Vuurwerk! – Dutch fireworks Posted by Sten on Dec 30, 2013
Generally, Dutch people are very fond of vuurwerk (fireworks). In the Netherlands, they love them around this time of the year. Back in the days, it was believed that the noise and flashes of fireworks would scare away the evil spirits that would bring misery in the new year. Nowadays, the only misery in the…
Patatdag – Dutch and Fried Food! Posted by Sten on Dec 13, 2013
Patatdag French fries, as the name says, are often seen as being from France. Now, it has been proven that they are actually from Belgium. Just go to Brussels once and try them there. Without ketchup or mayonnaise – only salt. That is how they are to be eaten. In the Netherlands, French fries are a…
The Best Way To Learn Dutch (No Fancy Textbooks or Expensive Courses Required) Posted by tiffany on Nov 14, 2013
When I set out on my Dutch language learning journey, I made sure I took advantage of every opportunity available to me. Pairing with a native speaker Setting aside three days each week during which my husband and I would only speak Dutch to each other Attending focus sessions for speaking and writing Taking several…
A (Southern) Dutchie By Any Other Name Would Smell As Sweet Posted by tiffany on Sep 23, 2013
In the post A Dutchie By Any Other Name Would Smell As Sweet, we talked about some of the traditions behind Dutch names: where they came from, how they were registered, why there are male and female versions to a variety of Dutch names, and why some Dutch names are so darn long! Reader Irma…
The De vs. Het Dilemma Solved… (Well, Almost) Posted by tiffany on Aug 21, 2013
‘De’ or ‘het’? The lack of hard and fast rules makes this one of life’s great enigmas. Loads of Dutch language learners (myself included) search far and wide for an explanation. Some trick or secret that will eliminate the de vs. het dilemma. The thing is… there isn’t one. This is most likely something…
A Dutchie By Any Other Name Would Smell As Sweet Posted by tiffany on Aug 14, 2013
What’s in a name? When it comes to Dutch names, apparently quite a lot. Take first names, for instance. Seems the Dutch were firm believers in getting their money’s worth out of them. First names would survive in one family for generations. As it turns out, there was an intricate formula that kept them going…
Dutch Words that are Good for Your Health Posted by tiffany on Aug 11, 2013
There’s a saying in Dutch, “gezondheid is de grootste schat.” Health is the greatest treasure. But, sometimes, despite our best efforts, poor health swoops in to rain on our parade. While most Dutch people speak excellent English, it’s always nice to know the lingo. When it comes to your health and well-being, you want to…