Archive by Author
Annie M.G. Schmidt- Abeltje, Pluk and Minoes Posted by noortje on Mar 19, 2010
In my last blog I promised to tell more about Annie M.G. Schmidt and her writings for the children that outgrew Jip and Janneke. She wrote a lot of books in her life, but let me pick out three of the most famous ones that everyone interested in Dutch culture should know. Abeltje The first…
Annie M.G. Schmidt – Jip and Janneke Posted by noortje on Mar 12, 2010
Where was I in my last blog..? O yeah, Jip and Janneke. Okay, so the two young next door neighbors, Jip and Janneke, appeared weekly in Het Parool, a famous Dutch newspaper. Annie M. G. Schmidt wrote the stories between the journalists and editors in the building of Het Parool. Jip and Janneke share kiddy…
Who is Annie M.G. Schmidt? Posted by noortje on Mar 5, 2010
I remember flipping through the pages of the books of Annie M.G. Schmidt as a kid, smelling the library scent of the paper, reading and thinking about the words and looking at the sometimes crazy pictures. The name Annie M.G. Schmidt didn’t mean much to me, even though I knew she was famous. For a…
Sinterklaas, Santa Claus… Same, same, but different? Posted by noortje on Feb 23, 2010
If you are a bit familiar with the Dutch culture, you probably heard about Sinterklaas, an old man with a white beard who gives presents to good kids on the night of December fifth. And if you did hear of him, you might also wonder what the difference is between him and Santa Claus, because…
Why are the Dutch so tall? Posted by noortje on Feb 17, 2010
As a Dutch woman traveling over the world, one thing always stands out: my height. Although I am not extremely tall in Holland (1.75m), in every other country I am always the giant between the midgets. About 150 years ago the Dutch were one of the smallest people in the world, but now the average…
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…
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…