Easter fun

Happy Easter!
Although I'm not religious in any way (I had to Google what Good Friday was about), I can't deny I love Easter! We Dutchies have a habit of celebrating all the Christian holidays, more because of the days off and nice food than the actual spiritual meaning. But that doesn't stop us from making a nice party!

Since Easter means a long weekend, I decided to go to my parents in Utrecht. Which meant missing the Flower market on Good Friday in Groningen, to my shame. From what I've heard, it's flower stalls all throughout the city center (almost at my doorstep) and Germans, lots and lots of Germans! No wonder the website is only in Dutch and in German... 

Just to give you an idea, this is a picture I plucked of the internet ;)

But of course I skipped the Flower market for a good reason. Yesterday we went to the Easter fair at the Staverden Estate in Ermelo. A beautiful white statuesque estate in the (what we Dutch call) hill side. After a short drive through the forest you arrive at the smallest city in the Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg), Court Staverden, which dates back to 1298. In Holland we have this weird history-thing that the term "city" is not given to a place measured by its size, but by the ownership of so called "city rights" which were issued by noblemen, usually to other noblemen. That's why Staverden might well be the smallest city in Utrecht. 

The grounds were filled with white tents filled with lovely little knickknacks and they even had some sheep with (rather large?) lambs! 

If you'd like to see more of Estate Staverden, you can also watch this video:

It really feels nice to get away from all the work in Groningen and to come home for a while and unwind! Even though I know I haven't been working at my new lab that long, and the people are so much nicer and more friendly than I'm used to, I was getting a little tired from the pressure. It's probably all just in my head, but I still feel like I have to prove myself, and feel a little a anxious that they might change their mind about hiring me. Especially since work has been a little slow lately and I have this evaluation coming up.... 

Thank God there are two more days of Easter holiday left! :D

Enjoy your Easter!