radiate happiness and the less you cling to the American culture and the American norms and values ​​and the American language and therefore fewer and fewer things are weird in the new society that you are now part of, there are fewer and fewer awkward situations; nice to be able to follow this process through your vlogs. I don't know if you notice it in yourself, but you are much more relaxed, less uptight, much less American and much more Dutch than you may realize. That positive aura whether it's raining or the sun is shining and you get moments of happiness from the little things... that would be typical Dutch ! Slowly but surely we can say: The American eagle has landed in The Netherlands and is here to stay! ... and The American Woman is slowly but surely turning into just another Dutchy and that's probably the greatest compliment you can get from another Dutchy. And above all things: in such a relatively short time as well. Cheers! You're a successfully integrated immigrant!

[@HansPostCumulus4]

You start your walk in the street where I lived from 1987 till 2003. I live in another part of the city now. For groceries and okra, you may want to try the Toko at 'Achter Clarenburg' or perhaps 'Ekoplaza' in Zadelstraat. Maybe Persepolis in 'Twijnstraat'? That should all be within walking distance. Nice to see that you are enjoying life in Utrecht.

[@youteacher78]

Okra? Kanaalstraat!

[@markovermeer1394]

Part of the reason why croissants (and eating outdoors) is relatively expensive in NL, is that those sellers want to have a decent income as well. You have the choice to accept their offer, or get much cheaper quality from the supermarkets.

[@H1SCOTTY]

Eye opener when “De Keuringdienst van Waarde” brought it that most real bakery’s buy their dough for croissants 🥐 at the same place as supermarkets however quality can differ.

[@jorikfournier8274]

for more oriental foods you can try the oriental foodmarket on the Amsterdamse Straatweg. Amazing Oriental just past the plantage

[@evanherk]

never seen okra here in a regular store. some stores apparently have canned okra. That's a lot of bottles! "Yes, it 's from the whole week"...

[@dorcasukoni4049]

*SUCCESSFULL PEOPLE DON'T BECOME THAT WAY OVERNIGHT.* *WHAT MOST PEOPLE SEE AT A GLANCE-WEALTH,* *A GREAT CAREER,* *PURPOSE-IS THE RESULT OF HARD WORK AND HUSTLE OVER TIME.* *I PRAY THAT ANYONE WHO READS THIS WILL BE SUCCESSFUL IN LIFE. *

[@frankedwina8105]

Natural, there’s a lot of math involved in forex trading,

[@frankedwina8105]

but this is often presented in forms of daunting technical charts, indicators, patterns.

[@morrisrogers9120]

Trading systems allow you to limit the factor of emotional influence on decision-making,

[@morrisrogers9120]

as well as to give the trade a certain degree of systemic character.

[@leoharry667]

This is very correct and good,

[@jpdj2715]

When you live here, you need to prepare yourself (clothing) for the wind, and she adds, and the rain. Note: generally when a strong enough wind blows, if there are rain drops higher in the sky then they may not reach us and earth.

[@jasper7072]

You can get okra at the AmazingOriental (it's a chain brand) supermarket. One of my favorite places to shop :D

[@hunchbackaudio]

Our Jumbo (Amersfoort) sells oker, but the toko certainly sells it. Also you can buy them at the market on saturday in front of Hoog Caterijne, I know i did.

[@dennism.3418]

Nice to see the painting on the wall :D

[@johannesvanmaanen4438]

Hi there, in Utrecht you will probably find okra at a grocery shop in the kanaalstraat or Amsterdamse Straatweg.

[@BRTxNL]

Okra is mostly just found at the Toko. Outside of that, maybe at some of the groenteboeren, but it's generally not found in the supermarkets. After I came back from a long trip through I had cravings for okra but I struck out everywhere, except for asian markets.

[@RicoSinZ]

For the Dutch if it isnt raining in September/Oktober and its kinda sunny or Just cloudy it doesnt matter if its 20 degrees or 10 degrees the weather is good enough to Just sit outside and enjoy

[@pietergjsbrs]

If you can find a Surinam shop in your hometown you will find a lot of fresh okra. In Albert Cuijp in Amsterdam there are some Surinam shops where you can get okra.

[@legomattie3295]

For okra 2 options. That foodstore in HC across the media markt, or the toko in Achter Clarenburg. There used to be a toko on the Croeselaan. Not sure if that one still exist

[@rmanpojo8485]

6:30 I lunch outside in my garden. It's not to cold (10-18 C)and keep in mind the dark months are coming... I need every spot of sunlight s...

[@hcjkruse]

The inktpot was built partially with rails because of iron shortage after world war 2. Headquarters of ProRail, Dutch railway infrastructure regulator. Except in Tokos you will find it at the zwarte markt in Beverwijk. Maybe on other food markets. I would think about Visserijplein in Rotterdam. Not sure about something similar in Utrecht. Or grow your own?

