Dutch Place Names, the ‘Mini-Schengen’, and Travel in Europe Posted by Jakob Gibbons on Dec 8, 2015
This post will discuss some recent developments in Dutch and European politics that may soon change foreigners’ options for traveling in the Netherlands and Europe. This is a great chance to work on place names in Dutch, which can sometimes differ greatly from their English equivalents. Don’t worry — there’s a vocabulary list at the end!…
How To Fight Climate Change – De Klimaatwet! Posted by Sten on Dec 7, 2015
The planet is heating up and world leaders are discussing a treaty in Paris this week to do something about it. However, just a few days before the Conference of Parties in Paris started, two Dutch politicians wanted to send a signal, that they do not believe enough is done, and more should be done. What? Fractievoorzitters (party…
How to Ride a Bike in the Netherlands Posted by Karoly Molina on Dec 3, 2015
The Netherlands and the Dutch are usually tied to three very iconic images: tulips, windmills and bikes. These three icons are tightly woven to the image of the Netherlands and it isn’t a mere stereotype. Bikes are one of these three icons that stand out because it is something essential to Dutch life. A visitor…
COP 21 – Dutch Focus on Non-State Actors #EarthToParis Posted by Sten on Nov 30, 2015
Today, the twenty-first United Nations Conference of Parties (COP21) kicked off. It is an annual conference on combating climate change, involving all parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), signed in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. The goal of the Convention That UNFCCC does not contain any binding clauses…
The Best Commercial EVER Posted by Sten on Nov 27, 2015
Wat is de beste reclame ooit? (What is the best commercial ever?) This question was posed at the 50th anniversary of the Ster Gouden Loeki this year. Normally, the best commercial of the year is chosen. Since last Wednesday, it was the 50th anniversary of Ster, the best commercial of all time was to be elected. The election process An…
Taking the Dutch Language Exam Posted by Karoly Molina on Nov 26, 2015
A few weeks ago, I wrote about the requirements for integration for those of us who have migrated to the Netherlands as well as about the difficulties in meeting this requirement. For those of us who are inburgeringsverplicht, one of the ways we can fulfill this requirement is by taking the Staatexamen Nederlands als Tweede Taal NT2. This…
Lockdown in Brussels and Security in the Netherlands Posted by Jakob Gibbons on Nov 24, 2015
After last week’s attacks in Beirut and Paris, Brussels is on lockdown. Brussels is the capital of Belgium, the European Union, and NATO, and is only a two hour train ride from Rotterdam, bringing this international conflict close to home in het nederlandse taalgebied in the Netherlands and Flanders. Many of the Dutch words used to describe security situations and…