(photograph © Kiwidutch)
If you live in The Netherlands and want to watch the World Cup in Amsterdam today, then all trains, buses and trams will be free to get there… but just free today you understand, (we Dutch have a reputation to uphold LOL).
Reputations for frugality thriftiness aside, there was a bizarre mention in the Dutch media about some irate houseboat owners who will be more than a little upset if the Dutch win today and the traditional “parade by canal” by the team takes place near them once the team arrive back home.
Apparently in 1988 when the Dutch won the European Championships the canal parade backfired for many canal house-boat owners who had ringside seats on the water …
… so many exuberant fans jumped onto the roofs of their houses to be closer to the action that some of the houseboats actually sank… and many that didn’t sink sustained considerable damage.
Ouch… I can understand that you really DO want to be a part of the celebrations, but if the sheer weight of the supporters sinks your home it’s really does put a dampener on things doesn’t it?
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
Then there is the other bizarre media circus that covers with great detail the antics of an English Octopus in a German Zoo called Paul who’s been predicting the outcome of World Cup matches. Sorry …but if you are that superstitious then I think you deserve to loose LOL.
Meantime has anyone noticed that Paul appears to pick the right hand tank one time, the left hand tank the next, then the right hand tank again… Does it therefore occur to anyone that maybe his little octopus brain says ” Hey, I took all the food out of that one last time, so ergo it must be empty and the rest of the stash can only be in this one today….” ?
I suppose that it may also have been a wise move for Paul with some ulterior motives.. After all, Spain has a bigger coastline than The Netherlands, and a population of 44 million to the Dutch 17 million so is it possible that our little Octo friend did the math and thought:
“Hey, all those silly superstitious people will be freaking out at my prediction and the unhappy ones will be dining out on a menu of “Calamari Revenge” in the next days…
Which of these two populations would do the most damage to my wider circle of friends and relations? um… er… ok .. let’s count of eight legs… The Spanish.
Quick!… pick them to win, The Dutch a) have a reputation for being very laid back and tolerant and b) there are less of them to take revenge on my wild cousin Paulo, Paola, Pedro, Piero, Pancha, Palma, Paz, etc. “
If the Spanish DO win by the way, what are the chances that the Spanish names ” Octaviano” and Octavia” will suddenly find their way into the “ 10 most popular baby names” lists in say… nine months time ???
I would squeal out loud laughing, really surely no one would take it that seriously ?????
Forget Sport Paul… you clearly have a future in the Diplomatic Service. 
Many Dutch cities are erecting giant screens in suitable places, large Pleins or parks, this is great news for families with children who want to experience the match in a crowd but don’t want to be somewhere like a Pub.
Great! I thought… Family Kiwidutch would love to be able to share this amazing moment in a great atmosphere, watching on a mega screen and cheering with fellow citizens of The Hague.
Wrong… our city council is the only one in the country who refuses to put up or will allow large screens… even though we have two massive locations where events are often held, that would be ideal: Zuiderpark, and the Marliveld.
Needless to say the council is getting a LOT of flack for this right now…
One of the big supermarket chains launched a World Cup Football campaign… with every Euro 15 worth of purchases, you get a “beesie” (pronounced: “bay see”). There are different ones out for every World Cup or European Championship in recent years.
This years offering comes in Red, White and Blue of the national flag and of course, Orange, the national colour. Our kids went for Orange with every opportunity …
This tournaments Beesie is a small snake-like thing with bulging eyes that imply being heavily related to the Muppets.
Kids of course, love them, and plead with you to shop there so that they can improve their stash. Naturally the supermarket chain never thought of this aspect when they hatched these little items. (Ha!!!.. you think???)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
These Beesies come with a thin wire inside and a small double sided tape sticker on the top so you will find them wound around bike handles and spokes, car aerials, gates, car mirrors, computer screens, doorways… the list goes on.
One of the photos below shows the “Holland” banner back to front… (well it’s the right way round if you are in the apartments behind, obviously) but that’s not what everyone on the busy road sees it.
So the Big Question is: Will the team be victorious or not?… only thing left now is to bite our nails, pray that it doesn’t come down to a penalty shootout , scream our joys and sighs at the TV as the game progresses until the final whistle blows and see who’s country name emerges as the new name on the World Cup…
Naturally from where I’m sitting it’s: Viva Hollondia !!!!!! and Hup Holland Hup!!!!
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
(photograph © Kiwidutch)
Daughter came home from Scouts with two little toys she picked out heself…
The message on the first one is obvious, the other says “leg neer de ball” (put down that ball” from what I can make out…
Update: Dutch News reports that if the Dutch win, then houseboat owners will get police protection for their homes during the canal parade for the team… yeah for common sense!
