Grocery Shopping in the Netherlands: A Blood Sport Posted by heather on Jan 21, 2011
Yesterday evening, we went grocery shopping. While there are several different shops in our neighbourhood we tend to go to the nearby Albert Heijn because it is easy to get to and we know where everything is within the store, well usually. Grocery shopping, I must admit, is not one of my favourite pastimes in…
Hallo, Mestreech Posted by Elena on Jan 16, 2011
I think I’ve mentioned this before, but I don’t live in one of Holland’s four big cities – Rotterdam, Utrecht, Amsterdam and Den Haag – grouped together like a big happy family up North. Instead, I live in Limburg. This little southland of outliers has its own distinctive culture – and, in many cases, its…
Hoera! Ik Ben Jarig! Posted by heather on Jan 14, 2011
Wednesday was my birthday. Birthday’s in the Netherlands have always been an interesting phenomenon because of the cultural differences associated with them. Congratulations on the Birthday of Your Mother’s Cousin’s Hairdresser’s Dog When it is your birthday, not only do you get congratulated but everyone associated to you does too. The whole day, whenever…
Ke$ha’s Overrated: Ringing in 2011 with Queen, the Eagles, Meatloaf, Pink Floyd, U2, Golden Earring and Boudewijn de Groot Posted by Elena on Jan 9, 2011
Pinpointing how exactly the Dutch like their pop music is not an exact science, except for in the days immediately preceding each Oud en Nieuw. Starting on Christmas day, Radio 2 broadcasts what Dutch voters have designated as the Top 2000 songs of all time. Number one airs as the last minutes of the old…
How Did You Find That? Posted by heather on Dec 29, 2010
Today I went out with the intention of taking a photo for a different post but what I wanted wasn’t there, so that will just have to wait until another time! However, when I was returning, I noticed that one of the neighbours had taped something to his garage door. When I got a little…
Heather Tucker – A New Dutch Blogger at Transparent Language Posted by heather on Dec 27, 2010
Goede Morgen/Middag/Avond/Nacht (depending on where you are reading this from!), Hello! My name is Heather Tucker and I would like to introduce myself as a new blogger for the Transparent Language – Dutch blog. As of today, I will be joining the team to bring you news and information from the Netherlands and about the…
Koken met Klaas Posted by Elena on Dec 19, 2010
I don’t know what the rest of the world looks like, but here in Maastricht there can be no doubt that it is winter. The snow has been falling faster – quite literally – than they can plow it up, and Dutch rail travelers and road commuters have been experiencing some unnatural delays. Fortunately, at…