Serving
In the Netherlands, serving usually means presenting. Even in restaurants, the skilled waiter or waitress has long been replaced by a student. Read here about presenting, what we call serving, and make your meal festive and complete.
Plenty of inspiration for serving
There are plenty of online examples for a beautifully set table. Especially on Pinterest, you'll find images of chic dining tables, though those are often in the higher price range. Still, you can get great ideas there. For example, making a menu card. In the past, you had to know calligraphy for that, but nowadays all you need is a good printer. Print out the dishes, stick the print on a piece of cardboard, and place it at each setting. When you have a guest over, these little details add something special to the meal.
Take the time to prepare your serving
Too many people rush into a home goods store before Christmas for a paper tablecloth with matching paper napkins. No one will deny that it looks festive, but you can give it more attention. Start by gathering inspiration from online images, and then create a surprise. After all, no one puts pots on the table anymore—everyone serves in bowls, so take it a step further. The same goes for Easter breakfast, a barbecue with family and friends, or any other moment you have a guest at your table. Cost doesn't have to hold you back, as long as you copy ideas from Pinterest. There you'll find images with luxurious table linens, though chances are they're not easy to find. Unfortunately, you can't really get inspired in Dutch restaurants anymore. In the Netherlands, skilled staff have been replaced by students working part-time. Belgium used to have a great reputation for serving, but even there, serving has become presenting. On the other hand, there's plenty of beautiful things to buy—make it complete.