This is where my niece was born and is growing up. I often go to the Netherlands and have spent several Christmases there with family. One thing that always strikes me is the difference in food culture compared to my homecoutry (Italy): countries so close, yet with such different habits!

Do you know what the most common everyday lunch for the Dutch is? Bread (preferably wholemeal) and a slice of cheese. And if you have a sweet tooth, it's often bread, butter, and chocolate sprinkles – the famous hagelslag!

But I'll tell you, the true stars of Dutch pastry (and the ones that, in my opinion, are really worth tasting and taking home as souvenirs) are the stroopwafels: two thin crispy wafers with a caramel syrup heart in the middle. I'm crazy about them, and unfortunately for me, they're everywhere: in supermarkets, stationery stores, specialty shops... how can you resist the temptation?

For those who travel, the Netherlands deserves to be experienced in its entirety, not just Amsterdam with its canals (and for some, its coffee shops). If you happen to be lucky with the weather, you might even discover the beaches on the North Sea. But be careful: the weather here changes within a few hours, so don't trust the morning sun too much! Did you know that in the area of the Texel islands, in the northwest of the country, you can spot seals in the wild? And if you happen to be there during low tide, you might even reach some islands... on foot! But only accompanied by a local guide, otherwise it can become dangerous.