Pasen in the Netherlands involves hiding chocolate eggs, but the only lamb we eat is in the shape of butter!

Traditional Dutch Easter brunch takes place on a beautifully decorated table with candles, yellow flowers, brightly coloured eggs and an ‘Easter Tree’ (a few willow branches decorated with chocolate or wooden eggs). There are the typical Dutch breakfast items like bread, cheese, cold cuts and sweet spreads, but this time we add a few typical Easter dishes.

Paasstol (easter bread) is a sweet raisin bread with almond paste inside. We also serve scrambled eggs with dill and smoked salmon. Smoked eel is good too.
Cress tastes really good with the hard-boiled eggs, so I always have it on my Easter table!

In my family, a typical Easter recipe is vogelnestjes (‘bird nests’) – hard boiled eggs with minced meat around them. They look beautiful if you cut them in half and arrange them on a plate!
A few years ago, (BC – before children) I took the effort of making these cute bread bunnies holding an egg… they looked better than they tasted, to be honest…).

With all this good food, you should of course have a glass of champagne…Vrolijk Pasen / Happy Easter!

xxx Esther