Archive for December, 2019
The Music Top 2000 – A New Dutch Tradition Posted by Sten on Dec 30, 2019
Every year again in December, it is time for the Top 2000. If you’re Dutch, that should ring a bell! For days on end, the best nummers (tracks) are played on NPO Radio 2. And millions of people tune in to this lijst der lijsten (list of the lists) every year. How does the list work? The first week…
Dutch Comfort Is Less Cosy Than It Sounds Posted by Sten on Dec 16, 2019
In our series on “Dutch”-terms, like Dutching, Dutch courage or Dutch uncles, we’ve found that many of these terms have an historic, often pejorative origin. So is the case with Dutch comfort, a term that follows the line of diminishing terms. What does it mean, and how would you use it? Let’s find out. Trying…
My Top 3 Dutch Songs Posted by Karoly Molina on Dec 11, 2019
My husband is an avid playlist-maker. Last week, we were at the Christmas market in Maastricht drinking glühwein and chocomelk, and he was listening to liedjes or songs and putting them on the appropriate playlist on his Spotify. One of these playlists is his Nederlandse Liedjes. We discussed what songs he had in this list and my…
This Is How Dutch Letters Sound Posted by Sten on Dec 9, 2019
The alfabet (alphabet) of a language is essential when you’re learning it. When you try to make yourself understood, but you mispronounce a word, it is helpful to be able to spell the word out – and knowing what the alphabet looks and sounds like is quite helpful! So here is a list of all…
Spreekwoorden en Uitdrukkingen (Sayings and Expressions) 13 – Sinterklaas! Posted by Sten on Dec 5, 2019
It’s December. A month full of long hours at work to meet that early end-of-the-month deadline, sitting in traffic on the way home in the dark, and trying to stay warm despite blazing up the fireplace. But it is also a month of coming together with friends and family, reminiscing the year past and looking…
The New Family of Dutch Grocer Albert Heijn Posted by Karoly Molina on Dec 4, 2019
Albert Heijn recently released its latest round of commercials or reclames depicting store manager Ilse juggling her personal life and work. While it is refreshing that Albert Heijn chose a female store manager to follow their previous “character” Henk van Dalen, this new round of commercials has stirred some controversy. Ilse van de Albert Heijn…