Vroeg op Koningsdag voor tompoes en avontuur

What is a Dutch “tompoes”?

A tompoes is the Netherlands' most-iconic pastry: two layers of crisp bladerdeeg (puff pastry) sandwiching a thick band of whipped cream over a layer of banketbakkersroom (pastry cream), topped with smooth pink fondant icing. On Koningsdag (April 27), bakeries swap the pink icing for orange — the oranjetompoes is the country’s seasonal pastry. The dessert is named after a 19th-century Dutch theatre dwarf named Tom Pouce, a stage name for Jan Hannema. Dutch bakeries debate the correct way to eat one (lay it flat, scrape it apart, or attempt a knife-and-fork attack); Dutch comedy has long mined the question.

In this clip, a Dutch family wakes up early on Koningsdag: “Het is vroeg. Dat we tompoes en oranjegebakje gaan halen.”