Dille & Kamille

I love Dille & Kamille (English – Dill & Chamomile) – a shop with numerous branches across the Netherlands.

Dill’s name comes from the old Norse word “dilla” which means “to lull” – to put to sleep, to calm. There’s a lot that will calm you about this pretty winkel (shop) but put you to sleep – hardly, even though the colours are light and airy. Sleep you will not. And Chamomile – this is from the Greek meaning “earth-apple”. Chamomile is also known as a soother/calmer soI guess you will get a double dose of shopping zen as soon as you step in, under the front shade and into this branch I went to in Leiden.

So with this in mind – you know your D&K experience ought to be fruitful. I may buy that Clafoutis book…after all I have conquered The Tarte Tatin. But not just yet!

It is essentially a home shop with many sections generally covering Food & Kitchen, Body & Bath and Garden. You’ll also find a chioldren’s corner with wooden toys and little knich knacks.

The Food and Kitchen section stocks a range from measuring spoons and cups to utensils. What’s nice to see is a whole wall with shelves full of every kind of wooden utensil you can think off – rolling pins, mashers, spoons, shovels and loads more

Spoon assortment

Then on the opposite wall, you have all metal utensils – spoons, whisks, moulds, tins, pans, racks.

I’ve been tempted to add some Amuses spoons for small bites (small chops aka Nigerian parlance) to the forks I already possess but I can’t find it in my heart to justify their use – just yet! Delicate and refined is not exactly where I’m at this very moment.

You have table clothes and tea towels, cookery books and spice packs. Tea, coffee, sweets and a variety of confitures (jams, jellies and preserves).

Then you have a great Bath and Body section. It was here that M and I had a great laugh.

You see M is into body massage. Anyway at D & K, she saw a fantastic massage brush that felt fantastic – she tried it out to surprised and slightly started looks from a gentleman, she wondered what was up. She said it was the best brush she’d ever seen. Looked right, felt right – she was going to get it. And then I appeared and excitedly she told me about how good it felt and proceeded to try it out on me. I noticed her excitement transform to an amused horror, as she saw the white streaks she had left on my black top…from her massage brush SOAP.