Norwegian Seamen Churches all over the world host 17th May celebrations. I attended the festivities in Rotterdam, joining the parade and eating a pølse i lompe!
Last year I found out that the Norwegian seamen churches in Holland- which as the other Nordic seamen churches organise Christmas markets around November – also hosts national day – 17th May – celebrations, and that is according to the Norwegian tradition: hotdogs, a parade, and games for children!
The Norwegian seamen church of the Netherlands is located in Rotterdam, with a nice park where the parade takes place. So I had a trip there to check it out, equipped with my Norwegian flag!
I arrived there slightly after the start of the program (thanks train), so I missed seeing the flag being raised.
People, a lot dressed in their beautiful bunads, were entering the building, where you could get cakes, stuff as flags and løyse (brooches/ribbons), and waffles or hotdogs outside. I got my vaffel and as I could I just went a bit mad with jam and brunost toppings..
As follows 2025 17 mai Program:
11:00 Flaggheising – flag raising
12:00 Gudstjeneste – church service
13:00 Taler for dagen – speeches of the day, among others the ambassador
Folketog – parade,
grilling, leker, pølse i lompe – parades, bbq, games
celebrations closing at 16:30
Just as the parade in the park with the marching band was starting, i got my pølse i lompe, hotdog in a wrap!
Who knows, maybe I’ll be back for 2026! Stay tuned to find out about more Nordic events!
In Sweden, Pippi Longstocking objects can be a lovely souvenir. Pippi is on sweets and various children’s items a well, as sometimes other Astrid Lindgren’s characters, which have also cherished cultural impact as a part of Swedish identity.
I visited Scanshop, a supermarket for Nordic expats in Luxembourg and Belgium. It offers a wide range of Scandinavian food products, including rye bread, fish, and sweets, alongside flags and tableware.
Take a train in Scandinavia to reach a “slutstation” or see”fartkontrol” signs while driving. Kiss and killing also mean something you were not expecting!
This year, I celebrated Lucia in the Hague by eating a Lussekatt at Scandinavian bakery Norvolk, and attending a Lucia church concert.
13th December is Luciadagen in Sweden and Scandinavia, this year on a Saturday, so I could attend a Lucia concert in the Hague!
I started my day in the Hague going to Norvolk, a Scandinavian bakery in Scheveningen, which I had been to for a lussekatt last year as well.
Last year it really had the classic S shape, this year it look slightly different, but still with raisins!
In the evening I went with a friend to the Kloosterkerk in The Hague, where a Swedish choir – Svenska Högtidskören held a Lucia concert, as you see them in Scandinavia. They hold concerts elsewhere in the Netherlands too!
It began in the darkness, with all the girls in the processions holding a candle and walking in a line to where they would stand and sing.
The concert started at 19:30 and lasted one hour.
One of the highlights was Lucia’s having the candles on her crown lighted – behind the pillars, but I could see it well from where I was sitting! It felt so magical.
They sung traditional Swedish songs of course, but also Stille Nacht/ Silent night in German and English.
Then, they walked back, with Lucia in front, and stood all in a circle with her in the middle.
It was possible to give money for a charity – a food bank in Amsterdam in this case.
It was a whimsical experience and definitely among other things that makes me enjoy Christmas time!
In Utrecht, the cafe Broodnodig serves Swedish pastries and cakes as cinnamon and cardamom buns, kladdkaka, smulpaj and Scandinavian seasonal treats as semlor and saffron buns.
Fika is a cherished Swedish tradition involving a coffee and cake break. Discover various Fika treats, from classic kanelbullar (cinnamon buns), cakes and cookies to savory options.
Discover Faroese – today spoken by about 80,000 people in the North Sea archipelago- as Icelandic still has much in common with Old Norse in grammar and vocabulary
my trips to Nordic Christmas markets at the Finnish seamen house in Rotterdam and a Swedish Christmas market in Groningen
I had been looking for a place selling Lussekatter (Lucia post) but ended up finding about Nordic Christmas markets in the Netherlands where I live! The blog post will be in Dutch – English Below
Alle Skandinavische zeemanskerken in Rotterdam organiseren Kerstmarkten in november, en ik ontdekte ze net op tijd om alleen naar de Finse Kerstmarkt te gaan. Een week later ging ik ook naar de ‘Zweedse’ kerstmarkt in Groningen. Twee heel verschillende evenementen! Spoiler- ik vond de gezellige, authentieke Finse markt veel leuker.
