A Dutch gift can quickly become a cliché: stroopwafels, liquorice, a tile with a saying. Nicely thought out, but you're giving the same thing as the neighbour and it's gone by New Year's. There's a more Dutch gift that sticks around, literally in the tree.
The Netherlands as it really is, not the tourist version
The windmills and clogs are for the tourists. The real Netherlands is the frikandelbroodje at the petrol station, the fatbike on the pavement, the döner kebab after a night out. We turn these into handmade glass Christmas baubles. Not tame folklore, but the icons you encounter here every day.
Handmade, so not a cheap souvenir
The difference from a cheap Dutch souvenir lies in the execution. Each ornament is mouth-blown and hand-painted, so no two are exactly alike. You feel the weight of the glass as soon as you pick it up. This isn't something from a bin by the cash register; it's a gift someone will hang up for years.
For the Dutch person who has everything
Do you know someone who has to grin at everything typically Dutch? The brother-in-law who swears by the snack bar, the friend who is never without her fatbike. For that person, this is the gift that hits home. A wink at who they are, in a form no one else would think of.
A gift with a suitable price
A hanger costs 14.95, exactly the amount a gift easily comes to. A tree topper is 24.95. A Christmas gift doesn't get more Dutch than this, and it lasts longer than any stroopwafel.
Kechballen now sells through stores. Do you want a piece of Holland in your tree yourself? Put your name on the waiting list, and you'll hear when individuals can order.