[@wookieecantina]

Great videos, really enjoy them!

[@H1SCOTTY]

You see okra in stores not just in toko"s but not fresh, in cans lots of stores sell it. I always asked myself where it is used for and how it taste.

[@youteacher78]

For okra or any other exotic foods go to the Kanaalstraat in the neighborhood of Lombok! Just a five minute walk from the back of the main station and it has dozens shops from Turkish to Persian to South American (the continent ;-) )

[@Carrinthe]

Chunky is totally adorable and a looker

[@Species6079]

Okra can be bought in Turkey's, Moroccan and Surinam toko's (shops). You can also try a "groentespeciaalzaak". Other words for okra in the Netherlands are oker, okro, bhindi, bhendi and bamya. I hope this helps!

[@wich1]

You can get frozen okra at Amazing Oriental, there’s two shops in Utrecht, or order from their webshop

[@DutchAmericano]

Thanks for the tip!

[@wich1]

@@DutchAmericano no worries. Amazing Oriental is well worth a visit if you’ve never been, they have lots of great stuff

[@cbaten2]

As a Dutchie having lived for a short while in NO, LA, I made Gumbo quite often. Although I have to admit the last time is quite a while ago. I can't remember having trouble finding Gumbo, either in de local weekmarket or in a toko. I checked and a Turkish or North African shop should do as well. Other names used: oker, okro, ochro, ladies' fingers, bhindi, bhendi en bamya. Have a look, IMO Gumbo without okra is no Gumbo.

[@wisecat.]

My late cat used to attack me too for no reason. She was really really obsessed with food. I thought that's maybe the reason. So I bought an automatic feeder. After a while I noticed she was more calm and the attacks stopped. I guess putting her on a strict 'only dry food' diet on fixed times paid off. Also the fact that I wasn't the one who was giving her food but the machine did help a lot. She was a much more nicer cat afterwards. Unfortunately she died last year of cancer. 18 years old. Still miss her.

[@Staemtraction]

That building with the UFO used the be the Head office No. 3 of the NS but is now used by Prorail.

[@chriskwakernaat2328]

you will probably find ocra in an asian grocery shop.. might want to google for something close by. Btw, did you taste an "uitsmijter"yet? baked eggs with bread,ham and cheese beneath it.. (i usually put pieces of bacon into the egg a well)

[@leostouthart8289]

Hi Eva you can found okra in Suriname shops in de kanaalstraat also some turky and african shops have this

[@1336mg]

Okra is used in Surinam cuisine, so you should find it at the (Surinam) toko. In Almere its easy to get.

[@willemh3319]

south asiand brought it to suriname as contrackies

[@lizatk82]

hi eva you can find okra in Netherlands but only in the deep fries sections of Turkish supermarkten .

[@Bosdavid]

Hi Eva (or is it Ava?), Concerning the okras: have you tried an organic store/supermarket yet? I work at a big one in Rotterdam and we have sold them in the previous weeks or so, although I'm not sure whether we still do sell them on this day. Deliveries may vary, depending availability/season. ;) For something completely different: have you immersed yourself in the ("better") Dutch music yet? I'm curious about what you've heard already and which music you like or dislike and what in your opinion makes (this) music Dutch, apart from the language of course.

[@marco-lk3hj]

In several Dutch cities you can find one of the Amazing oriental supermarkets. They sell lots of, mainly, Asian products. They sell definitely Okra.

[@Bartakos]

In Utrecht that is on Amsterdamse Straatweg 301

[@TheMarlBoroMan666]

Toko de waag / amazing oriental / Toko Tjiau Jiang in Utrecht often have it most of the time

[@gordonwallin2368]

Ava, some, two or more, strong cheeses, some very sweet, mild onions, some tomatoes or avocados, or both; a pile, a big pile. of crescents and some, depending on the time of day, dark roast coffee, or dark rose/merlot wine; and life is sweet. I grew up in a Dutch community in Canada, so I've had some Dutch food fun,. I'd add some, hard boiled eggs, and cold boiled potatoes/green onions salad and life is even sweeter.

[@pjotrtje0NL]

Just so you know, the Singel under the mall in Utrecht used to be a road, until a decade or so ago. That’s something that happens often, you know…

[@NastyDeb]

Okra fresh you won't find easily in supermarkets because they often have a short shelf life, but yeah toko's or vegetable stores or on the market you probably find them more. There are also a lot of other names in dutch we use for Okra, like Oker, Ochro, Lady Fingers, bhindi, bhendi and Bamya, I'm more familiar with the name Bamya. Like in the Jumbo you can find them as Bamya under preserves, Lidl sometimes has them fresh(but they have more often out of the box vegetables like purple brussel sprouts, these taste more nuttier). Not sure why I went on a rant about Okra lol.

