Tag Archives: politics
The Dutch Version of the Correspondents’ Dinner Posted by Sten on Feb 15, 2016
Last Wednesday, February 10, the Dutch press held their version of the US Correspondents’ Dinner at the Beurs van Berlage in Amsterdam. The idea is to copy the Correspondents’ Dinner and have the “President” of the Netherlands, Prime Minister Mark Rutte, make fun of himself, his fellow politicians and the press. So comparing to President…
The Teevendeal: A Huge Affair With Major Consequences Posted by Sten on Dec 15, 2015
June 15, 2000. Top Secret. After years and years of investigation, officier van justitie (public prosecutor) Fred Teeven makes a major decision that he knows is risky. Nobody can know, because he is not authorized to do it. There are rumors that he hoped to find evidence and more information about the boss of criminal Cees H., de Hakkelaar…
Dutch Place Names, the ‘Mini-Schengen’, and Travel in Europe Posted by Jakob Gibbons on Dec 8, 2015
This post will discuss some recent developments in Dutch and European politics that may soon change foreigners’ options for traveling in the Netherlands and Europe. This is a great chance to work on place names in Dutch, which can sometimes differ greatly from their English equivalents. Don’t worry — there’s a vocabulary list at the end!…
How To Fight Climate Change – De Klimaatwet! Posted by Sten on Dec 7, 2015
The planet is heating up and world leaders are discussing a treaty in Paris this week to do something about it. However, just a few days before the Conference of Parties in Paris started, two Dutch politicians wanted to send a signal, that they do not believe enough is done, and more should be done. What? Fractievoorzitters (party…
COP 21 – Dutch Focus on Non-State Actors #EarthToParis Posted by Sten on Nov 30, 2015
Today, the twenty-first United Nations Conference of Parties (COP21) kicked off. It is an annual conference on combating climate change, involving all parties of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), signed in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro. The goal of the Convention That UNFCCC does not contain any binding clauses…
200 Years Dutch Staten-Generaal! Posted by Sten on Oct 10, 2015
2015 is a year of anniversaries! The celebrations for 200 years of Dutch Kingdom just ended. That started in 1815. And the province Drenthe turned 200 years old. It is also the year that the Dutch Staten-Generaal (States-General) turned 200 years old. What is this Staten-Generaal exactly? It is the word that refers to the Dutch Eerste Kamer (First Chamber…
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…