One of my favourite parts of living in the city is the constant stream of accordion music that wafts into our apartment nightly. As people get home from work, and head out to enjoy a "biertje" (small beer) outdoors, the groups of distinguished gentlemen (usually four or five of them) congregate in the middle of the town squares, pulling out their accordions and beginning a stint of classics like "besame mucho". While some may see them as annoying, or downright cheesy, I love it when the accordions are whipped out. It adds that extra something to a special dinner with great friends. One of my Dutch friends recently said that it added to the ambiance, and immediately inserted the word "gezellig".
Accordion music is indeed gezellig (the Dutch word for cozy/intimate/warm), especially when we're curled up on the couch reading and drinking some wine. I love hearing the sound reverberating off the canal houses, and watching the sun set low over the gabled rooftops. Perhaps this is one of my most cherished moments of the day, when dinner has been cleared away, and the dishes are done, Gabriel and I can open the wide windows of our apartment and listen to the beautiful music down the street.
Thank you, accordion players, for enhancing my time here in Amsterdam just a little bit more :)
6 comments:
I love accordion music too. I wish i knew how to play one and it always puts you in a happier mood!
It sounds so romantic, doesn't it? You're so lucky to live there!
free music, always nice.
I've noticed this here as well lately! Indeed gezellig! Have been often lately out enjoying the sunshine & enjoy hearing this :-)
Isn't 'gezellig' the most difficult word to translate to an English speaker?! It has so many facets!
Love the accordians and draiorgels too!
Saskia x
becks - It definitely does! wouldn't it be cool to play one? such a unique talent to whip out at a party hahah!
margarita - yes it's terribly romantic. i wish canada was a little more like europe in these types of ways...
pinay - free until they beg you for money! i always just look away, but last night a super pushy musician practically forced a euro from me!
isabella - i guess it's a sound of summer!
saskia - gezellig is my favourite word in dutch! the more time i spend in this country, the more i realize how the whole nation is devoted to making everything as gezellig as possible! love it!
thank you all for your great comments on this!
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