Who was Van Gogh? Posted by noortje on May 3, 2010
One of the Dutch worldwide famous painters is Vincent van Gogh. Everyone has heard of him and the most people will recognize at least some if his paintings. In 1973, even his own museum was opened. But what exactly is the history behind this great man? Vincent Willem van Gogh was born in Zundert, on…
Koninginnedag (Queen’s Day) in Amsterdam Posted by sarah on May 1, 2010
This year for Koninginnedag I spent the day wandering around Amsterdam. Actually, I did this last year as well, since I live here, but I think the pictures from this year came out better. So for those of you who might have missed it, here’s a little bit of Koninginnedag to brighten your day. Our…
Dutch Words for Emotions Posted by noortje on Apr 30, 2010
Emotions are what set us apart from robots. They are not always right or useful, but to a certain extent, do make us who we are. And because we often use words to express our feelings, even in Holland, let me write down how you say and spell them in Dutch. Mad (angry) : boos…
The Fun Side of the Dutch Monarchy Posted by sarah on Apr 29, 2010
With Koninginnedag right around the corner, I figured it would be appropriate to give my (albeit foreign) perspective on the Dutch monarchy. We already have a great post from last year written about Koninginnedag traditions, so if you’re interested, check it out here. One of the more unique aspects of the Dutch monarchy, as opposed…
Dutch Music : Andre Hazes Posted by sarah on Apr 27, 2010
No blog about Dutch language and culture would truly be complete if we didn’t at least mention Andre Hazes. Whether you love him or hate him, he’s here to stay and has won a very particular spot in the hearts of the Dutch. Andre Hazes was a folk singer who sang a particularly emotional and…
Dutch Food: What is hutspot? Posted by noortje on Apr 23, 2010
I personally hate the winter: the cold, the countless layers of clothing, the cold, the pale and kranky people, the snow which prevents you from riding your bike normally and again, the cold! But I have to admit there is one good thing about the winter and it’s called hutspot. Hutspot is made out of…
Dutch Poetry: De Blauwbilgorgel, door Cees Buddingh Posted by sarah on Apr 22, 2010
Poems are a great way to learn new vocabulary and see the Dutch language used in new and interesting ways. This particular poem is an experiment in rhythm, sound and tone but uses nonsense words to do it. It’s a bit like Lewis Carroll’s “Jabberwocky,” but in Dutch. But it’s not all complete nonsense, so…