Eurovision 2019- The Netherlands the Big Winner Posted by Karoly Molina on May 21, 2019
Last Saturday, the Eurovision Song Contest took place in Tel Aviv with about 186 million viewers worldwide not including the many streaming parties organized in several countries. The big winner of this year’s event was Dutch singer Duncan Laurence giving the Netherlands its fourth win. What is Eurovision? Eurovision began in 1956 as way bring…
Spreekwoorden en Uitdrukkingen (Sayings and Expressions) 9 – Rocks Posted by Sten on May 20, 2019
I visited the grotten (caves) of Maastricht last weekend. They are entirely human-made, as the mergel (marl) in the Sint-Pietersberg (“Saint Peter’s Mountain”) has many uses. It is used as bouwmateriaal (construction material), ingredient for cement (concrete), veevoer (fodder), kleurstof (coloring) and kalkmeststof (agricultural lime). While there is no spreekwoord (saying) related to mergel, there is an uitdrukking (expression). I found a fitting spreekwoord though! For other sayings and expressions in this series, click…
Car Parts and Other Car Jargon in Dutch Posted by Karoly Molina on May 15, 2019
Just when I think I have a good grasp of Dutch, a new situation comes to show me that there is still more to learn. I recently took my car for the bi-annual change of winter and summer tires and was faced with new vocabulary. Below is a list of some useful words and phrases…
The Dutch “Krul” – A Unique Mark of Approval Posted by Sten on May 13, 2019
There are many quick ways to quickly show your approval in writing. A very common sign of goedkeuring (approval) is the vinkje (check mark). While the vinkje is sometimes also used in the Netherlands, the goedkeuringskrul (“approval curl”) is a lot more common! But why this difference, and where do these signs come from? What is it used for?…
The Dutch Resistance in World War II – Part 2: Rotterdam Posted by Sten on May 4, 2019
In anticipation of the dodenherdenking and the celebration of the bevrijding of the Netherlands from the German occupation during World War II on May 4 and 5 and the fact that 2019 marks 80 years since the start of World War II in 1939, I am writing a series on how the Dutch got sucked into the war…
An Unusual Dutch Easter Tradition: Matzes Posted by Sten on Apr 21, 2019
It is Pasen (Easter)! On Easter Sunday, the Dutch have a few traditions they follow, and one that I am highlighting today are a very popular food item: matzes! Why Do The Dutch Eat Unleavened Flat Bread during Easter? During the Paasontbijt (Easter breakfast), which is usually quite extensive, the Dutch eat these flat crackers a lot…
Dutch Resistance in World War II – Part 1: De Slag bij Mill Posted by Sten on Apr 15, 2019
In anticipation of the dodenherdenking and the celebration of the bevrijding of the Netherlands from the German occupation during World War II on May 4 and 5 and the fact that 2019 marks 80 years since the start of World War II in 1939, I am writing a series on how the Dutch got sucked into the war…