My Hometown In The Netherlands: IJmuiden

Aug. 13, 2010 by Matt van Vuuren

Visiting my family in my hometown IJmuiden which is only a 20 minute drive from Schiphol Airport. IJmuiden has a rich history, gorgeous beaches and huge coastal bunkers remaining from the second world war.

After returning from a fantastic weekend in Stockholm, Sweden I decided to hit up the dunes and German bunkers in my hometown of IJmuiden with my mother.

I used to play around these bunkers with my friends as a kid and was quite a way to grow up. I brought some Japanese beer (Asahi) on the trip. After my adventures in Tokyo it was time for my family experience the Japanese delights.

I also decided to prepare a full sushi dinner for everybody. It was received quite positive which surprised me, usually people are not to excited with the taste of fish on rice initially but then again most Dutch people are raw fish eaters.

I bought my fish at this fantastic and brand new Japanese fishstore in the fish harbor of IJmuiden. The owner's wife was actually Japanese so I could practice some of my verbal skills. The store was called Hokkai Kitchen.

My friends at Seaport FM invited me to co-host their radio show on the Thursday night "Velser Herrie". That was definitely another great experience during my vacation.

The third day I went to the fish restaurant "Kop v/d Haven" with my grandma and mysteriously spotted a scale model of the Vasa ship which I visited a few days before at the Vasa Museum in Stockholm. What are the odds. We ordered some more delicious fish dishes. Fish is truly a specialty in the Netherlands thus be sure to try it.