Tourism for iedereen at the Keukenhof Posted by Elena on May 20, 2011
Last week I went to a place in the Netherlands where most Dutch people have never set foot: the Keukenhof, a huge, heavily landscaped flower park outside of Amsterdam. At the entrance, a Dutch flag hangs alongside a German one, and inside the last thing you are likely to hear is the sing-songy tones of…
The Humble Stroopwafel Posted by heather on May 14, 2011
At first glance, there is nothing that spectacular about a stroopwafel. It’s thin, it’s round and it’s brown. But hidden behind that waffle grid exterior is a gooey, sweet, caramelness that challenges even the best home cooked meal from your childhood. Stroopwafels are a waffle made from two thin layers of baked batter with a…
Remembering and Celebrating Posted by heather on May 6, 2011
Two important days for the Netherlands have just passed – May 4th was Remembrance Day and May 5th was Liberation Day. If you were in the country, especially in Amsterdam, over these two days then you were probably aware of some of the events taking place and perhaps you even participated in them. Remembrance Day…
Waag: Amsterdam’s Oldest Surviving Medieval Gatehouse Posted by heather on May 3, 2011
There is a building in the middle of the market square, Nieuwmarkt, in Amsterdam. Easily spotted despite the market stands sometimes surrounding it; the brick building, featuring several towers is Amsterdam’s oldest surviving medieval gatehouse. Known by many as St. Antoniespoort, this building is called Waag. Waag was built in 1488, with the intention of…
That’s My Lunch! (Possessives in Dutch) Posted by heather on Apr 26, 2011
Work refrigerators – they are the bane of many people’s life. No one wants to clean them and if you put something good in, you can almost guarantee it won’t be coming out, in your hands at least. After today’s post, you will be well equipped to exert your ownership on that tasty lunch, especially…
Get Into the Orange Party Spirit Posted by heather on Apr 14, 2011
Queen’s Day – the once a year event where everyone covers their immediate surroundings (including themselves) in orange, drags out their unwanted possessions to sell at the free market and for many, consumes large amounts of alcohol. If you aren’t able to catch a flight to the Netherlands and live in the United Kingdom, then…
Meet My Family Posted by heather on Apr 12, 2011
Knowing how to talk about your family in Dutch is not only useful for answering questions when put on the spot but is also handy as a conversation starter. Of course to do that, you need to know some family related words and key phrases. Let me introduce you to my family, as a starting…