As red lanterns glow against Amsterdam’s frosty skies, the Van Zhang household is rewriting the rulebook for Lunar New Year celebrations – blending centuries-old Chinese traditions with Dutch gezelligheid (coziness) in the Year of the Horse 🐎.
"We make jiaozi dumplings shaped like windmills," laughs 16-year-old Mei-Lin, showing off hybrid treats that would make any foodie swipe right. Her father, Haarlem-born Martijn, proudly demonstrates his calligraphy skills while explaining how they’ve incorporated Dutch floral motifs into traditional fú (blessing) characters.
The family’s three-day celebration includes:
🧧 Digital red envelopes sent via TikTok to relatives worldwide
🛷 Ice skating visits to neighbors instead of door-to-door greetings
🎨 Collaborative mural-painting mixing Delft blue and Chinese crimson
"It’s about creating belonging," says Shanghai-born matriarch Ying, stirring a pot of niángāo rice cakes with stroopwafel crumbs. "Our kids code-switch between Mandarin and Dutch like pros – why not blend traditions too?"
As diaspora communities grow, 2026’s Spring Festival highlights how cultural exchange is evolving. From Rotterdam to Maastricht, over 150 official events now celebrate Asia’s biggest holiday – with Dutch-Chinese collaborations in everything from VR temple fairs to sustainable zodiac art installations 🌐✨.
