Johnny Jordaan in Orange

What with the Queen's Diamond Jubilee celebrations in my home country and an orange football fever warming up my temporary home in the Netherlands, I've been thinking a lot recently about patriotism.

As a traveller and someone who's currently choosing not to live in their native country, it's hard to feel the strong pull of patriotism, but not impossible. Watching London shine this weekend in the only way it knows how - in the dull, grey rain - made me very proud.

But though not an accurate application of the word, I do believe that patriotism can be felt for more than one nation. I feel strangely patriotic to the Netherlands at the moment; a more accommodating, welcoming and calm nation of people I'm not sure I'll experience. Or maybe I've just been blinded by the orange that has started to take over again as Euro 2012 fast approaches.

Just like on Queen's Day in Amsterdam bunting is stretched three or more storeys up across streets lined with terraced houses, Dutch flags have been painted on shop windows, orange shirts were worn in abundance on Saturday (the day they beat Northern Ireland 6-0 in a friendly game) and yesterday as we cycled around town we saw someone had given Johnny Jordaan and friends an orange makeover. This summed it up for me. Patriotism is best served with a pinch of salt and a big dollop of humour. Do not stir too rigorously or overcook; to be enjoyed at any time and by anyone.