Typically Dutch Archives

Today it’s time for another instalment of The A-Z of Turning Dutch – the Letter H. What H words do you associate with life here in the Netherlands? Or with the Dutch as a people? Here’s what you said….

Houdoe
Hoge Veluwe (famous for the KRÖLLER-MÜLLER MUSEUM, the red deer and the non paint balled wolves) – @DannyKeg
Haven
Hutspot
Huisarts
Hondelul
Hakkelen
Hagelslag
Haring
Holland
Handschoenen
Hachee
Hete Bliksem
Hollandsche nieuwe (Haring)
Haring/ herring
Heerlijk
Hoor
Honden
Hatseflats
Hup
Høken
Huzarenstukje
Haringkje Happen
Hoera

The Undisputed Winner of the H Popularity Stakes

Hagelslag. Hands down. On crackers. That’s sprinkles to those of you still learning Dutch. Usually chocolate, but the Dutch have made it a mission to make hagelslag available in any colour and flavour imaginable. At Easter we have special Paas hagelslag and at Christmas red and green sprinkles with Christmas tree shapes adorn the crackers or bread.

Other Notable H Words

Fish Rules OK

Haring was also popular among Twitter followers (it will always be Twitter to me). Personally, it’s a big no from me when it comes to haring, but you guys are obviously fans. Basically, hold the fish by the tail and chomp away. Or put it on a ‘broodje’, if that’s your style. Neither is mine, but you get on with your life, and I’ll get on with my haring-vrij life.

The Huisarts

Huisarts is an important word. If you come to live in the Netherlands, or stay here for any lenght of time, you may find yourself needing a huisarts. That’s GP, or family doctor. The huisarts guards the path into the Dutch medical system. To access almost any kind of medical care, you will need to convince your huisarts that you 1) really are sick and 2) need medical attention from somebody other than your huisarts. To get past the first security line, you have to convince the huisarts that paracetamol has not done the trick, neither has waiting three days. This hugely increases your chances of getting past the second security hurdle, but only if the huisarts believes waiting another week really will not improve your chances of ~~survival~~ recovery.

The A-Z of Turning Dutch – the Letter H - hond / dog

It’s a Dog’s Life

Honden. Dogs are popular in the Netherlands, in fact so popular I sometimes wonder if we are the only family not to have a dog. In reality, there are more cats than dogs here (2,9 million cats and 1,7 million dogs, as of 2019) but dogs are more visible in daily life. Due to the requirement to take dogs out for walks/to do their business. And it’s this last bit that is a huge bone of contention (see what I did there). It’s top of the list of annoying things in Dutch society. Hondenpoep is an issue. Dog owners pay dog tax, and some owners take this to mean that they have the right to leave their dog’s mess wherever they like. Google ‘hondenpoep overlast’ and you’ll see what I mean – go ahead, I’ll wait.

Conclusion

Today’s letter was a popular one. For today, The A-Z of Turning Dutch – the Letter H is done. But don’t worry, the I is just around the corner…….

Typically Dutch

The A-Z of Turning Dutch – the Letter E

18 May 202316 May 2023 Turning_Dutch

Up today in the The A-Z of Turning Dutch – the Letter E. What words beginning with E do you associate with living here in the Netherlands? Or with the Dutch themselves? That’s the question I posed on Twitter as part of the A-Z of Turning Dutch series.

With no further ado, here’s what you said:

Eekhorns and the Eekhornbrug (I’m going to come back to this)
Eikel (the word I had expected to hear first, and multiple times)
Eigenwijs
E zelsbruggetje: which is further explained by a tweeter, “…the mnemonics that help you learn and remember things (like languages). I always thought the name was great, a little donkey bridge!”
Ex-pat bubbel (definitely a thing, if you let it be)
Eierkoek
Erwtensoep
Emmerbaggermolen. Yes, you probbaly need more, and this is what you’re getting from the tweeter: “The old ships are the most amazing ones”
Elfstedentocht
Elektrische fiets or E-bike, as it’s known to its friends
Eindhoven (PSV) Dagblaad
Edammer kaas
Eieren
Efteling

Squirrels, or Eekhorns

There was much ophef once upon a time about the squirrels and the bridge that was built for them to cross the Benoordenhoutseweg in The Hague in 2012. It cost 150,000 euro but the little critters refused to use it in any significant number. Until 2021, when it was used 400 times.

