Tag Archives: history
The Gouden Eeuw: A Golden Time for the Dutch Posted by Sten on Jan 28, 2018
The 17th century does not spring to mind for many as a very prosperous and important time for the average person in the 21st century. After all, we now have the internet, electricity, good health care and we can travel all over the world in a matter of days. Despite that, the Dutch refer to…
A Russian Revolution… Designed by a Dutchman! Posted by Sten on Oct 26, 2017
100 years ago, the Oktoberrevolutie (October revolution) of 1917 had just broken out in St. Petersburg, Russia. It was still the hoofdstad (capital) of Russia at the time. Communisten (communists) took the Winterpaleis (Winter Palace) in the city, which led to an important turn of events for the entire country. Nowadays, this Winterpaleis is the world-famous Hermitage. This state museum displays national history and…
5 mei – Bevrijdingsdag: Celebrating Freedom Posted by Sten on May 5, 2017
Yesterday, I wrote about the Dodenherdenking, the Dutch Memorial Day, remembering all Dutch burgers (citizens) and soldaten (soldiers) that have fallen since the Tweede Wereldoorlog (Second World War). Today, that sad and difficult mood made a 180 degrees turn. Because today, it is time to celebrate vrijheid (freedom). A difficult end On 5 mei (May…
4 mei – Dodenherdenking: Remembering the Dead Posted by Sten on May 4, 2017
We have fought many oorlogen (wars). And wars are so gruwelijk (cruel), because the levens (lives) of so many mensen (people) are destroyed, and many levens are lost. In order to remember how cruel and terrible wars are, many countries have remembrance or memorial days. And many are in May, because it was in May 1945 that the Germans capitulated in the Second World War…
5 Things To Know About The Dutch Elfde van de Elfde Posted by Sten on Nov 12, 2016
Today, it was a special day. De elfde van de elfde (the eleventh of the eleventh) is the day that marks the start of the Carnival season in the Netherlands and elsewhere. What does this mean in the Netherlands exactly? 5 things to know right here! 1. Vergaderingen The most important thing that happens on…
The EU, de Globalisering, and the Dutch Language Posted by Jakob Gibbons on Jul 19, 2016
The summer is off to a shaky start for the European project. For the 27 remaining member states, it’s not only politics and public life that stands to change, but also language, languages, and the balance between them. In the midst of it all, the Netherlands and the Dutch language have front row seats, right in the…
Bye, bye Bijlmerbajes! Posted by Sten on Jul 17, 2016
One of the most infamous prisons of the Netherlands, the Bijlmerbajes, closed on June 1, 2016. It started as a humane prison, without bars in front of the windows. The cell doors were mostly open all day long, and some of the gedetineerden (detained) even had the key to their own cell. But notorious escapes ensued, and the Bijlmerbajes became…