A chef, food stylist & writer and photographer writes about emigrating to the Netherlands, a beautiful love story, an unforgettable trip, and a watermelon bobbing in the water to keep cool.

1 You have an exceptional relationship with food. You transform ingredients into irresistible dishes, enticing the eye and the palate. Where did it all begin?

Thank you for your kind words. It all began with my mother. My mother was a wonderful cook, she loved a good recipe and cooked anything, from classic French dishes to traditional South African fare. I have precious memories of her sitting beside the stove on a little high chair watching over her simmering pots and pans. She believed in flavour and seasoning throughout and that was the most important lesson to me, to always taste your food and adjust the seasoning accordingly and to always get a balance of flavours. I still don’t know how she could have Sunday lunch with a warm baked pudding on the table at midday after spending the whole morning in church - she really was a phenomenal woman.

After getting married and cooking for my family, I wanted to cook better and to understand the cooking principles behind things like pastry, bread baking, and sauce making. That is when I enrolled at the Institute of Culinary Arts (ICA) in Stellenbosch to become a professional chef. Letitia Prinsloo, principal of the ICA, further instilled the importance of flavour into me. Her flair for beautiful table settings and food inspired me then and still inspires me to this day.

Llewelyn, Joe, Lucca, Vickie and Nikolai

2 Family is of great importance to you. Tell us about the love of your life, your sons, your new “daughter”, and the big move you made a while ago.

Yes, family is very important to me and we are a very close-knit family. Joe and I met each other at varsity and both of us pretty much knew from the start that we liked each other and have been inseparable ever since. We have 3 free-thinking, amazing sons, Llewelyn, Lucca, and Nikolai. We love to spend time together, and it seems to always be around a table.

In 2019 Joe received a job offer in the Netherlands. We were so surprised, but really saw it as a wonderful opportunity to come and live in and experience Europe. It was a lot more of an effort and actually quite emotional to get here and to adapt than we’d initially thought. You do not realize how ingrained you are in your previous life until you have to leave everything behind. Initially, we did not even know how Llewelyn (our eldest) would meet up with us in the Netherlands, as he was too old to accompany us on Joe’s work visa. 

Months before we came to the Netherlands, Llewelyn met a lovely Dutch girl, Fleur. At that time we had no inkling that we would be moving to the Netherlands a few months later. Fleur's parents’ company agreed to sponsor Llewelyn so that the two love birds could reunite. It is such a beautiful love story, they got married last year in a beautiful ceremony, so now I have a Dutch daughter in law, which is just so lovely.

3 What is the secret to settling into a new country?

Oh heavens, I don’t even know if I am qualified to answer that because sometimes it feels like we will never “settle”.  But slowly but surely it is becoming our home, I would say take it one day at a time.  For us, it helped enormously to connect with other like-minded South African Expats. We arrived in the Covid lockdown so meeting up with South African families was really a saving grace. We’ve built up an amazing support network here in the Netherlands and made a lot of good friends.

Image Unsplash

4 To someone born and bred in sunny South Africa, how do you feel about a wintry Christmas?

I love a European Christmas! Everything makes so much more sense from traditional Christmas food to the Christmas trees and fairy lights; everything has European origins. I love selecting our real Christmas tree, the Christmas carols, and hot chocolate or glühwein. All the lights make the darkness seem more friendly and warm.

But we still miss our African Christmas ... sunny days around the braai and pool or on the beach … a big trifle on the table and a watermelon bobbing in the water to keep cool. We will always miss that.

Vickie talks about the birth of the Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Handbook, and how it can help us prevent diabetes and insulin resistance.

5 You and your family love to travel. Tell us about a trip you won’t easily forget.

We had a recent trip to Portugal that we will not easily forget. Portugal is similar to South Africa in so many ways that we really felt at home there - even the supermarkets are similar! The people are friendly and it is really good value for money. Joe and I joke that we will retire in Portugal someday!

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6 Which small joys delight you?

So many things; a hug from one of my boys, dinner around the table with my family, our little garden here in Woerden, going for a walk, and seeing the seasons change. The seasons are so pronounced here, now in autumn the leaves change colour and the most beautiful array of russet and copper colours and everywhere mushrooms are sprouting. In spring little ducklings are everywhere and wildflowers cover the earth. Nature really inspires me.

7 What carries you through the trials and tribulations of life?

God, I have a deep and intense belief that God is in control and that He loves me.

8 What is your wish for the children of our planet?

Freedom and Joy! So many things try to steal our freedom to think and express ourselves in a true way and I think children feel it even more. To have peace and joy and live normal, happy lives.

Here Vickie shares her family’s journey with type 1 diabetes since Lucca’s diagnosis and how they overcame many obstacles.

Vickie is a fervent rugby enthusiast - and of course, South Africa won the 2023 World Cup!

Image: Facebook

About Vickie

Vickie de Beer is a professionally trained chef and and award-winning freelance food stylist, writer and photographer living in the Netherlands. She is the author of several cook books and the food editor of Lose it!, South Africa’s only low-carb magazine.

Website: https://vickiedebeer.com/

Facebook: Vickie de Beer

Thumbnail image: Unsplash

Other images: supplied, unless indicated otherwise