The first day of July starts with a party! The abolition of slavery, Keti Koti (breaking the chains), is being celebrated all over the Netherlands today.

The summer holidays officially starts in the South of the Netherlands, on Saturday, July 6
For us - living in the center of the Netherlands - the first day of the vacation will be July 13
In the Northern Netherlands the summer holiday starts on July 20, they are last this year

During the holidays we often can be found outside, nearby or further away. We travel through Rotterdam but also through the Netherlands. You can read all about it in our July and August blogs.

We start the month with recipes for a picnic, we make Ploughman's sandwiches and we bake a Sun loaf. We make lemonade with fresh summer fruit, but also lemon ice cream and fun cake pops.

There are crafts for sun and rainy days, even one for wind ;)) All inspired by summer, just like the wonderful books we will read. We hope that you will join us again

Wishing you a happy summer vacation - at home or abroad!

Photo: a sun loaf (07-07 online)