Archive for the year 2010
Dutch Music : Andre Hazes Posted by sarah on Apr 27, 2010
No blog about Dutch language and culture would truly be complete if we didn’t at least mention Andre Hazes. Whether you love him or hate him, he’s here to stay and has won a very particular spot in the hearts of the Dutch. Andre Hazes was a folk singer who sang a particularly emotional and…
Dutch Food: What is hutspot? Posted by noortje on Apr 23, 2010
I personally hate the winter: the cold, the countless layers of clothing, the cold, the pale and kranky people, the snow which prevents you from riding your bike normally and again, the cold! But I have to admit there is one good thing about the winter and it’s called hutspot. Hutspot is made out of…
Dutch Poetry: De Blauwbilgorgel, door Cees Buddingh Posted by sarah on Apr 22, 2010
Poems are a great way to learn new vocabulary and see the Dutch language used in new and interesting ways. This particular poem is an experiment in rhythm, sound and tone but uses nonsense words to do it. It’s a bit like Lewis Carroll’s “Jabberwocky,” but in Dutch. But it’s not all complete nonsense, so…
Dutch Spring Vocabulary Word Search Posted by sarah on Apr 21, 2010
Well, it is official. Spring has arrived in the Netherlands. And how can I tell this for certain? The weather is warmer, the sun shines occasionally, my garden is beginning to grow and pretty soon the Keukenhof will be filled with people eager to see all the beauty that a few million tulips can bring. …
Dutch Politics and Government: What is het poldermodel? Posted by noortje on Apr 19, 2010
Let’s discuss it. Let’s discuss it some more. And some more. And now let’s discuss the results. Maybe I exaggerate a little, but this is what we call ‘het poldermodel’, the economic political way of ruling based on discussion. After World War Two The Netherlands were taking in by the consultation system, in which the…
Learn Dutch: A conversation with the cashier Posted by noortje on Apr 15, 2010
A lot of things in our world get replaced by machines. When you go to the cinema, buy tickets online or in some countries even when you go to a supermarket, you don’t have to talk to anyone. You just click and type in what you want. But since the cashier is (for now) not…
Learn Dutch: Using Television and Radio as a Resource Posted by sarah on Apr 14, 2010
In my last blog I gave you a list of places to watch Dutch television and listen to Dutch radio. But what should you be doing with those resources? Well, what you do depends significantly on your own level. In this post I’m going to give you a few tips and pointers for using Dutch…