Blogs by Ella Fisher
42 and Still Dancing: From Steak, to Snollebollekes, to a Voice That Touched My Soul
Friday, January 16, 2026, I turned 42.
Forty-two. I honestly can’t believe how fast time has flown by, how much I’ve lived, and how many beautiful moments I’ve been lucky enough to experience. I feel incredibly grateful. For everything that has been, and for all the years still ahead of me.
I never really know what to ask people for my birthday. Is that relatable? So I just threw out a few ideas here and there. Nothing too serious. What I didn’t expect was how full, fun, and unforgettable my birthday weekend would turn out to be. Not just on the day itself, but even the Monday after.
The girls spoiled me again with the sweetest drawings. Not only from them, but also from their friends. How cute is that? Those things always hit me right in the heart. They really do.
On my actual birthday, my boyfriend and I went out for lunch at Loetje in the town where we live. It was perfect. Steak Bali. I love steak. Simple as that.
Between 3:30 and 4:00 that Friday afternoon, someone knocked on our door. No joke: our doorbell doesn’t work, and I secretly love how peaceful that is. Standing there was my best friend. My oldest daughter had already slipped up earlier by saying someone was coming to pick me up, so I had a pretty good idea who it was going to be.
She gave me the most amazing gift: a photo frame filled with all our ridiculous, fun photos from parties and trips we’ve taken together. It now has a permanent spot on my desk, so I’m forced to laugh every single day at our wrong-in-the-best-way Alien Ant Farm sunglasses. She also gave me a bottle of Baileys Belgian Chocolate, which is hands down my favorite. That stuff isn’t a drink, it’s dessert. Dangerous dessert. Especially for the waistline.
We grabbed a cappuccino before heading out and then… off to Breda.
She surprised me with tickets to the Flügel Party, and wow, what a night. This was the lineup:
- DJ Patjoo – 90s / 00s / pop / party vibes
- Monique Smit – Dutch pop
- Buren van de Brandweer – house
- Russo – hip hop
- Jordy van den Boer – vocals
- Tim Schalkx – vocals / party
- Wilbert Pigmans – Dutch pop
- Patito Loco – vocals / party
- FeestDJRuud – party set
- John West – vocals
- Snollebollekes – live house / party
- Paul Elstak – hardcore set (closing act)
The biggest surprises for me were Buren van de Brandweer and FeestDJRuud. I didn’t know them at all, but they really stood out. And then Snollebollekes came on. We were standing right at the front when Rob Kemps appeared, and my best friend and I completely lost it. What an entertainer. I had never seen him perform live before, so this was a total blast. I’ll admit it: I’m officially a Snollebollekes fan now. It took a while, but I’m converted.
That said, my real weakness will always be Paul Elstak. We watched him from the front as well, and honestly, he’s still incredible. He’s 60, but to me he’ll always be forever young.
The whole night was unforgettable. So much laughter, so many great moments, and of course an ever-growing collection of photos and ridiculous videos. I truly couldn’t wish for a better best friend. Someone who organizes things like this for me. I’m incredibly grateful for her.
One funny and slightly unfortunate detail: an ex-colleague of mine was apparently there too. Possibly dancing somewhere in the crowd. I would have loved to see him go full hardcore, but we only realized we were both there after the fact. Next time.
I was also really happy with the weather. No rain this time, unlike my last experience in Breda, which was absolutely terrible weather-wise. There were a lot of very young people at the party, so yes, I felt a tiny bit older for a moment. But that won’t stop me from going to events like this. Not now, not ever.
FeestDJRuud really made an impression. He threw huge inflatable props into the crowd: oversized Flügel bottles, pool floats (with and without unicorns), giant balls. He truly turned the place into one big playground. Those are the kinds of things you don’t forget easily.
What also stuck with me is how my best friend and I are always on the same wavelength, especially when it comes to music. We were both secretly annoyed by John West, which of course resulted in another funny video. These kinds of parties are my favorite because I can just dance and be completely myself.
We weren’t at the front the entire time. When the Dutch songs came on that we didn’t love as much, we moved to a quieter spot. That was actually perfect. We could talk, people-watch, and catch our breath. Near the speakers, that’s pretty much impossible.
And believe it or not, my 42nd year wasn’t done yet.
On Monday night, I found myself at a Maria Mena concert at the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, together with my boyfriend. It was a complete surprise. I felt so happy and grateful. To me, Maria Mena is an angel who landed on earth to sing. Her voice is phenomenal.
“Just Hold Me” is my favorite song of hers. What makes her voice so special is that it’s completely unique, and sometimes it sounds like she sings with a slight crack or sob. That goes straight to my heart.
What made the evening even more special was getting to know her on a personal level through her stories. I discovered we actually have a lot in common. She talked about having had an eating disorder, about being a huge HANSON fan (she sang “I Will Come to You” and I sang along at the top of my lungs), and about how sometimes you have to work really hard on yourself to let go of an apology you’ll never get from someone else.
I had never been to the Concertgebouw before, so that alone made it an incredibly special experience. One I’ll remember for a long time. “My Lullaby” touched me the most. It’s about her and the bond with her mother.
Of course, this night was the complete opposite of the Flügel Party in Breda, but that’s something I genuinely like about myself. I love different kinds of music. Not everyone does, and that’s okay. I definitely wiped away a few tears. Her voice, the building, the atmosphere. Everything hit me deeply.
I’m beyond grateful.
I truly enjoyed my birthday. Every message, every surprise, every person who thought of me. Forty-two started off better than I ever could have imagined.