Between the sugar rushes and the cultural juggling of the Dutch festive season, December often leads to parental burnout. In this warm, honest, and direct episode, Eva offers a "parent-to-parent reset." We’re shifting the focus away from the pressure to "buy all the things" and toward the grounding practice of giving back.

Eva introduces the concept of the Reverse Advent Calendar—a simple, heart-opening way to involve your children in supporting families in need. We also spotlight incredible Dutch organizations like Serving the City Amsterdam, Kerst Zwolle, and the ADRA Christmas Box Campaign, where you can drop off essentials. If you are craving a holiday season with less noise and more purpose, this is your gentle invitation to take a breath and build a box. Let’s trade the holiday meltdown for meaningful connection and remind our kids (and ourselves) what this season is really about.

Ways to get involved across the Netherlands, including:

Serving the City Amsterdam,

kerstzwolle.nl,

the ADRA Christmas Box Campaign, and

nationwide Kerstpakketjesactie drives.

Got others you want mentioned? Reach out on Instagram to add others to share with our communtiy!

If you’re craving a December with less pressure and more purpose, this is your gentle invitation.
Take a breath. Gather your kids. Build a box. Make a difference.

You’re not alone in this season — and neither are the families we choose to support.

Bringing home a second baby is one of the most beautiful—and logistically challenging—milestones a family can face. In this highly requested episode, child psychologist Faye Poole from Kerr Psychology joins us to take a warm, honest, and direct look at the transition from one child to two. We move past the "perfect" nursery prep and focus on what really matters: your first-born’s emotional world.

Faye shares practical, science-backed strategies to help your oldest child feel secure, seen, and supported as they navigate their new role as a big sibling. We discuss how to prepare them before the birth, how to handle the inevitable "tricky" emotions once the baby arrives, and how to protect your connection with your eldest when you’re exhausted. Whether you’re currently pregnant or right in the thick of the newborn haze, this conversation provides the tools to make this transition feel safe, grounded, and joyfully messy.

Is the One Parent, One Language (OPOL) method a magic formula for bilingual success, or is it just another source of parenting guilt? In this episode of Dam Parenting, Eva sits down with linguist and multilingual mother Mimi from Growing Up Multilingual to take a warm, honest, and direct look at this century-old strategy. We unpack where OPOL came from, why it’s so widely recommended, and—most importantly—what happens when it meets the messy reality of daily life in a foreign country.

Mimi explains why your language plan should be a "living document" rather than a rigid set of rules. We discuss the pressure to achieve "perfect" bilingualism and how to pivot when a strict strategy starts to hinder your emotional connection with your child. If you’ve ever worried you’re "doing it wrong," this episode is your invitation to breathe easier. Tune in to learn how to prioritize relational closeness over linguistic perfection.

Living abroad often forces families into a "survivalist" independence that can inadvertently create distance between partners. In this episode of Dam Parenting, Eva sits down with Angela from the Expat Parenting Collective to take a warm, honest, and direct look at the fine line between "I've got this" and "we've got this." Without a traditional support network nearby, your partnership becomes your primary village—but how do you keep it from buckling under the pressure?

We explore the practicalities of sharing the mental load, from using shared calendars to the necessity of outsourcing. Angela shares how intentional communication and weekly check-ins can prevent burnout and resentment, helping you blend your home and host cultures into a grounded family rhythm. Whether you are navigating new Dutch norms or simply trying to feel like a team again, this conversation offers the real-world strategies you need to build a resilient home away from home.

Leaving a country isn’t just a logistical checklist; it’s a profound emotional journey. In this special episode of Dam Parenting, Eva and Maren sit down with Erin, who recently made the heartfelt decision to leave the Netherlands and move her family closer to their extended support network. We take a warm, honest, and direct look at the courage it takes to recognize what your family and your own wellbeing need most, even when it means leaving a community you love.

We explore the "expat grief" that comes with saying goodbye, the shifts in identity that occur when you stop being an international resident, and the complex meaning of "home" after years abroad. Whether you are currently contemplating a move, in the middle of a transition, or the one left behind saying goodbye to a friend, Erin’s story offers a reality check on the strength found in choice. Join us as we honor the shared stories of our community and the pieces of the Netherlands we carry with us, wherever we go.

