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Frisian and the Skûtsjesilen Championships Posted by on Jul 3, 2012 in Culture, Dutch Language, Dutch Vocabulary

Skutsje

Photo Credit: China_Crisis

On July 28th the Skûtsjesilen Championships will take place. Have you never heard of the word Skûtsjesilen? I hadn’t. So here is what I found out via the Holland.com website:

“Skûtsjes are typical Frisian ships that were originally used as cargo ships by Frisian farmers. Skûtsjes have a long and flat structure with which they could reach Frisian farms through shallow water. Sometimes farmers used them in sailing matches to earn some money. Due to new rules decreed by the water sport associations and the arrival of motorboats, interest in the skûtsjes declined. It wasn’t until after World War II that some skûtsjes fans started promoting skûtsjesilen again and turned it into the sailing event that it is today.” 

Each year sailing championships are organized so that skippers of these historical ships can fight for the honour of becoming the skûtsjesilen champion. The event is the perfect opportunity for you to combine water sports, practising your Dutch (or Frisian/Fries/Frysk) and enjoying the Frisian heritage.

If you would like to learn a little more about the Frisian language, the following video has some interesting information:

A few Frisian words to help you out:

English

Dutch

Frisian

Hello Hallo or Hoi Goeie or Hoi
Yes Ja Ja
No Nee Nee
How are you? Hoe gaat het met jouw? Hoe is it mei dy?
Fine, thank you. Goed, dankje. Goed hear, tige tank!
Please Alstublieft Asjeblyft
Thank You Bedankt Tige tank

**alternatives exist

Other events also happening in the Netherlands (and there starting dates) during July:

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Comments:

  1. Lisa Orland:

    Hoi Heather, hoe gaat het met jouw? =)

  2. Joka:

    There is a little mistake in your table with vocabulary:
    Correct is “Hoe gaat het met JOU?”
    jou = you (in object position)
    jouw = your (possessive)
    You hardly hear the difference in pronunciation, but these are really two different words.

  3. Raine:

    Does anybody know what’s Godsi vertoemde teringsledj mean? Thanks☺

    • Sten:

      @Raine That sounds like an insult? Where did you hear it? 🙂