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Moederdag: Celebrating Mother’s Day Posted by sarah on May 7, 2010
Don’t forget, Mother’s Day is on May 9 this year! In honor of Mother’s Day, I’ve put together a short list of words and phrases you might find useful when writing your card, or when trying to be exceptionally nice. mother : moeder father : vader parents : de ouders the child/the children…
How to Say Your Country and Nationality in Dutch Posted by sarah on May 4, 2010
There are two ways to tell someone where you come from. The first one is by saying where you come from, which uses the country name (a noun). The second is by describing your nationality using an adjective. 1. Asking where someone comes from Waar komt u vandaan? : Where do you come from? (using…
Koninginnedag (Queen’s Day) in Amsterdam Posted by sarah on May 1, 2010
This year for Koninginnedag I spent the day wandering around Amsterdam. Actually, I did this last year as well, since I live here, but I think the pictures from this year came out better. So for those of you who might have missed it, here’s a little bit of Koninginnedag to brighten your day. Our…
The Fun Side of the Dutch Monarchy Posted by sarah on Apr 29, 2010
With Koninginnedag right around the corner, I figured it would be appropriate to give my (albeit foreign) perspective on the Dutch monarchy. We already have a great post from last year written about Koninginnedag traditions, so if you’re interested, check it out here. One of the more unique aspects of the Dutch monarchy, as opposed…
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 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. …