If you take a slightly more effort to do a detailed observation, you would realise that Netherlands is a very homogeneous country. For that reason, it is par for the course that most of the houses look alike. I would like to do some posts about the various culture and life-style of Dutch in future. For the time being, I like to touch on the basic requirement of human beings, a shelter over the head - HOME.
What you are about to see in the following pictures are the culmination of the painstaking efforts of the landlady.
It is a three-storey building with typical brick walls, windows and doors. Unlike houses in Malaysia, the glass windows and doors are not protected with metal grill.
It is very normal to find small statues placed outside the house. There is no fencing in front of the house.
Garden.
The garden is at the back of the house. It is enclosed with wooden panel.
I find the grape vine particularly attractive.
Fuchsias.
If you want to know about this kind of plant, please visit my another post at
Usually, there is a big glass window outside the house. Behind the glass, the landlady has displayed two pots of bonsai. This arrangement is a quite common method for window decoration. The next few pictures are taken from different houses, could you find the similarity here.
House AAA.
Unlike houses in Malaysia, the hall and dining area are conjoint in Netherlands.
See the effective use of space.
The landlady has a strong affinity for all kinds of bells. So, if you happen to pay her a visit, a bell is certainly a most welcome gift.
This is a guest room, located at second floor.
Store Room - Out of Sight Out of Mind.
Another simple room.
View from 2nd Floor.
Master Bedroom.
Study Room.
Bath Room.
Laundry Room.
View from first floor when standing at the top of the stairway.
Shoes Rack.
Entrance to the Hall and Dining Area.
A small toilet on the ground floor.
Dish washing machine.
The basket tray is always full of sweets and chocolates.
Mooncake is definitely not a standard Dutch food.
A very reliable coffee machine.
Condensed milk is preferred over fresh milk and sugar.
A small rack placed at the entrance to the house for keeping all kinds of paraphernalia.
Hospitability is extended to guest.
What you have just seen can be considered a quintessential Dutch home in terms of ornamental display, furniture and room arrangements. Of course, some houses would definitely look different if they don't put in painstaking effort in building up the home.
Back to Malaysia, I try to rearrange my home according to the above concept, sad to say, it fails. So hitherto, my house is still in a big mess.
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