{"id":5995,"date":"2019-04-21T22:15:20","date_gmt":"2019-04-21T22:15:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/dutch\/?p=5995"},"modified":"2019-04-21T22:15:20","modified_gmt":"2019-04-21T22:15:20","slug":"an-unusual-dutch-easter-tradition-matzes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/dutch\/an-unusual-dutch-easter-tradition-matzes\/","title":{"rendered":"An Unusual Dutch Easter Tradition: Matzes"},"content":{"rendered":"

It is Pasen<\/em> (Easter)<\/a>! On Easter Sunday, the Dutch have a few traditions they follow, and one that I am highlighting today are a very popular food item:\u00a0matzes<\/em>!<\/p>\n

Why Do The Dutch Eat Unleavened Flat Bread during Easter?<\/i><\/b><\/h2>\n
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Image by author<\/p><\/div>\n

During the Paasontbijt\u00a0<\/em>(Easter breakfast), which is usually quite extensive, the Dutch eat these flat crackers a lot. You can get them throughout the year, but consumption definitely peaks during\u00a0Pasen<\/em>. Why? And why is it so popular in the Netherlands?<\/p>\n

The matze<\/em>, also spelled\u00a0matzah, matza\u00a0<\/em>or\u00a0matzo<\/em>, is\u00a0ongerezen plat brood\u00a0<\/em>(unleavened flat bread) that comes from the Jewish\u00a0Pesach\u00a0<\/em>(passover) celebration. It is eaten in memory of the slavernij\u00a0<\/em>(slavery) of the Joden\u00a0<\/em>(Jews) and the\u00a0uittocht\u00a0<\/em>(exodus) from\u00a0Egypte\u00a0<\/em>(Egypt). Under the\u00a0leiding\u00a0<\/em>(lead) of Mozes, the Joden<\/em> had to\u00a0vluchten\u00a0<\/em>(flee) very\u00a0snel\u00a0<\/em>(quickly). There was not even time to let the bread\u00a0rijzen <\/em>(leaven)! And that is where this unleavened bread, consisting only of water and flour, comes from. In Jewish tradition, it is not allowed to have any leavened bread during the\u00a0Pesach\u00a0<\/em>period – you cannot even buy it in Jewish stores!<\/p>\n

Before the Second World War, many Joden<\/em> lived in the Netherlands. During passover, they would gift\u00a0matzes\u00a0<\/em>to their Dutch\u00a0buren\u00a0<\/em>(neighbors). The Dutch have loved them ever since. They come in large and small (see above) and even mini sizes, as\u00a0volkoren <\/em>(whole grain) variant or biologisch <\/em>(organic). They are especially popular with some boter\u00a0<\/em>(butter) or\u00a0margarine\u00a0<\/em>(margarine) and\u00a0suiker\u00a0<\/em>(sugar) sprinkled on top. There are other varieties, but in most cases, the\u00a0beleg\u00a0<\/em>(topping) is zoet\u00a0<\/em>(sweet).<\/p>\n

These days,\u00a0matzes\u00a0<\/em>are eaten more by non-Jews than Jews in the Netherlands.<\/p>\n

Hollandia Matzes<\/strong><\/em><\/h2>\n