The first Dutch Heritage Day is starting off with a bang in Chatham-Kent.
Fuel 4 You will be hosting a Dutch Heritage Day on Sunday in Chatham. The day will celebrate with traditional Dutch cuisine, Dutch music as well as the Dutch-Belgium game of feather bowling.
In April, the federal government adopted a motion to recognize every May 5 as Dutch Heritage Day in Canada. Rachael Laidler runs Fuel 4 You and said she hopes to celebrate the occasion every year.
"It is the first one...We're hoping to do something annually. It was a little bit short notice to pull something on a grand scale together but I'm hoping that next year we can do something bigger even," she said.
The all-Dutch menu will include offerings such as Dutch meatball soup, Bitterballen (fried meat and potato balls) and Ontbijtkoek (spice cake.) After enjoying some fresh cooked Dutch food, guests can learn how to play feather bowling, a sport similar to bocce ball.
"The owner here is going to put out a complete list of how to play that," explained Laidler. "It is traditionally a Dutch-Belgium game. We do offer that here, we are the only [place] who does offer feather bowling...That is going to be free all day Sunday."
Laidler, who is 100 per cent Dutch, said she hopes to see a lot of people come out and experience what the Dutch culture is all about.
"We have a lot of great food, a lot of great culture, it would be great for people who aren't Dutch to come and experience that for sure," she said.
The event runs on Sunday from 12 - 5 p.m. or while supplies last at Fuel 4 You located at 34 Byng Avenue in Chatham. Food is priced individually or as a sampler plate for $20.