Finnish Christmas Market – Finse Kerstmarkt bij de Suomen Merimieskirkko in Rotterdam
De Finse kerstmarkt werd direct georganiseerd door de Finse zeemanskerk, Suomen Merimieskirkko, twee weekenden in november, en het was gratis toegankelijk. De meeste mensen hadden wel een band met Finland en het was er niet te druk, op zondag tenminste. Ik werd ook een paar keer in het Fins aangesproken en een paar mensen waren benieuwd over waarom ik daar was. Het was dus zeker perfect om wat contact met Finland en het Finse taal te hebben! Ik heb namelijk heel erg zin gekregen om Fins weer te gaan leren.
De locatie was het Finse Huis, binnen was er een soort Finse minimarkt, met ook wat andere typisch Finse spullen zoals Marimekko en Moomin merch. Daarnaast was er een café waar je van een authentieke Finse maaltijd en gebak kon genieten. Buiten was een kraam voor gegrilde worst en zelfs een Finse sauna waar je gebruik van kon maken tegen betaling!
Ik heb gekocht Fins rond gedroogd roggebrood, kaas, Fazer chocolade met salmiakki (drop). Ik was heel onzeker over kruipbraam jam (lakka is de naam van de oranje beer in het Fins – hjortron in het Zweeds, cloudberry in het Engels). Dit alles was vrij prijzig, van € 4 voor de chocoladereep tot € 13 die de jam zou hebben gekost!!! Maar goedkoper dan reizen naar Finland…
Ik heb van alles geprobeerd in het café, waaronder Joulutorttu (typisch Fins kerstgebak), Karjalanpiirakka (pasteitje met rijst vulling, waar je een ei-botermengsel op smeert), en een cake met kruipbraam jam. écht Noords en iets zuur). Daarna een Karjalan paisti, Karelische stoofvlees met aardappelpuree en augurken, € 15 met koffie erbij. Omdat ze al het overgebleven eten voor de halve prijs weggaven, kreeg ik aan het eind ook nog een broodje kardemom…
The Finnish Christmas market at the Finnish seamen Church there was a sort of Finnish minimarket, including some typical Finnish stuff as Marimekko houseware and Moomin mugs. Next to it you could have an authentic Finnish meal and cakes at the café, and sausages at a kiosk. It was also possible to try the Finnish sauna outside!|•
I bought Finnish round dried rye bread, cheese, Fazer chocolate with salmiakki, liquoricem and almost got also cloudberry jam. All these were quite pricy, from € 4 for the chocolate bar to € 13 which the jam would have costed!! But cheaper than travelling to Finland..
I tried a bit of anything at the café, and that included Joulutorttu, Karjalanpiirakka, a cloudberry jam cake. Then a Karelian stew, Karjalan paistu, with coffee included. There was a egg and butter mix to be added to the Karelian pie, but found it out late, so guess what…I ate it twice. As they were Giving away all food left for half price, i also got a cardemom bun at the end..
Swedish Christmas market – Zweedse Kerstmarkt in Groningen, Suikerfabriek
De ‘Zweedse’ markt in Groningen was in de Suikerfabriek, een voormalige suikerfabriek, dus een vrij grote plek, en er was een kaartje voor € 8-9, dat de ochtend van het evenement op zaterdag al was uitverkocht. Het was een typische kerstmarkt waar van alles werd verkocht, ook spullen, van oorbellen tot houten dingen tot handschoenen.
Er waren niet heel veel stands die Scandinavische spullen verkochten, en eigenlijk meer souvenirs in die gevallen, met een heleboel Dala-paardjes. Prenten van Scandinavische steden waren ook bij een paar te koop.
Pas Eén kraam verkocht Moomin-spullen (je zou meer verwachten als je ziet hoe vaak Moomin spullen zijn te vinde in Zweden), en een paar hadden sokken met Zweedse motieven, ook hier te koop bij Svensk Husman, en andere Pepparkakor, snoep en Julmust flessen (specerij-cola). Het eten was een beetje teleurstellend: Kanelbullar (kaneelbroodjes), een kraampje van Noorse zalm, en ‘Zweedse’ gehaktballen met standaard sauzen voor Nederland en niets meer…
De Skandinavische Vereniging en Informatie bureau in Nederland – SVIN – en culturele associatie van vertalers voor Scandinavische talen en culturen, was erbij. Ik las hardop iets voor mijn vriend daar en kreeg complimentjes voor mijn Deense uitspraak!!!
Conclusie:om Skandinavische/Zweedse (kerst) spullen en eten te vinden kon je beter naar IKEA gaan, en zonder € 8 kaartje.