The Eekhorns (red squirrels) in the Haagse Bos, and the Eekhornbrug which was built at great expense over the N44 in 2012 to allow them to cross over safely, and is finally being used!
— Patricia Tarrant (@triciatarrant1) November 22, 2022

I want to give the red squirrels that run around our garden leaving their nuts everywhere a special mention. The number of walnuts I have dug up in random places is mind-boggling. But entertaining.

Over to You – The A-Z of Turning Dutch – the Letter E

What E word springs to mind when you think about your life in the Netherlands? Share it below!

Typically Dutch

The A-Z of Turning Dutch – the Letter C

12 January 20239 January 2023 Turning_Dutch

Welcome to the A-Z of Turning Dutch. What’s that? I hear you cry. Simply put: what springs to mind about life in the Netherlands when you think of the letter A? What aspect of life in the land of the Dutch do you associate with the letter B? And C? You get the picture. And this post, what with it being the third in the series, is all about the Dutch associations you have with the letter C.

The A-Z of Turning Dutch – The Letter C

My expectation was that you would struggle with the letter C, seeing as it’s not commonly used at the start of Dutch words. But no, you knocked C out of the park. Here’s the Cs you associate with your lives in the Netherlands. There is a slight chocolate theme….

caravan, caravan park
container (referring to the bins here)
carnaval
Chocomel
Cruyff
chocoladepepernoten
chocoladeletter
Consultatiebureau
cafeïne
Cruquius (Cruquius Museum)
cirkelgesprek (Op verjaardagen of anderszins)
coalitie
compromis
chipkaart (OV variety)
champignon soep met balletjes
Cujik

A Dutchie word I like is Cafeïne, I find it beautiful (met die twee puntjes erop).
— Dianacarolinadb (@Dianacarolinadb) November 18, 2022

Over to You

So that’s what the Twitterverse had to offer for the A-Z of Turning Dutch for the letter C. So what C word would you add to the list that encapsulates your Dutch life?

Next time around, it’s D’s turn!

Culture, Typically Dutch

9 Ways to be Gezellig Dutch Style

16 October 20174 October 2022 Turning_Dutch

Gezellig means cosy and content. It’s the Dutch equivalent of hygge. It’s actually quite untranslatable but think of it like the human version of a cat purring. Here are 9 ways you can get yourself some Dutch gezelligheid.

1. Make Appointments

The Dutch, in general, don’t appreciate you turning up on the doorstep to invite yourself in for a cup of coffee and a chat. The Netherlands is a nation of agenda keepers so make an appointment and don’t just turn up if you want to get off on the right foot and keep it gezellig beyond the front door.

2. Use Candles

It may get dark early outside from September onwards but see that as another invitation to welcome gezelligheid into your home. Dutch homes are adorned with candles. Lots of candles. It makes for a gezellige sfeer.

3. Keep Lighting Low

Talking of candles, as we were, to be gezellig you need to keep the lighting low but the light sources plentiful. Look around any Dutch living room and you are sure to find a number of table and floor lamps, in addition to candles.

4. Serve Iets Lekkers with the Coffee

If someone is coming over for a cup of coffee (after having made an appointment with you of course) then make sure you have something lekker to go with the coffee. Think a piece of appeltaart or a koffiebroodje and you’re sure to have the gezelligheid well under control.

You could also host a borrel – a stronger type of drink with a little something savoury.

5. Eat as a Family

Dutch families often eat dinner together. They sit around the dining table at 6pm together. In this day and age that is certainly something to aspire to – and to try and replicate.

6. Cook at the Table

Once you get the family around the table get out the fondue, gourmet or raclette and cook together at the table. That is serious gezelligheid!

7. Embrace a December

Instead of getting depressed when the cold dark winter comes around think of it as a chance to embrace all that is gezellig at the end of a year.

8. Take Part in the Avondvierdaagse

Fancy a gezellig evening walk with hundreds of others? Many of them children? And then four evenings in a row? Then the avondvierdaagse is for you. Everything you need to know is here.

9. Throw Yourself into Pakjesavond

Pakjesavond is celebrated on the 5th December and it the epitome of Dutch celebrations. This is the most gezellig Dutch celebration so be sure to participate.

