Archive for the year 2010
How Did You Find That? Posted by heather on Dec 29, 2010
Today I went out with the intention of taking a photo for a different post but what I wanted wasn’t there, so that will just have to wait until another time! However, when I was returning, I noticed that one of the neighbours had taped something to his garage door. When I got a little…
Heather Tucker – A New Dutch Blogger at Transparent Language Posted by heather on Dec 27, 2010
Goede Morgen/Middag/Avond/Nacht (depending on where you are reading this from!), Hello! My name is Heather Tucker and I would like to introduce myself as a new blogger for the Transparent Language – Dutch blog. As of today, I will be joining the team to bring you news and information from the Netherlands and about the…
Koken met Klaas Posted by Elena on Dec 19, 2010
I don’t know what the rest of the world looks like, but here in Maastricht there can be no doubt that it is winter. The snow has been falling faster – quite literally – than they can plow it up, and Dutch rail travelers and road commuters have been experiencing some unnatural delays. Fortunately, at…
Het beste Sint Posted by Elena on Dec 5, 2010
Dear readers and learners of the Dutch language! Tonight is an important night in Nederland. If you hear a knock on your door this evening, you may find a big burlap sack full of presents, molting in the snow. If you’re quick enough, you may catch Zwarte Piet before he disappears: that is to say, you may catch one…
Slaap je niet lekker? Posted by Elena on Nov 14, 2010
I don’t think it is going too far to observe that, in general, the Dutch are a people of strong, often inflexible opinions. The imposition of those opinions on friends, family and casual bystanders is not uncommon. In my experience, a subject that consistently draws expressions from that staunch Dutch well of opinion is sleep. …
Recipe Potatoes and Cheese Posted by noortje on Oct 29, 2010
The Dutch are potatoes and cheese eaters. Therefore it is no surprise that we like the combine them. This is a recipe for, guess what, potatoes with cheese. It’s an incredible easy dish based on four people and takes about 25-30 minutes to prepare. Ingredients 1 kilo potatoes (preferably ‘bintjes’) 500-700 gram young cheese salt…
Killing the walrus with Fungus Posted by Elena on Oct 25, 2010
In sifting through old emails, I recently rediscovered a traditional Dutch song called “Kaap’ren Varen,” as re-imagined by the 1970’s folk-rock group Fungus. I learn from the internet that they came from Eindhoven, and that they played and wrote songs mostly for werkend en werklose mannen – working and out-of-work men. I can imagine that…