Can you believe that another month is upon us and that before we know it, 2012 will be knocking at our door?  I know I can’t.

Fall and winter are actually my favourite times of the year.  I love the cold, the scented candles, the festive atmosphere and of course the food.  The Netherlands during the last few months of the year can be a dangerous place to be if you are looking to count calories – what with all those chocolate letters, Christmas cookies and oliebollen about.

So just what is there to look forward to for the month of November in the Netherlands?  Here are some things that make my list:

• Museum Night Amsterdam (November 5^th) – I’ve mentioned the Rotterdam version already on this blog but if Amsterdam museums are more your thing, then November 5^th is your big chance to visit more than forty museums in the city.
• Chocolate Letters – How many have you consumed already?  If you don’t know all the details of chocolate letters than stay tuned because I’ll be covering that this month.
• Crossing Border The Hague (November 16^th – 19^th) – Holland.com describes it as “the festival where literature, music, film and the visual arts are combined. For several days writers, poets, musicians, filmmakers and artists will reign over The Hague’s cultural center. Crossing Border The Hague is one of Europe’s main international literature and music festivals.”
• The Sinterklaas Build-up – Sinterklaas will be arriving in mid-November with his steam boat filled with gifts and helpers but what (near) disasters will happen during the journey?
• International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (November 16^th – November 27^th) – One of the world’s most prestigious documentary film festivals with over 300 documentaries shown over the festival’s eleven days.
• Oliebollen – The stands have already started popping up around the city.  Will your local stand score in the top 10 of the oliebollen test?
• GLOW Eindhoven (November 5^th – November 12^th) – GLOW is the International Forum of Light in Art and Architecture. Artists use artificial light to change or enhance parts of the city of Eindhoven. This year’s theme is ‘illusion and reality’.

Know of an interesting, unique or fun event happening in the Netherlands (or Belgium!) during the month of November?  Been waiting all year for a special food item that only comes out at this time of year?  Share them with us on the Transparent Language Dutch Facebook page.