Ik heb ondanks dat wel iets gekocht: een mooie Dalahäst kop en sokken, een Moomin dienblad (ik had eigenlijk een dienblad erg nodig).
Maar ben blij dat ik daar ben geweest om een vriend en Groningen te zien.
The ‘Swedish’ market in Groningen was located at an old factory now serving as a fair location, entry with a € 8-9 ticket. It was for a great part a general Christmas Market with stands selling from earrings to wooden things to gloves.
There were only a which sold legit Nordic stuff, which was actually souvenirs and a lot of Dala horse objects. another couple prints depicting Nordic cities. One was selling Moomin stuff and a couple socks with Swedish things as motifs. The food part was kind of delusional, the only Scandinavian thing to be found was Kanelbullar, and a stand selling Norwegian salmon. And ‘Swedish’ meatballs, without typical Swedish sides as lingonsylt though. The Dutch association of translators from Nordic languages also had a stand, selling some books and verb paradigm round cheat-cheets. I read out loud for my friend something and got praised for my Danish!!
I got Dala horse stuff although there was barely anything else worth being bought (thankfully for my wallet lately): A mug and socks! I already needed a tray and happened to find a Moomin one, so I went for it..
Scandinavian Christmas findings in chain shops
Naast IKEA verkopen Tiger en Søstrene Grene, Deense winkelketens, een paar typisch Scandinavische kerst artikelen met betaalbare prijzen: Julehjerter decoraties, Yule-geiten van stro, Pepparkakor/Brunkager koekjes en zakjes met Deense pepernoten.
Other than IKEA, Tiger and Søstrene Grene, as Danish shop chains, also sell some typical Scandinavian Christmas articles at affordable prices.
I joined the polyglot gathering in Prague, an event for language lovers with lectures and activities
The Polyglot Gathering is an event for language lovers, which has been taking place in different locations in May each year for about 10 years. By joining you can connect with fellow polyglots (though you do not have to speak multiple languages to join), join talks on the topic and participate to other culture- and language related activities. The last few years, around 800 people participated.
First of all, to be updated about language events you can follow me on instagram at @ chiaraspeaksnordic
I went to the Polyglot Gathering for the first time in 2024, In Prague, for just one day. I liked it enough to also join the 2025 and 2026 Polyglot Gatherings in Brno, still in the Czech Republic, but close to Vienna.
Signing up and info Pre-gathering
You can check out programs of past editions, info and such on the Polyglot Gathering website before you sign up, which will mean among others:
Pick the days you will join and pay depending on that. 5 days might seem a lot, but they passed by so quickly and I did not really feel tired (other do though..) you cannot choose to pay for a half day though.
Accomodation: possibility to book via the Polyglot Gathering – either a student dorm or a hotel
meals: In Prague you had to select whether you’d be eating at the venue’s canteen, in Brno you were free to go there or not. You were actually always free, but in Prague you had to pay in advance, so a pity to waste money..
Add languages to your language tag: add the language (and related flag!) you speak with their level.
You also have the option to purchase a polyglot gathering T-shirt
Pros/cons of signing up early (usually possible around 6 months ahead):
advantages
disadvantages
early bird discount
you will not get a (full) refund by cancelling (or full refund -50€ if you are early)
accomodation through the Gathering, close to the venue
more T-shirts of your sizes available
your name appears on top of the registered people page
My first time it was a last-minute decision, I stayed in Prague only 3 days and join the Polyglot Gathering one full day. The second time I joined for 3 days and in 2026 I at last joined for the full week – Booking for 5 days was the same price as for 3 too, so if you’re unsure if you’ll come the whole week you won’t lose money. I booked a hostel everytime because I was too late for the cheap Gathering accomodation (it gets sold out fast)- however I did find a hostel in the city centre for a similar price (and the student dorm was not avaible for all the nights I would need).
Get ready for the Polyglot Gathering before it starts
Few months before the event takes place, the program is uploaded along with some extra info about the location. I like to plan in advance what I will do, so I write down the ones I am interested in for each day. It can also be fun to learn a little of the local language.
Talks go from mindfulness, language history, linguistics to quizzes and workshops to learn a specific language. You can also do something else and not join any thoughA challenge related to the Gathering was learning Czech. Having to start from scratch, I tried to focus on practical stuff as food vocabulary in the little time I had, and didn’t manage to go much further than memorizing words for apples and potatoes.
Some time slots had multiple interesting courses (choosing one was always difficult), others none I fancied going to, but I almost always went to one, except for a couple times I turned to language tables instead.
