Archive for 'Culture'
What Are Polders? Posted by Sten on Jul 21, 2016
Does it get more Dutch than a polder? Yes, kaas (cheese) maybe… But the great difference is that polder does not even know an English translation! Pretty Dutch then, right? One great example of a polder has already been highlighted before: the Dutch province Flevoland is a huge Polder. Even though polders are explained there shortly, a lot is left unexplained, and therefore this post…
Bye, bye Bijlmerbajes! Posted by Sten on Jul 17, 2016
One of the most infamous prisons of the Netherlands, the Bijlmerbajes, closed on June 1, 2016. It started as a humane prison, without bars in front of the windows. The cell doors were mostly open all day long, and some of the gedetineerden (detained) even had the key to their own cell. But notorious escapes ensued, and the Bijlmerbajes became…
Dutch Gardens Part 2- Fruits, Veggies and Herbs Posted by Karoly Molina on Jul 13, 2016
On my previous post, I wrote about basic components of a Dutch garden. These included a seating area, flowers, a moestuin and a covered area to protect from the sun and rain. On this post, I would like to expand more on the moestuin. The moestuin is the healthiest and most fruitful part of the garden. If you…
Dutch Gardens Part 1- Basics Posted by Karoly Molina on Jul 6, 2016
When I lived in Texas, everyone I knew had very big back yards (everything is bigger and better in Texas, right?). My back yard was mostly grass with some bushes and small trees here and there. From what I remember when I would travel outside of Texas, the back yard with mostly grass seemed to…
After the Brexit, maybe a Nexit? Posted by Sten on Jun 27, 2016
The people of the United Kingdom have decided: they want to leave the European Union (EU). This is also referred to as the Brexit, a combination of Britain and exit. But what does this mean for other countries in Europe, what about the Netherlands? Will there be a Nexit? The Brexit Even though many outlets and…
Can You Say This Correctly? – 5: Fair Trade Basmatirijst – How to pronounce ij Posted by Sten on Jun 14, 2016
One of the hardest things about learning Dutch is pronunciation. Whether it is about the ui-klank (the “ui” sound), the G-klank (the “G” sound) or other sounds you might have a hard time with. This series, called “Can You Say This Correctly?”, is about providing a speech example that I recorded. I will give the Dutch text, a translation…
Pet Names and Loving Nicknames Posted by Karoly Molina on Jun 8, 2016
When romancing in Dutch, it is important to know a couple of “pet names” or loving nicknames to use with your significant other. Saying “I love you cuddle-bug” or even a simple “hey babe” can make conversation sound sweeter and more loving. So what pet names can you use with your Dutch or Vlemish babe…