Tag Archives: history
This Dutch Treat is Racist Posted by Sten on Jun 6, 2016
At least, so they say! Today, I have a rather controversial post for you. It is about “chocolate-coated marshmallow treats”, as Wikipedia likes to call them. I am talking about these things: Negerzoen and its origins What is controversial about them? In the Netherlands and Germany, they are known as Negerzoenen or Negerküsse, which literally translates to “Nigger Kisses”…
Garde Robe: An Amazing Discovery From The Golden Age Posted by Sten on Apr 21, 2016
Last Thursday, a most verbazingwekkend (astonishing) discovery was published: a lading (cargo) of 17th century noble items, most importantly a vorstelijk gewaad (royal gown) were found! In the waters off the island Texel, many scheepswrakken (ship wrecks) from that time, the Gouden Eeuw (Golden Age – see below in the Sideline) were lying out there, waiting for cargo. Because of wind and weather, many of them zonken (sank) and…
8 Things You Have To Know About The Dutch Verzuiling Posted by Sten on Oct 2, 2015
A significant development in the history of the Netherlands is the so-called verzuiling. It could be translated as pillarization (zuil = pillar). So what does that mean? When did it happen? Who is it about? And, maybe most importantly… Why? 1. It divided society Yes, this is a very bold point, and tells you a bit…
What Color Is Dikkie Dik, Anyway? Posted by tiffany on Apr 27, 2014
One of the things about being in what I like to call a bicultural relationship is that you never know when those cultural differences are going to pop up. We had one such moment toward the beginning of our relationship when we happened upon a snoozing cat. He looked up as we passed, which seemed to…
It Doesn’t Get More Dutch Than… New York? Posted by tiffany on Apr 13, 2014
New York. So many songs have been sung about you, so many things have been written about you, so many people have traveled lengths great and small to see you. NY is so ubiquitous that it often feels like the Bible should read: “And on the eighth day, the Lord created New York.” (You need…
April Fools!!! – But why? Posted by Sten on Apr 1, 2014
Op 1 april verloor Alva zijn bril – with this phrase, the watergeuzen made fun of general Alva of Spain when they took his city Den Briel (therefore zijn bril) on April 1, 1572. Watergeuzen are what you could call “Water Beggars”. “Water”, because they came by their ships in the North Sea. They basically were Dutch civilians fighting…
Trees heeft een Candadees Posted by tiffany on Jun 19, 2013
The Netherlands was liberated in 1945. As you can imagine, after years of oppression, there was much dancing and partying and celebration. And it’s in these sorts of circumstances that boys meet girls. Young, foreign men in uniform swept Dutch girls off their feet and, often, back to Canada, America, or wherever else with them…