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Dutch Pancakes - Go Figure
What is Michael on about? Dutch Pancakes?
Continuing our theme about a tiny little Dutch fishing village called Volendam I asked an old friend Hans from the Hollandse Markt in the centre of Volendam to write me a little article about Poffertjes - AKA Dutch Pancakes. You might be hesitant to have a go at pronouncing Poffertjes but give it a go as it sounds pretty much as it looks and not that I am fluent in Dutch but my advice would be to put a slight enfasis on the "T". So PofferT jes. Give it a go no one can hear you on the net.
I have been visiting the village of Vollendam for 23 years now and remember fonldy getting my photo taken in Dutch costume with my groups. Make sure if you get out there you give it a try as it really is one of those photos on the mantle that people will notice. For more about Dutch costume see this blog entry Dutch Costumes.
We are here today though to talk about Poffertjes. The village itself is just beautiful and I like to take a walk around the harbour and perhaps get some Pommes with mayo for the walk. MAYO! I believe I just said you can't hear anyone on the net. That is except the collective Mayo, I just heard. Perhaps it's for another day but if you have never had mayo on your fries give it a try just once in place of ketchup. Once you have had mayo baby you anint going back.
Anyway I have been trying to get to Poffertjes. The last thing I do in Volendam is go to the Hollandse Markt to see Hans and have my fix of these tiny little treats. There are few places I have ever seen which still do them and believe me they are great. Only problem for me the tour director is we always leave 5 - 10 minutes late from Voledam because there are always a few of my people who wait to the last minute like I do.
Anyway here is the article Hans wrote. Please stop in and see him when you visit Volendam and please mention Michael from Affordable. There is nothing in it for me except a steady and ongoing supply of Poffetjes every time I am in one of my favourite places in Holland.
The “Hollandse Markt”is specialized in several things, among which:
1. Poffertjes.
Tiny puff-pancakes. This kind of pancakes is typical Dutch. It exists already since the year 1700 (according to a painting, made in those days). The recipe we use is from my grandmother. When we started in 1980, she was 80 years old. She believed in doing classical things for visitors and she was right.
2. Lace.
Lace curtains and tableclothes.
3. Wooden wedding Shoes.
In the older days, when a fisherman wanted to mary his fiancée, he took a pair of plain clogs with him when he went fishing for a week, two weeks, a month or even longer. He carved figures in them and when he came back, he placed the clogs in front of her house. This was the same as: “I want to marry you” .
When you are in Holland, you must come to Volendam (20 kilometers above Amsterdam) and visit our shop Hollandse Markt. The adress is Haven 28 in Volendam (opposite the famous hotel Spaander). The shop itself is in the old indoor carpark of the hotel. The license plates are still on the ceiling. Some of them are over 80 years old. For more information about traveling to Holland please feel free to contact us on info@affordablecruisestours.com . We have 23 years expertise in Europe and can advise you better about your travel plans than almost anyone in North America and we are very happy to do so. It's what we love. |
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