Do you ever close Instagram feeling like you’re failing, even though your kids are happy and fed? In this episode of Dam Parenting, resident psychologist Dr. Faye Poole joins Eva to take a warm, honest, and direct look at how social media fuels the "perfect parenting" myth. We explore the psychological link between endless scrolling and the decline of parental confidence, uncovering why we compare our behind-the-scenes reality to everyone else’s highlight reel.

Faye shares practical strategies for protecting your mental health, building self-compassion, and modeling healthy digital habits for your children. We move past the influencers to discuss how to reconnect with what truly matters: authentic connection and emotional safety. Whether you’re a new parent looking for advice or a seasoned pro tired of the pressure, this conversation offers the mindset shifts you need for a calmer, more grounded approach to parenting in the digital age.

What happens when two parents share a child, but don't share the same vision for their multilingual future? In this episode of Dam Parenting, Eva is joined by Mimi from Growing up Multilingual⁠ to take a warm, honest, and direct look at the "hidden" side of bilingual parenting: parental alignment. We explore why even the most detailed language strategy will fail if parents are pulling in different directions.

Mimi dives into the emotional territory of heritage languages and explains how our own childhood identities shape the way we parent today. We discuss why couples often overlook these crucial conversations early on and share five key questions every couple should ask to build a truly shared journey. Whether you're struggling with a partner who isn't "invested" or just want to strengthen your foundation, this episode offers the tools to turn your language plan into a source of connection rather than conflict.

Halloween is just around the corner — and the Netherlands is getting spook-tacular!

This week, Samira from Amsterdam Kids joins us to share her top picks for family-friendly Halloween fun — from pumpkin patches to science parties and everything in between. Whether your kids are tiny pumpkins or full-on thrill seekers, we’ve got something for everyone:

Robbeburg — little-kid-approved Halloween crafts and costume fun
Pumpkin picking — the perfect autumn photo op (and pie excuse)
Speeltuin Amstelpark — cozy autumn playtime with a spooky twist

NoordOogst — family farm vibes, treats, and community Halloween spirit
Groteschijn — magical light festival nights
Walibi & Heksendoorn — for the brave (and slightly older!) ghouls
Science Camp Halloween Party — experiments that glow, fizz, and go boo!
Cultural Trick-or-Treat events — creative costumes, candy, and community fun

So whether you’re planning your first pumpkin adventure or mapping out a family fright night, tune in for ideas that make this Halloween magical for both young and old.

Stay till the end — there’s a special giveaway for the Science Camp Halloween Party!

The Herfstvakantie may be over, but the challenge of keeping kids entertained in the Dutch weather is a year-round reality. In this episode, Eva and Samira from AmsterdamKids look back at their ultimate survival guide for the autumn break. While the specific holiday dates have passed, the "rainy-day heroes" mentioned—like the Eye Film Museum, CineKid, and Sprookjeswonderland—remain top-tier recommendations for any weekend in the Netherlands.

We take a warm, honest, and direct look at the best nature escapes and day trips that are "worth putting on real pants for," even when the rain is falling horizontally. Consider this episode your evergreen roadmap for family fun across Amsterdam, Eindhoven, and beyond. For the latest seasonal updates and current event listings, be sure to keep an eye on the AmsterdamKids website, your go-to resource for making the most of life with little ones in the Netherlands, no matter the season.

Healthcare in the Netherlands shouldn't feel like a barrier to your well-being. In this episode of Dam Parenting, we spotlight the Healthy Here event taking place on November 1st in Amstelveen. This is a rare, free opportunity for international parents to bypass the standard referral system and speak directly with Dutch health professionals in plain English.

We take a warm, honest, and direct look at why events like this are vital for our community. Whether you’ve struggled to feel "seen" by the current system or you're simply looking for trusted local resources, Healthy Here offers a space for clarity and connection. Tune in to hear what to expect from the fair, how it can help you navigate the Dutch system with more confidence, and why building these community bridges is the first step toward better health for your whole family.

Health Fair Amstelveen 2025