During celebrations the sails are decorated with garlands, flags and Cupid's arrows. Besides sailing, ice-skating is one of the most common pastimes of all the social classes. In winter, when the canals are frozen, everybody uses ice skates. Houses are made of wood, painted white and green. Modern architecture, especially in the cities, is built on a folk tradition, which the open-air museum in Arnhem is trying to preserve.
Vegetable soup is very common and there are many different versions.
Hutspot is found everywhere. The Dutch drink a lot of coffee, very long of course, but they are also partial to tea. Originally, the catholic population of the south drank coffee, and the protestant population of the north and west drank tea. Still today, in these parts of the country, tea continues to be the favourite breakfast drink. Wine is not as common as beer.