[@ankhayratv]

Not much, on the weekend. Did fitness dance groepsles on saturday, did Zumba groepsles on sunday, after which the trainer says: I'm going to do another hour, wanna join? And so we did a second hour. It was fun.

[@Xenolithicful]

You can find Okra in Indian grocery stores, also in Turkish grocery stores -but frozen.

[@ElasticbrandNet]

Okra is just not a part yet of the dutch cuisine. But you can easily find it at any Surinam toko. And even a lot of dishes people make that they think are foreign dishes, are adjusted to suit the average dutch grocery stores inventory. Check the "Knorr wereld keuken" dishes, it's funny how leeks go in almost anything :-P

[@doctorgras8650]

Do you go to the beagels and beans near the glasbak? If not, i would recommend it

[@zein151]

Hello Eva, I'm originally from the Middle East. We eat a lot of Okra as well. I always find it in the Turkish, Arabic or North African shops.

[@reggywedding]

About the okra, you can find them in almost every Turkish supermarkets 👍

[@barbarawarner4645]

I’m a California girl transplanted in NL. Not much okra in California either. Mostly gumbo in Ca is sans okra (which is fine with me). The food I miss most and find hardest to find in NL is corn tortillas.

[@obud3777]

For Okra you have to go to a Toko (Indonesian for shop). The Dutch empire owned Indonesia, so we do know a lot about Indonesian food.

[@Lab-of-Lyynn]

Okra isn't a Dutch vegetable, so you have to go to other shops, like a toko, or a Turkish shop, last year I bought at the Ekoplaza, but I prefer to buy it fresh on the market. Hope you'll find your 'local dealer'! Btw, I love your blog/vlog/give it a name :-)

[@kellyvandijk3269]

You can find okra on the Albert Kuip, Dappermarkt, and turkeys shops or Arabisch or Surinaams or Chinees or Indonesia shops

[@markohen]

Hoi Ava, okra is bij de Appie niet te krijgen inderdaad. Probeer de Aziatische supermarkt in Hoog Catharijne en je hebt zeker succes. Sommige zaken in de Kanaalstraat hebben (soms) ook okra.

[@torrawel]

Did you get okra in the Javastraat? They have lots of it! Okra kunnen vinden in de Javastraat? Moet wel... Veel winkels verkopen 't.

[@g.v.d.m9894]

You can usualy find okra in turkish/suriname/ asian stores....basicly most tokos the regular super markets indeed dont have it

[@Cherylgielow]

I’m from Texas. I have lived here three years and 75% of the time I am going the wrong way if I am out of my neighborhood. My brain and maps just don’t get on the same page. I thought I was the only one with no sense of direction. It is certainly no fun!

[@davidc.w.2908]

I have the same in the USA. In the Netherlands I could go anywhere once and would find it the next time without the GPS. To me, in the U.S. all roads and towns seem too similar and I get easily lost.

[@willemh3319]

since yur walking in the javastraat that is where yuo get the okra there is a pakistani shop that hasa lot of okra AND sweets

[@omarhenriquez350]

Hi hi, I always enjoy your blogs . Love your view on the Netherlands and your view makes me appreciate this country more than i did. So thank you for that. Now about Okers r Ocras as you call them. Almost every toko sells okers and some jumbo’s in areas where a lot of people from Surinam life also sell okers. Also in Utrecht on the market I saw a stand (with Caribbean an Surinam vergeetallen) that sells okers. I also use them a lot and they are always available in the Netherlands if you know where to look. So good luck finding them. X

[@bertkassing8541]

I think you can buy okra at Amazing Oriental in Utrecht.

[@TheEvertw]

I love Utrecht. Especially the Singles. Used to cycle half an hour to walk around them. Sit in their presence. Find the occasional bastion. But usually I ended up getting wet feet.

[@stefanwerdekker]

So did you not manage to get okra (I saw sperciebonen in the gumbo)? You should be able to get these at chinese, surinamese or any other 'exotic' food shop. I agree though that all supermarkets should have these 😊

[@pluut9722]

De meeste kans maak je bij de toko (Bendi FoodCenter, Mantra Food store, Toko Tjiau Jiang) , op de markt en in Turkse winkels, . Daar kennen ze de okra ook wel onder andere namen, zoals oker, okro, ochro, ladies' fingers, bhindi, bhendi en bamya. Let er bij het kopen op dat de groente frisgroen is, stevig aanvoelt en geen bruine plekken heeft.

[@simon54]

The 4 big supermarkets all sell okra, if you don't see it, ask for it. You might not find curry leaves or kafir li e as easily though