Heineken House

Hubby and I decided to drop by the Heineken House in Richmond. We'd heard that the consulate was there and advising folks on how to become Dutch citizens. We talked to a very somber woman who repeatedly told us that anything she said was not binding. Turns out (which we knew), the Dutch don't really want you to become a citizen. Actually, a few years ago the immigration office produced a video of folks that did immigrate to Holland that basically were testimonials about how much it sucked to live there. It was hilarious!! Holland was trying to shut the doors to the flood of Northern African and South east Asians who were coming there and "taking over".

Hubby's parents came over to Canada as kids, my mom is still a Dutch citizen. So we have different rules about applying. Turns out that I may actually have an easier go of it and I can pass the nationality on to the girls. So, we wait and watch what the government will do since a new immigration law is before them as we speak. The rules are crazy though, so we need to do this with a sense of humor, or we will quickly become frustrated. But, if in the end we have Dutch passports, what a gift for the girls!

You know, for all that travelling we'll be doing....


Hubby on the speed skating track. I beat him. Funny how he didn't get a picture of that! Oh the burn on the legs. Whole new respect for speed skaters.