All in it together

Matchmaking

I first met my husband-to-be on a very drunken Saturday afternoon in Cor-rupt. I was usually an after-work client, but a friend from The Hague was in Amsterdam for the weekend. Her partner was returning from Saudi the next day, and she was collecting him from Schiphol. Many vieuxs on my part and many biers […]

Cultures, quirks and customs

Cheers

Early one evening after work, as I sat at the bar, Cor shared a story. Some new, very well-spoken English customers had chanced into the Bar. As they ordered their drinks, one gentleman asked in his best Oxford English,  “Excuse me my man, how does one say Cheers in Dutch?” I could say that Cor […]

Events

Tug of War and Heptathlon

In addition to brunch, another unplanned tradition evolved. Tug-of-war every year in Boskant, Cor’s home village. Most of us went (again) on a rented bus and a few with cars. We almost always lost; and it was usually bad weather but what fun we had. Afterwards we went to Cor’s parents with at least 50 […]

Food and drink

Champagne and Amsterdammertjes

Each regular customer’s birthday was celebrated with champagne at the Café Cor-rupt, not a real one of course, but still a delicious champagne. The downside for the birthday boy/girl was the pressure then to return this generous gesture and treat the bar. Another tradition was the Amsterdammertje, whereby if the last bit from the bottle […]