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Those Dutch girls are gorgeous, aren’t they? All that blond hair and flawless skin – what’s their secret? Today Laura is telling us all about her Dutch beauty + breakfast routine, including what she sprinkles on top of her toast and the Dutch makeup line she swears by! (Don’t worry, us non-Dutch ladies can buy it online.)
Name: Laura Doorneweerd
Hometown: Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Age: 32
Occupation: improv trainer and actress. I make stuff up for a living.
My alarm is set for 9:00 am
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My Dutch breakfast
I recently became a fan of mug cake, a super easy banana, egg and oatmeal dish. Starting the day with tea and cake is great (and healthy!). If I am in a hurry I will get a latte and a croissant at the train station and take that with me in the train.
The green smoothie trend has reached the Netherlands now too. Lots of my friends are blending fruits and veggies together to have for breakfast. I like chewing in the morning, so I am not following this latest hype.
I was raised on the typical Dutch breakfast: whole wheat bread with cheese, peanut butter or chocolate sprinkles and a glass of milk. On special occasions I love indulging in that. And eggs! And pancakes! Ow, how I love having a big breakfast with my family on holidays.
The Dutch don’t have a tradition of eating out for breakfast. Most breakfast places in Amsterdam are aimed at tourists and are managed by Australians, Americans, Brazilians or Scandinavians.
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My Dutch beauty routine
My day starts with showering and washing my hair with simple, unbranded shampoo. If I use any hair product, it is the hairdresser’s brand Keune.
I often do my makeup while commuting: this can be in the train, but I also am quite skilled in doing it on the ferry now. It is a little windy but I finally manage to not get mascara in my hair.
I only use HEMA makeup, a very well known Dutch warehouse with lovely, down-to-earth products. It is a very popular brand for ladies in the Netherlands.
Though I mostly buy the simple brands, I do spend quite some money on the best brand for daily contact lenses: Optiview Saturnus. My eyes get infected easily and glasses are not handy when rolling over the stage.
My Dutch commute
I head to work by ferry and bike, or train, or plane. Wherever my work takes me. Every day I will take the ferry, because I live close to ‘t IJ, a river crossing Amsterdam. The ferry is free, it runs 24/7 and people take their bikes and scooters on there. For me, it is the perfect moment to look at the water and relax before starting the day.
I don’t own a car, just like most people living in Amsterdam. The Netherlands is a very small and very flat country, so perfect for cycling. That means a bike and a public transport card will take you anywhere.
Thanks so much for sharing, Laura! Do we have any other Dutch readers who can weigh in?
P.S. My 3-product makeup kit + The breakfast and beauty routines of women in Costa Rica, Greece, and Slovenia!
photo credits: delighted momma // joanna slodownik // javier m // tim gouw // cc
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