Oliebollen




Oliebollen (oil balls) is a traditional dutch food (donut) eaten on New Year’s Eve.

It is said to have been first eaten by Germanic tribes in the Netherlands during the Yule, the period between December 26 and January 6. The Germanic goddess Perchta, together with evil spirits, would fly through the mid-winter sky. To appease these spirits, food was offered, much of which contained deep-fried dough. It was said Perchta would cut open the bellies of those who did not eat, as the fat in the oliebollen would make her sword slide off the body.


This is Perchta.


Perchta was said to roam the countryside at midwinter, and to enter homes on Twelfth Night. She would know whether the children and young servants of the household had behaved well and worked hard all year. If they had, they might find a small silver coin next day, in a shoe or pail. If they had not, she would slit their bellies open, remove stomach and guts, and stuff the hole with straw and pebbles.

Moral of the story : Eat Oliebollen unless you want your belly to rip open.




Winner of this year’s best tasting oliebollen: Richard Visser's Gebakkraam, Rotterdam

Yes, we have the same family name. Unfortunately, we are not related. I can’t make oliebollen although I am good in eating them.