Whatsit Wednesday: Appliances

When someone here mentions something that is ‘American’, they usually mean that it is large. So they might look at purchasing a new refrigerator and mention to their friends in a proud voice that it is an American refrigerator. Appliances in Europe are different from those in the US. 

As mentioned, a large refrigerator would be called American. That is because the typical refrigerator when we first arrived here (which was of course 30 years ago) fit under the kitchen counter top. There were those who had larger refrigerators and there were those who had freezers as well. And combination fridge-freezers were available. But they were all typically smaller than what one would find in the US. And let’s not even think about water or ice dispensers in the door. 

Of course sizing is smaller here as well. We get milk or cola or water in liters, not gallons (4 liters) or even half gallons. So a refrigerator doesn’t need a door that will accommodate such sizing. The same thing applies to washers and dryers as well. Things are smaller - more manageable? Since most of Europe could fit inside Texas, that probably makes sense. 

Washers and dryers are a different situation however. A washing machine here will always be front-loading, not top-loading. It might take 7 liters of wash if it is a larger one (so it might take your duvet cover, but certainly not your duvet). It will however take about 3 hours to finish a wash load. On our washing machine we have a ‘speed’ button which gets things done in 90 minutes. Then it still needs to be dried of course. 

Drying clothes on a line would be a good choice, saving energy, keeping things fresh. But it also implies a certain amount of dry weather outside. Drying clothes in the rain just doesn’t work as well. And yet, before dryers became ubiquitous, most people dried their clothes on a rack - but inside. 

Now there are plenty of dryers. We have to have one that uses condensation since we cannot hook a vent to the outside. That means that we empty a reservoir in which the wetness of the clothes has been captured after each drying session. But it still takes forever to get a load of clothes dry. Often it means drying them first and then finally hanging them up or putting them on the radiator. 

Radiators - they are meant for heating. Where I grew up in Colorado we had forced air heating. That meant ducts on the ceiling in the cellar and vents in the floors upstairs where we lived. You could sneak on what people were saying by listening at the ducts (which I may or may not have done when I was young). Here most house have floor heating or radiators - if they have central heating. There are still plenty of houses with heating downstairs where the living room and kitchen are found, but next to nothing upstairs where the bedrooms are. 

We have a water heater that heats the water for use (shower, dishwashing, drinking) as well as the water in the combined boiler which runs through the radiators to heat the house. Radiators take up space along the walls in each room where you find them. But you can’t use them to listen in secretly to conversations. 

Back in the kitchen you will find various common appliances here. An air fryer or deep fat fryer must be present. One could not do without fried foods (either in the Netherlands or Belgium). A fryer is essential for french fries, frikandel and many more things. And alongside the fryer one will find a coffee maker. Although these might be of various brands (pods or pads), you will always be able to get a cup of coffee. You will not find a 'Keurig' - even though that is a Dutch word meaning 'neat'. You may find a Nespresso or a Senseo or some other brand. And tea can still always be made with a kettle on the stove. 

We are thankful for the many appliances we are able to have in our lives that make things easier. Sometimes it has been a journey of discovery in learning how things are different, but in the end we are well fed and clothed.