Archive for 'History'
What are Witte Wieven? Posted by Sten on Oct 26, 2021
Like many other originally Germanic places, the Netherlands has some folklore that hails from this time. Today, I want to briefly discuss witte wieven, a mythical figure that is still used in the Dutch language today. What are witte wieven, and what does it mean these days? Witte Wieven – Mythical Dutch Ghosts Witte wieven is dialect…
Why German Chancellor Merkel Spoke to the Dutch on May 5th Posted by Sten on May 6, 2021
May 5th is an important day in the Netherlands. It’s Bevrijdingsdag (Liberation Day). This day marks the end of the Nazi occupation and the regained freedom of the Dutch people. Normally, this is celebrated with festivals throughout the country. However, like last year, there weren’t any festivals of course. The coronavirus is still ruining that. And…
The Controversy Over The Dutch Health Council Posted by Sten on Apr 21, 2021
Normally, you don’t hear much about it, yet it directly influences the beleid (policy) of the Dutch government. These past weeks, it made headlines, however, as it made some controversial advies (advice). I’m talking about the Gezondheidsraad (health council). Let’s talk about that council. How did it come to be, who’s part of it, and what is its influence…
What’s Dutch About the Dutch Act? Posted by Sten on Mar 26, 2021
Let’s revisit the “Dutch”-terms series today. There are many curious words in English that in some way refer to the Dutch. Here we find out what’s Dutch (or not) about them. We might get a little dark here – we talk about the Dutch act today. What is a Dutch act? The Dutch act, quite…