Run on the baklava as Dutch Muslims celebrate Eid

DutchNews, July 5, 2016

Deposit photos: Turkish dessert
of baklava

School’s out, and it’s time for a sugarfest: Dutch Muslims began celebrating the end of Ramadan on Tuesday. 

Some school children had a day off for the Suikerfeest (literally, sugar feast in Dutch). But Dutch Muslims of Moroccan origin will be waiting until Wednesday, when moon is in the right phase over Morocco. 

According to public broadcaster NOS, a third of primary schools in Rotterdam were closed so that pupils could celebrate, while at other schools children could take time off on request. 

In some other countries the streets are full of Eid celebrations after a month of religious fasting, eating and drinking nothing when the sun is up. But in the Netherlands, it is more normal for practising Muslims to visit the mosque in the morning, and end the day with family, feast and presents.