The Great Swansea Cheese Invasion 🧀

A boat shaped like a giant wooden clog sailing into Swansea Bay. The city's Lord Mayor being publicly weighed in wheels of cheese. It sounds like a fever dream, but it really happened. This week, read all about Dutch Week in Swansea.

Catch you on Sunday!
Andrew

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The Dairy Girls Take Swansea

For one week in June 1998, Swansea was at the centre of a Dutch invasion to promote its most famous export: cheese.

The campaign was led by five young women from the Netherlands—Natasja Jas, Hester de Boer, Gitte Bergsma, Margot Raap, and Heidi van Bodegraven—dubbed the “Dutch Dairy Girls.” Dressed in traditional costume, complete with lace bonnets and wooden clogs, they visited schools, pubs, hotels, and colleges across the city, offering samples of Gouda and Edam in flavors like cumin seed and peppercorn, while chatting about Dutch culture.

The Mayor’s Weigh-In And The Floating Clog

One of the week’s headline moments happened on Oxford Street, where Swansea’s Lord Mayor, Councillor Howard Morgan, stepped onto a giant set of scales. Opposite him were stacks of Gouda and Edam until the balance tipped. “That’s naked on the scales at home, and I couldn’t weigh like that in the street,” he joked, as his weight was declared to be 18 Goudas and four Edams - 11 stone, 11½ pounds. The stunt raised £182 for the NSPCC, with Gitte Bergsma later presenting the cheque at the Mayor’s office.

But the most surreal sight of the week was the clog boat. A floating replica of a traditional Dutch wooden shoe, it sailed into Swansea Bay crewed by two of the Dairy Girls. The Evening Post encouraged “disbelievers” to see it for themselves.

At the Dragon Hotel, the Dairy Girls found themselves sharing space with the visiting Australian Aboriginal Cricket Team. The Evening Post couldn’t resist the pun: “Team say cheese for Dutch dairy girls.” Both groups were passing through, but the photo op was too good to miss.

Cheese Cuisine

The week’s main event was a packed cookery demonstration at the Taliesin Theatre at Swansea University. Dutch demonstrators prepared six dishes - cheesecake, fondue, pâté, and pasta - while sharing insights into Dutch dairy exports.

Meanwhile, the Dragon Hotel ran Dutch-themed menus throughout the week, culminating in a gala dinner. Dishes included Garnalen Cocktail, Erwtensoep (pea soup with sausage), and Blinde Vinken - stuffed meat medallions in red wine sauce. .

The final event of the week saw food tasting at the Evening Post shop, with local dignitaries in attendance and Heidi van Bodegraven serving in full national costume.

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