3 minute read
Unwrapping Dutch culture through snacks
Snacks: a quick bite to keep off hunger or a little indulgence to lift your spirits. Something most of us keep a stock of in our homes. In the Netherlands, snacks are more than just comfort food, they're a reflection of the country's character: practical yet playful, modest yet deeply expressive. They represent a culture that finds meaning in the everyday and joy in the familiar. From bitterballen and stroopwafels to kroketten and frikandellen, Dutch ''snacks'' are strongly tied to our heritage and daily life.
At LAM museum in Lisse, situated in the west of the Netherlands, the Snack Bliss exhibition invites visitors to discover the hidden layers of snacks. The exhibition walks you through the foods we enjoy and the privileges they represent. Dutch traditions are on show, such as the famous hagelslag, alongside international treats like South African vetkoeken, and a western favourite: popcorn.
But the exhibition is not just a celebration of tasty snacks. It thoughtfully combines them with compelling artworks that explore the fun and the deeper issues around food, from plenty to shortage.
Vera Verboom, Education and Activation Coordinator at LAM museum explained that ‘’visitors are guided by our Viewing Coaches, and encouraged to look beyond flavour and appearance, exploring snacks as cultural objects loaded with meaning.’’ A familiar chip or fries tray with its plastic fork can for some stir up nostalgia and personal stories, while international snacks can broaden horizons and invite discoveries. Vera added that ‘’the exhibition invites visitors to share their own food memories and rituals, creating a living, evolving museum experience’’.
At LAM museum, we focus on simple things, but try to show people that you can look at it in different ways.
Connecting together through art
Art plays a crucial role in deepening our connection to food. The exhibition ignites conversations not just about food, but also culture, identity, consumption, and memory. Through artworks that evoke childhood memories or confront difficult emotions, Snack Bliss reveals food's emotional power and its role in shaping who we are. With a wide cultural spectrum ranging from breakfast to midnight snacks and a wide cultural spectrum such as Surinamese and Italian influences, the exhibition reflects the Netherlands' inclusive and ever-evolving food culture.
Visiting Snack Bliss at LAM museum offers more than a tasty experience. According to Vera ‘’it opens the door to new perspectives on the snacks we often take for granted’’. The exhibition invites you to savour food as a cultural expression, appreciate diversity, and reflect on the shared stories behind every bite. Whether you're local or a visitor, an art lover or a foodie, this exhibition promises a memorable journey that feeds both curiosity and appetite, leaving you inspired and eager to explore more.
In true Dutch fashion, it doesn't romanticise or dramatise, it simply asks us to look again, a little closer, at what we think we already know. And in doing so, it captures the essence of the Netherlands: grounded, thoughtful, and always a little surprising.
If you find yourself in the Netherlands this summer, you can experience the Snack Bliss exhibition until 31 August.
