Taking workshops is one of the best ways to learn about a culture and connect with others, in my opinion. Since moving to the Netherlands almost five years ago, I’ve taken a handful of workshops. I’ve also taken workshops in other countries as well. Most of them have been fun, informative, and well worth the cost. I’ve met people from all walks of life and have a beautiful memory to keep with me forever. If you’re looking for a workshop to take in the Netherlands, keep reading this blog post.
Cocktail Making Workshop in Dordrecht
If I’m going to drink something alcoholic, it’ll usually be a cocktail or a good glass of wine. I do not like taking shots or drinking for the sake of getting drunk. I like savoring my glass and fully enjoying it. In November of 2022, I took a cocktail-making workshop with Jennifer Berry in Dordrecht. To be completely honest, as this was her first time teaching a workshop, I was very hesitant about it. I wasn’t sure what to expect.
But boy, did I change my mind quickly. Jennifer knows more about cocktails and how to make them than anyone I’ve ever met. Jennifer is originally from the USA and has been a bartender for years. The workshop was in English, so it is perfect for internationals. The workshop was very intimate. There were only a total of six people taking it, and that was the perfect number of people for a beginner workshop.
My partner came with me, and he also really enjoyed the workshop. We got to make three cocktails, and each one was served with a small snack. There was a simple cocktail made from a ginger beer base, and the other two were more complicated and had more depth of flavor. If you’re interested in taking a workshop with Jennifer Berry, then just send her an email: jberrybox@gmail.com
Chocolate Bon Bon Making Workshop
I am a chocoholic all the way. Like, I love chocolate. I mean, who doesn’t? If you don’t, then we can’t be friends. Chocolate is what makes life great! Olala Chocola is a chocolate shop chain in the Netherlands that has delicious chocolate and also offers workshops. So you can check out their website to find if there’s a store near you. They have many locations throughout the Netherlands.
Even though the workshop is in Dutch, I wholeheartedly believe you can take the workshop if you don’t speak Dutch well. Most of it is like, just watch and do the same. You know what I mean? You got to choose from different chocolates and different fillings, so there was something for everyone. Kevin and I took this workshop together as well, and we ate ourselves sick of chocolate. And we got to take a box each of our creations home. We had bon bons for a while. They are perfect to eat with a cup of coffee or just on their own.
Bossche Bol Making Workshop in Den Bosch
A bossche bol is a traditional regional Dutch pastry. It’s a pastry shell filled with whipped cream and covered in chocolate. As someone from Wisconsin, I’ve had something similar to this before. We have our own version that’s called a cream puff. And both the bossche bol and cream puff are delicious.
This workshop was in Dutch as well, but as with the chocolate workshop, you really don’t need a high level of Dutch to take the workshop. We learned all about where the bossche bol came from and also that only four bakeries in Den Bosch make the pastry shells. So Bakkerij Royal, where my friends Sara and Leah took the workshop with me, doesn’t make their own pastry shells.
We got to make the whipped cream by hand, melt the chocolate with sugar syrup, and fill the bossche bol and more. We also learned that the proper way of eating the bossche bol is upside down so the cream doesn’t come out. My friends and I ate ourselves sick on chocolate. I will recommend that you bring strawberries and such to dip into the chocolate. We saw some other people doing this.
Support Their Work Too
There are three workshops that I’ve taken that have been great, but I didn’t talk about them in this blog post. I took a boob mug-making workshop with Handcrafted with Apathy in Utrecht a while ago. Yasmin is originally from the USA. I had a great time, but unfortunately, she’s not really that available to teach workshops anymore. But you can still support her work and check out her products on her website.
I also took a Christmas wreath-making workshop with Dancing Blooms. Pippa is originally from the UK. It was such a special experience. But she hasn’t been active on social media for a long time, so I don’t think she’s still doing workshops and selling flowers. But I’m not sure. Feel free to check her out here.
The last workshop I will recommend is a paint and sip with Chelony in Breda. I’m not sure if she’s still running workshops, but you can reach out to her to see. The workshop I took was more of a social event. And the whole thing was in English. We didn’t get much guidance about how to actually draw and paint, but it was still a good experience.
Which of these workshops would you like to take?
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