The Gathering: first day, talks and activities
The first time you get to the venue, you can register and get the Gathering kit: a tote bag with a notebook, a pen, few pins, (also a bottle of water the first time) and of course your language tag and if you purchased it, a T-shirt !
tote bag, notebook, pin and tshirtA few people were actually curious about the Lombard and Frisian flags
if you join on the very first day (Wednesday), there are no talks planned – it is mainly a half-day of icebreakers and games to get to know others. The rest of the days you have 5 talks/activity slots per day (with (free) coffee breaks inbetween) and an evening event.
Activities at the Polyglot Gathering include:
talks (from linguistics to language learning strategies to quizzes) and workshops (as language crassh courses) – with breaks to get free te and coffee between them
language tables to practice your target languages, from Spanish to small minority languages, and a “no English Zone”
Evening events as Food Festival, talent shows
At the venue you can also purchase, thrift, exchange and just pick free books – language and linguistics related books as well as miscellaneous books in whatever language;
Sightseeing tours are also organized on several days.
Talks topics at the Polyglot Gathering
And here are the talks/workshops I took part in in the respective domains:
linguistics
culture
study methods
crash courses
How Kinship systems shape your worldview and reality: cross-cultural anecdotes – Israel Lai
Polish – Zuzanna Yevtushyk
Characteristics of major language families (mainly Romance, Germanic, Slavic and facts about further ones) – Adam Raelson
language politeness in Norwegian & Swedish
Brain computer interfaces are coming- Why we now need to aim to C3 level
Rumantsch
South american indigenous languages
Kebabnorsk: foreign influence on slang in Norwegian
The Power of the Hour – Swedish in 6 months -Krisztina Féher
v
Greenlandic
v
v
v
I’d say my favourites in 2024 were the one about language families and hearing about the strategies used to learn Swedish one hour a day – the way she tracked it was quite inspiring and gave me good insights. Learning about different ways different languages name family members was also pretty cool! See some slides below.
Books
The first time I arrived towards the end of the Gathering, and there was pretty much only Esperanto books left, but I still got a book explaining German idioms, and a tiny tourist phrasebook for Czech. Last time I was there from day 1 and ended up getting a bunch of books at once…
Meals at the Polyglot Gathering
In Prague I had meals at the Havelska Koruna (budget authentic Czech food restaurant) and vegetarian buffet chain Dhaba Beas, where you pay by weight.
The Gathering is an excuse to explore local food too, and that includes the venue’s canteen.
In Brno, the canteen had weight-based price as well. Which is great if you like to try small quantities of everything like I do..
I went to local restaurants either fellow polyglots too (we had a discount for one close to the venue), Thai and Vietnamese restaurants in the centre were also popular options.
The vegetarian lunch at the canteen in Prague was curry rice, the vegan couscous, the meaty schnitzel. And of course I got soup as side dish, typical Czech.
Closing ceremony & Final Evening
As it was the last day, the final ceremony took place at the end of the lectures, and it was a sum up of the event, organisational effort of the team behind it, Slovakian Edukácia@Internet as main party, thanking all partners and sponsors. and insights about where the Gathering will be next here. Which might be Prague again. Or somewhere in central Europe. Sorry, non-Europeans…
Once the Gathering was over, we still had the possibility to meetup with other polyglots at the beer garden in the evening. As I had only been there that day, I had not had the chance to really chat a lot with others yet. It was quite fun and got to talk to quite a few people – notably a person I am a mutual follower of on tiktok, it was quite amazing to see her in real life – unexpectedly!! I also got Polish chocolates :). Afterwards some people went to pubs – I had a bit trouble switching from Swedish to norwegian after a drink, I must say.
Though English stayed in most contexts as the lingua franca, I still got to speak quite a few languages. I look forward to the next time I will be able to join it, hopefully for longer than just one day!
Subscribe to hear more about this kind of events – with a Nordic language focus perspective!
Norwegian Seamen Churches all over the world host 17th May celebrations. I attended the festivities in Rotterdam, joining the parade and eating a pølse i lompe!
On a trip to Amsterdam, I decided to test Scandinavian Embassy and both of its two locations, starting with the bakery in europaplein. The two locations are in Amsterdam zuid: Saphatipark and Europaplein: in the former, a more central location, you can sit but it has fewer items than the bakery in Europaplein. The bakery,…
Estonian is a Finnic language, sharing many similarities with its ‘bigger’ sister Finnish, while being unrelated to all their bigger language neighbours
