Dutch twist

I've been tagged by Kristel to do a random meme with a Dutch twist. I was thinking about this yesterday and it came up my mind that lots of things that happened in my life were connected to the Netherlands and people who live there. I am afraid I won't be able to share photos on this subject as I don't have them in my home right now.
So, here it goes:

1. One of my penpals in my youth was Henriette. She was from Holland, she lived in Utrecht the last time I heard from her. She was a sweet friend, I know today that I haven't appreciated our friendship enough. I guess I had known her since I was about 15 years old. She was a bit older than me and she loved rubber stamps and decorating, creating all sorts of cards and sweet things. She loved children. After many years of writing to each other I met her one day when she was traveling through Slovenia to the Croatian coast. Her boyfriend was as nice as she was. I loved being with her. I find all Dutch people so relaxed and I have always wished I would posses some of that relaxed attitude myself (perhaps in another life if there is any). She brought me a cake then to say thank you for the hospitality. We were so poor then we could hardly manage to prepare something decent to eat! After many miscarriages she gave birth to Oliver, a sweet little boy. Perhaps our paths cross again, who knows. I hope they do.
2. The first guy I kissed with was Dutch. :) I met him when I was at the seaside in one of the Croatian camps. Lots of Dutch people come to have a vacation there and he was one of them. I was 16 and he was 18. Ronald was his name. I actually fell for his friend but there is always a twist of fate and I ended up kissing Ronald. He was from Groningen.
3. I visited Holland several times. The first time it was when I was traveling by train around Europe. I was 19. I went to see Groningen, too. We were three girls traveling together and we visited most of the capitals or big cities in Western Europe. Amsterdam was one of them. I like Holland, the houses, the space, the culture breathes out from every corner. At least that's how I saw it each time I was there. Then I was there with my colleagues from the University. I can't remember what was the occasion, I just remember roaming through the street of Amsterdam. And a lady in the red district shouting at me. :( After that I stopped there when I was traveling alone around Europe by train. It was just a short stop that time. I guess I was there the last time in 1998 (or sometime then) when one day Mr B and I decided to go on one week's trip around Benelux. It was in May, so when the tulips were in full bloom. We drove around with no specific goal and it was so relaxing. Holidays like that are actually the most precious ones.
4. At certain point in my life, when I was a teenager and also some years after that, my favorite flower was a tulip. From my first trip to Holland I brought home dark violet tulips. Some are still in my mom's garden. And there are lots of tulips in my garden too. Beauties.
5. My colleague at work has a boyfriend who is Dutch. They are expecting their first child in October.
6. The food I loved most while being in Holland were pancakes. Pannekoeken (am I right Kristel?). A sweet tooth I am.
   
7. Two years ago I was working in a joint project with people from the Embassy of the Netherlands. Pleasant people, really. So relaxed, full of imagination, never boring.
   

I think that's all that happened in my life and is connected with the Netherlands. My life has got some Dutch twist in it too. Lucky me!

I tag Emily, Kari and Bianca (yes, she is Dutch, too!). I hope you will all play along.