I'm moving in September to Utrecht to study for my Masters and when a friend mentioned I was going to miss Thanksgiving I well.....burst into tears. (Still don't know why this happened )

Do people get together to celebrate Thanksgiving????

Assuming you mean Americans... you should see notices of groups when the time comes.

Of course, you could always be a leader and start your own group.

Do people get together to celebrate "Thanksgiving"?
The answer is: NO. It is a typical American celebration, unknown to Europe.

I will be here in A'Dam for Thanksgiving....you are more than welcome to join me and my friends!!

I'm quite aware that this is an American holiday. I meant do other Americans get together to celebrate this, I thought posting this on an Expat website in the USA forum made that something that didn't need to be stated.

Thanks!!! I might have to take you up on that. We'll see when the time comes closer what happens

There are lots of American expats groups here that plan get togethers and celebrate special occasions together.

Expatica has its Expat Fair in October, and lots of these groups set up booths to meet and greet and provide info. If you look at the Groups part of this forum, you'll probably find some contacts too.

No worries, you'll definitely not be alone if you don't want to be!

I actually started my own tradition with my dutch in-laws. Every year we invite them over for Turkey and stuffing and all of that. I figure if I should celebrate their traditions they should get to know a few of mine too.
Its fun-not the same of course, but fun. Its a real adventure every year to source all the baking stuff I need.
Plus, the inlaws bring me a gift-i haven't told them this isn't done in America! hehe

Great to know.Know I am a little more at ease. I've lived in the states for 22 yrs (I'm 23 and was born in Nederland) but this is by far my favorite holiday. This past year was the first year my dad had a business trip and couldn't be home....I bawled my eyes out so my mom and I made Thanksmis to celebrate Thanksgiving & Christmas as one. I'll admit I'm a loser, I do love me some stuffing and the family time.

You're not a loser! Holidays can be the toughest time. Luckily you're from Kentucky (I seem to remember you saying)...at least the weather will be a bit what you are used to.

Nothing was more depressing to me than having a Christmas with no snow...

C'mon - it's Thanksgiving. There are no losers on Thanksgiving!

Check with the Marriott just over the canal near the Leidesplein - they do a Thanksgiving dinner, although it does have a tendency to fall on the saturday after Thanksgiving, but it's a traditional Thanksgiving event.

Another restaurant to do one is the Hard Rock Cafe in the Max Euplein, also near the Leidseplein. It's okay, but like most Thanksgivings it's more about the company you keep; grab a few friends and it's a ball.

If you are going to cook one yourself, you should bring a few boxes of those XXL Ziplock bags with you from the US. It's impossible to find anything larger than a quart-bag size here, and they're great if you're going to brine the bird the night before. It's one of those "why didn't I think of this before I left"-kind of things...

Birds: You don't just go to the supermarket and buy a turkey. Since there's no tradition for that here, people still think turkey can be dry and tasteless (um, brining perhaps?) and the oven can small. Plus, they're special-order only and can be expensive. I spent nearly €90 one year for a 10 kilo bird for Christmas. I had to order it from my local store without an idea what it would cost. Damn thing came from France, but it was a very nice bird...just not €90-nice, but that's what you pay for convenience.

You can save a lot of money by going to a halal butcher, often found in the turkish neighborhoods. The birds I've bought since have been just as nice, and almost a third cheaper. You might have to pluck a few feathers, but that's it.

Just hope you have an oven.

If you have any specific questions, feel free to drop me a note.

I got a nice bird at the Albert Cuyp markt for 25 euros from one of the kip merchants. You order in advance the size you want...They start at about 20 euros...

Hey Canucky Woman, when did the Canadians start celebrating our Holiday?

I pay about 50 euros for a 25lb turkey every year. We started inviting our family and friends here in the Netherlands every year since being here. They look forward to it and really participate. Now I'm going to get themto watch American football after the dinner. We started with about 20 people and this has grown to about fifty. This year we may need to rent a hall to have the dinner.

Yes inside of every Dutch person there is a closet American wanting to get out.

Canada has always celebrated Thanksgiving in October.

I haven't here, but I do know the two kip merchants at the Albert Cuyp markt takes orders for turkeys around that time...

Yeah - I hear the prices there can be better than here in the sticks (Hilversum). I think I let myself get taken for a ride just so it feels more like the relaxed holiday it's supposed to be...

BTW - how long can you leave turkey in the freezer? I just found some from Christmas...

I am so glad to hear others have put thought into Thanksgiving as well. I am having Thanksgiving here in the states and then moving immediately to Amsterdam for the duration but around last year I started investigating what I will need to do in order to have turkey day at our apartment. Basically it involves borrowing a friends oven too - I already researched the Albert Cuyp market for the turkey. I will make my own stuffing from scratch as I am pretty sure there isn't a bunch of Mrs. Cubbisons lining the AH shelves- I wanted to make some quick meatballs one time and couldn't find breadcrumbs...so I had to beat the snot out of a bunch of premade croutons (too salty). Cranberry though - cranberry is alluding me. Of course there's the stuff in the can, which don't get me wrong is necessary for sandwiches, but I like to make my own sauce and it's so easy. So - any line on fresh or frozen cranberries? Surely there's a bog somewhere.

I make crumbs from the Euroshopper creme crackers for meatballs. For stuffing I would just do what my mum has always done...put out some white bread and let it dry out overnight, then run it through a food processor.

I made cranberry sauce last year...they do sell cranberries in a bag that time of year, so no worries.

I buy my breadcrumbs at the LIDL. They come in a huge box, so they last halfway until forever.

The first year I was here we had a bit of a hard time finding cranberries, but last year they were everywhere... and surprisingly not that expensive.

Wonderful! This is a serious load off of my mind. Boyfriend says not to stress about the holiday a full year or more in advance, but I really (REALLY) love turkey and, of course, the day itself is fun. It really won't be the same without awkward family interaction - just friends. How strange to imagine.