It was a sunny September Friday when we set off for the north of the Netherlands. Having never ventured that far up in our neighbouring country, we instinctively packed our warmest jumpers and scarves.
“With a name that roughly translates to ‘Freeze land,’ it must be exceptionally cold up there,†we nodded jokingly.
I’d been wanting to check out Friesland for a while, but somehow it had never happened. This time was different: our Frisian friends and former neighbours in Bali had just moved back to their homeland—finally giving us an excellent reason to drive all the way up.
Besides reconnecting, we were eager to get a feel for the local culture. Did you know Frisians have their own flag, their own language, and their own customs? Their language—Fries—isn’t even understandable to Dutch speakers!
We were lucky to arrive during the Flaeijel Festival, a cultural celebration that showcases traditional Frisian countryside life. Nearly everyone was dressed in historical garments, speaking Fries (as they often do in everyday life), and taking part in all sorts of rustic activities.
My only regret? Not tracking down a costume rental booth—I would have happily swapped my modern clothes for a proper peasant outfit!
We spent hours wandering through the event, learning about and experiencing the “old ways†of Frisian rural life. It truly felt like a step back in time—and what a great way to get to know Friesland.
After immersing ourselves in history, we dove into Frisian culture the best way we knew how: through food and drink.
We kicked things off with the ever-classic bitterballen—deep-fried breadcrumb balls filled with a creamy meat ragout. While they might not sound particularly appetizing, trust me, when they’re homemade, they’re incredible.
Next up: a juicy Frisian steak, sourced from local grass-fed cows—perfectly cooked and packed with flavour.
For dessert, we sampled Frisian sugar bread (Fryske sûkerbôle), which differs from regular sugar bread with its whopping 40% sugar content. And just when we thought we couldn’t handle any more sweetness, we were served Oranjekoek—a bright pink almondy cake often enjoyed with afternoon coffee. A bit too sweet for my taste, but worth the try.
To cap off the evening, we sipped Dokkumer coffee, a coffee infused with sugar and a spiced Frisian liquor called Berenburg.
Though we didn’t have time to explore much more of Friesland, what we did see absolutely won us over. The small, tranquil villages, the maze of waterways, and the subtle cultural differences made it feel like we had left the Netherlands entirely.
Friesland might only be a few hours’ drive from the capital, but it truly feels like another country.
The next Flaeijel Festival takes place on 24–26 September 2015—if you’re keen on diving into a lesser-known corner of the Netherlands, mark your calendar.
Did you know about Friesland? Have you been to a “live museum”?
The post “a peek into Friesland’s past” first appeared on Travel Cake.
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