The Home of the Careless

The first sunny days in The Hague coupled with the blooming pink flowers.

We all have that one thing we love to buy but rarely use. For me, it’s handbags. I’m fascinated by them—the designs, the textures, the craftsmanship. I could spend hours admiring them in stores, but those who know me well know that they hardly ever make it out of my closet.

Since moving to the Netherlands, my desire to buy handbags has only grown, but surprisingly, my need for them has significantly decreased. Here, most people keep their cards on their phones. The only exceptions are the OV-chipcard for public transportation and, of course, your ID. Now, when I leave home, my checklist is simple: Phone, OV, and keys.

Anything beyond that feels non-essential. I can pay for things with my phone, my keys keep me from having to call a locksmith, and my OV-chipcard ensures I can travel across the country without worrying about paying for tickets on the spot.

The beauty of this is that all these items fit easily into my pockets. No need for a bulky handbag. As a result, despite owning several, I’ve found myself using a simple fabric supermarket tote bag when I need something extra—usually for a quick stop to grab groceries. It’s basically a Woolies bag with longer handles, and it’s perfect when I’m cycling around.

However, this new minimalist lifestyle comes with its downsides. It’s incredibly easy to lose things when everything is stuffed into your pockets. I’m admittedly the most careless person I know, and it’s not uncommon for me to feel my phone in my pocket and forget to check if anything else has fallen out.

Bless my mom, though, who gifted me a travel-size card holder. But even that is so light I barely notice it. And as a result, I've lost my cards more times than I care to admit.

Fortunately, each time I’ve misplaced them, someone has found me through social media and returned them. It’s funny—on the days I miss home the most, I realize that The Hague seems to be home of the careless, where even the most absent-minded people find a little bit of luck.

I suppose, for now, my supermarket tote bag will continue to be my go-to “handbag.” It may not be glamorous, but it serves its purpose—and when it’s so easy to lose track of everything else, that’s really all that matters.

Until next time. ♥️