The Dutch Book Surprisingly Few Dutch People Know About Posted by tiffany on Mar 21, 2014
Last month, Dutch Olympic speed skating coach Jillert Anema made waves in America when he suggested that the country’s poor performance at the Olympics has much more to do with America’s obsession with (American) football over all other sports than it did with their high-tech Under Armor skating suits. After Anema made the remarks in…
An important day in the Netherlands – time to go vote! Posted by Sten on Mar 19, 2014
Today, March 19, the gemeenteraadsverkiezingen (municipal, or local elections) are held in the Netherlands. They are more important than ever this year, because the gemeenten(municipalities) have more competencies than ever. For example, now they also take on the gezondheidszorg (health care), which is a big issue for the Dutch. However, the kiezersopkomst (voter turn-out) is likely to…
There’s a Horse in Hall! or Carnival in the Netherlands Posted by tiffany on Mar 3, 2014
Campy Dutch music blaring from the speakers. Costumed freaks on the train. Streets littered with beer bottles and cans… It’s that time of year again: Carnival! A painting from 15th century artist Jheronimus Bosch depicting Carnival-like festivities has led scholars to guesstimate that Carnival has been celebrated in the Netherlands since 1385. As the Netherlands is…
The Big Advantage Of Dutch Students – Only Dutch? Posted by Sten on Feb 26, 2014
Last year in June, the European Commission sued the Netherlands for its policy on the OV Chipkaart. If you wondered, OV stands for Openbaar Vervoer (Public Transportation). The Netherlands have agreed to the Verdrag van Maastricht (The Maastricht Treaty, or Treaty on the European Union (TEU)) of 1992. In this Treaty, which is binding, the Netherlands is obliged to remove barriers…
Nederlands Leren on a Budget Posted by tiffany on Feb 23, 2014
I got an email today from a brand-spanking new expat in Gelderland. She’s been in the Netherlands about two months. She’s a bit isolated, no job prospects as of yet, few people to pal around with, and zilch in the way of funds to put towards her Dutch language education. She wanted to know what…
Was minister Plasterk ousted for his words about the NSA? Posted by Sten on Feb 13, 2014
The NSA is present in the media today more than ever – in both senses. This also hit the Netherlands. In October last year, the agency was alleged through information provided by Edward Snowden of tapping metadata (so information about which phone calls which phone) of 1.8 million telefoontjes (phone calls). As well as in other countries, the…
3 in 1 – De Plakken for the Dutch Speed Skating Team! Posted by Sten on Feb 12, 2014
Last Monday, February 10th, the Nederlands Olympisch Schaatsteam (Dutch Olympic speed skating team) did something that no Dutch team has ever done. At the Olympische Winterspelen (Olympic Winter Games) held in Sotsji (Sochi) in Rusland (Russia) Michel Mulder earned the gouden plak (gold medal) on the Vijfhonderd meter – 500 meters x 2 (meaning that there are two races of 500 meters. The times are then…