Archive for February, 2010
Words of Love : How to Say I Love You in Dutch Posted by sarah on Feb 13, 2010
I don’t think Valentine’s Day (Valentijnsdag) is traditionally a big deal in the Netherlands, but since we live in a world that has close contact with other cultures via the media, internet, television, etc., it’s not uncommon to do something small and special for your loved one here too. Although Dutch may not be known…
How to use a Kaasschaaf Posted by sarah on Feb 11, 2010
We all know that the Dutch provide us with plenty of cheese for our enjoyment. All kinds of cheese, from all over the country, absolutely delicious. But how does one go about slicing these cheeses, especially when they are purchased as a triangular block? This is why the Dutch have a kaasschaaf, a special kitchen…
Dutch Sayings about the Wind Posted by noortje on Feb 9, 2010
With windmills as one of the main icons of Holland, sayings about this main source of energy couldn’t be left out. Below some of the most famous sayings that all have to do with wind, with their literal translation and with what it really means. Laughing is allowed! Dat legt geen windeieren: That doesn’t lay…
Subject Pronouns in Dutch Posted by sarah on Feb 7, 2010
In Dutch there are two forms of subject pronouns: the regular pronoun and the pronoun for emphasis. In English we tend to use our tone of voice to show the emphasis, but in Dutch you can use your tone of voice plus an emphasized subject pronoun to make such a distinction. The regular subject pronouns…
Winkels Posted by sarah on Feb 5, 2010
If shopping is your thing, there are plenty of shops to be found in the Netherlands. Most cities have a shopping street and at least one major market area. There are three shops in the Netherlands that are particularly Dutch, not for any cultural reasons, but because you can find them just about everywhere. Since…
The Dutch and Ice Skating Posted by noortje on Feb 3, 2010
Besides soccer, one of Holland’s favorites sports is ice skating. As soon as the canals, rivers, and lakes freeze up during the coldest winters, the Dutch take out their ice skates to the frozen waters. Kids practice by putting on ice skates with double blades next to each other for better balance. Usually the parents…
De and Het Words in Dutch: Also Known as Definite Articles Posted by sarah on Feb 1, 2010
One of the more tricky parts of the Dutch language are the definite articles. As a non-native Dutch speaker, this is one of the more difficult things for me to get correct, and if you haven’t noticed already, I still occasionally mess it up every now and again. At least as a non-native Dutch speaker…