Tag Archives: holidays
Valentijnsdag: Love The Dutch Way Posted by Sten on Feb 14, 2020
Valentine’s Day – a day for love… Also in the Netherlands. But how did we get here? And how do we celebrate it? Let’s explore! Valentijnsdag in the Netherlands While it’s known that Valentijnsdag (Valentine’s Day) is named after some Sint Valentijn (Saint Valentine), it’s not really clear which one. There are different stories about the man who was…
May is the Month of Dutch Holidays Posted by Karoly Molina on May 16, 2018
For those of us that work in the Netherlands, May is a super fun month! Three of the seven national holidays take place this month and the weather has been quite enjoyable, but which days are considered national holidays? First and foremost, the Netherlands is one of the countries with the least national holidays. For…
4 Reasons To Escape Carnival Posted by Sten on Feb 12, 2018
Every February, one of the largest events below the rivieren (rivers) is happening: Carnaval (Carnival). For a few days, the entire Dutch south, especially Noord-Brabant and Limburg, are a complete mess! On this blog, we have written before some of the nice things about Carnaval. But not everybody likes it! While there are many people coming into the…
Sinterklaas is back! 3 Things You Gotta Know Posted by Sten on Nov 14, 2016
Sinterklaas is weer in het land! On December 5, Sinterklaas brings them presents with his pieten. He arrives around a month before the feest (celebration), actually. Who? What? Why? Just read on – all you need to know about Sinterklaas right here! 1. Sinterklaas is Dutch children’s Christmas Sinterklaas is in many ways like Santa Claus, or Saint Nicholas…
Vlaggetjesdag in the Netherlands! Posted by Sten on Jun 17, 2015
Last Saturday was a special day for Holland: the first day of the haringseizoen (herring season)! In Scheveningen, a beach town close to The Hague (well, it is basically part of The Hague now), this day is celebrated on Vlaggetjesdag (Flags Day). Beside loads of haring, there are many fun things to do, both for young and old…
Paasvuren – Easter Fires Posted by Sten on Apr 23, 2015
A very, very old tradition that ignites the east of the Netherlands and other parts of Europe, notably Germany, every Easter – paasvuren! Throughout the year, a small group collects snoeihout – branches, twigs, and other bits of wood – and creates a pile. When the night falls during Easter, the fire is set on fire. This fire is…
Language Listening Lesson – Het Verhaal van Mark Posted by Sten on May 17, 2014
Summer is slowly approaching. However, these past two weeks have been rainy, very windy, cold… Nothing you would expect from a great summer! So while we are reviving the cold winter months with blankets and hot chocolates, why also not some cozy Dutch? Let’s start off with the first Triple L! (Language Listening Lesson) The following story…