Archive for 'Dutch Vocabulary'
What’s a Dutch Zwembad? Posted by Sten on Jun 22, 2020
Ever since I moved away from the Netherlands, there have been things I’ve missed from my home country. Not only foods, like stroopwafels and good patat, but also places to go and see. This morning, I really felt like going to a zwembad (public pool, also refers to just a “pool”). Unlike in the United States, when the Dutch…
Curious Words in Dutch 6: Telefoonbotje Posted by Sten on Jun 1, 2020
Have you ever called your arm? The Dutch word telephone bone suggests that you can. Or is that not what it means? Let’s take a look at this curious word. Previous posts in this series: Curious Words In Dutch The Telephone Bone You may have heard of the “phone bone” before. It refers to bone growth…
Spreekwoorden en Uitdrukkingen (Sayings and Expressions) 15 – Trees Posted by Sten on May 26, 2020
Now that the zomer (summer) is here, and you may not be able to do anything else but stay in the Netherlands due to the Coronavirus, it’s a great time to explore the Netherlands! What about a wandeling (stroll) among the impressive eikenbomen (oak trees) of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug? Or through the bossen (forests) of the Drents-Friese Wold? Or what about a…
Telling Time in Dutch: A Refresher Posted by Sten on May 18, 2020
Let’s take a look at how to tell time in Dutch, and some useful sentences and information around the time in the Netherlands. Always useful to be able to figure out the time, especially if you don’t have a watch or phone on you! Here’s some tips, things to look out for, and how it…
Untranslatable Dutch: Ver-van-mijn-bedshow Posted by Sten on May 4, 2020
Let’s try to translate something untranslatable again today, shall we? This one is actually quite a curious one, with all its hyphens. Let’s look at word that’s very far from your bed: een ver-van-mijn-bedshow. Click here for more untranslatable words A show far from my bed! So what is this? A far-from-your-bed show? What is that…
Dutch King’s Day – In Quarantine?! Posted by Sten on Apr 27, 2020
Today is Koningsdag (King’s Day), on which our koning (king) Willem-Alexander celebrates his 53rd verjaardag (birthday). An exciting day, where the entire country is on its feet, clothed in orange and ready to celebrate. The koning visits a town where he is welcomed and invited to join in with all kinds of activities. But… That’s not possible today, with quarantainemaatregelen (quarantine measures) in…
Tweede Paasdag – Why ANOTHER Free Day? Posted by Sten on Apr 14, 2020
Easter Monday. What’s the point of this second day if we already have Pasen (Easter) on Sunday? And why is it celebrated in the Netherlands as a public holiday? Here’s why the Dutch ask themselves this question year after year, and why it actually is a free holiday. Tweede Paasdag In Dutch, Easter Monday is…