typically.nl

Fries are universal, but Nederlandse fries are … Flemish? Yep, that’s right. For many things related to taste, our neighbours to the south are superior to us and fries are no exception. We don’t even call ‘our’ fries ours anymore, but simply Vlaamse Frieten (Flemish fries). Yes, with mayo.

So it turns out that what you saw in Pulp Fiction (see below) is true after all. Yes we do eat our fries with mayo and darn it we like them that way! Our mayo is a little less sour than yours probably, but the idea is the same. Eggs, vinegar and oil in an emulsion, mjum!

When you order fries in snack places, what you will get resembles the stuff in the photo below (with the exception that this is a sign, but you get the idea). Thick, golden fries with mayo. If you’re lucky, in a pointy bag like this. They usually come in a styrofoam cup.

A sign showing Flemish Fries

What’s Flemish about that? 

Well for starters these fries are not made from potato powder/substitute, but from actual potatoes. They are twice fried, as opposed to their ‘chips’ brothers in the UK. Twice fried? Yep, the raw potato slices are fried initially at 160C, cooled off, then fried again at 180 to give them more crispiness. The initial phase is done in the morning, the second frying happens ‘on demand’. This is why it often takes a couple of minutes to prepare your frietjes.

What’s Flemish about this, is that this is how the Flemish do it (you know, Belgians).

Varieties

Frietjes usually come in two or three sizes. Klein (small), middel (medium) or groot (large). So far, so good. When you don’t specify, you will get them plain (but salted). If you want mayo on them, and believe me, you do, order them met (with). You do not have to add “mayo”, because that is assumed. (We usually say mayonaise though.)

You have your other toppings like ketchup, curry and uitjes (diced onions) as well. A frietje with mayo, ketchup and onions is called speciaal (special). You can also usually order satésaus (peanut sauce). A frietje with mayo and satésaus is called oorlog (war). Mind you, these all have regional varieties too, but speciaal and oorlog are understood throughout the country. In the southern parts, you can include stew meat with your fries by ordering zuurvlees. In the central and northern parts of .nl this is called stoofvlees.

We don’t eat picallilly with fries. Eew.