Spring, The Netherlands

16 Must Have Items to Survive a Dutch Spring

2 April 201511 April 2022 Turning_Dutch

Ah yes, the daffodils are blooming and the snowdrops are bursting out of the ground. It must be spring. In Dutch that’s lente. But what does springtime look like in the Netherlands? What do you need to survive a Dutch spring? Here’s the low down.

1. Umbrella

That umbrella you needed in autumn and winter? Don’t store it away just yet. You’ll be needing that throughout the spring too. April showers are as prominent here in the Netherlands as they are in Britain. The nice thing about rain during the spring season here is that there is an element of surprise to it. One minute the sun is shining and you’re thinking of heading to the beach, the next minute you are pissed wet through.

Think of it as a fun Dutch game, but without the fun.

2. Sunglasses

As I mentioned above, the sun shines in spring. Just be sure to carry your sunglasses case with you as the sunshine can be short-lived (see above).

3. Your Camera

Springtime in the Netherlands is a feast for the eyes so be sure to carry photographic equipment around with you. It’s the time when flowers cover the ground – and the Dutch are not renowned for their blooms for nothing. Exploring the flower fields at this time of year is a must if you are in the Netherlands.

4. Winter Coat

Don’t dump it yet, the mornings snd evenings are surprisingly nippy well into April. It’s tempting to look at the sun out your bedroom window and think you can pass up your thick coat for that lovely springtime jacket but don’t do it. Not yet.

5. Orange Clothes

April means King’s Day. Which means orange. If you ain’t in orange on the 27th of April I suggest you leave the country.

6. Tickets for the Keukenhof

Spring means flowers. Did I say that already? And flowers can only mean one thing – the annual spectacle that is the Keukenhof. If you have never been it should be on your bucket list, no matter where in the world you live. Yes, it’s busy. Yes, it’s jam packed with tourists. But wow, it’s beautiful.

7. Holiday Plans

The meivakantie falls, surprisingly, in May and the nation heads off for anything from a mini-break to a two week long vacation. You should too.

8. Waterproofs

Did I mention it rains a lot in spring here? So you’ll need protection. All over rain protection.

9. Pedalling Power

Storms in spring are not unusual and the wind blows over this flat land with nothing to stand in its way. However, do not think for a minute that winds gusting at 70km per hour stop any real Dutchie from getting on their bike.

Depending on whether you are cycling into the wind, or have it in your back, your bike journey will either be completed in record time or you’ll need every drop of pedalling power you can muster to make it to your destination.

10. Long Pants and a Jumper

At least that is what Trip Advisor tells those planning on visiting the Netherlands in spring. I would listen to me, and not Trip Advisor – you’ll usually need a damn sight more than a jumper and long pants (presumably they mean trousers and not underpants) to stay comfortable in April but hanging about in May in your pants may work.

“The spring months of April and May are also great times to visit during, even though the cooler daytime temperatures may require long pants and a jumper to stay comfortable.”

Trip Advisor

11. Suncream

Having said what I said for number 10 we have had some remarkably summery weather at the end of April in years gone by so sun cream should be at the ready.

12. A Favourite Strandtent

That’s a beach cafe to non-Dutch speakers. At the end of March the cafes are rebuilt on the beach and the terraces and doors open once more. It’s THE place to hang to enjoy a drink and a bite to eat with friends and loved ones. With a jumper and long pants on of course.

13. Wellington Boots

Did I mention it rains in spring? If you like wet feet put on your summer footwear, otherwise keep those wellies near.

14. A Garden Centre

Spring is when the Dutch move outside and the garden gets a spruce up. Garden furniture is replaced, renovated or uncovered. Signs and pictures go up in the garden. Candle holders and ornaments appear on patio tables. The garden centres across the nation are buzzing with a capital B (although having said that our local Groenrijk has gone bust so that’s a little less buzzing this spring time).

15. Food for Brunch

Spring brings the paas haas to the Netherlands (that’s the Easter Bunny to you and me – to the Dutch it’s a hare) and on Easter Sunday it’s traditional to sit down with family and eat brunch together. It’s something driven by the supermarkets I’m sure…..

16. A Car or a Bike

If you are in the Netherlands in springtime you’ll want to visit the flower fields. Did I mention flowers already?

Online there are lots of touring routes to get the best views of the spectacular blocks of colours that cover the Dutch landscape. And if you do it in a convertible with the top down then you’ll blend in a treat.

And one free tip – a family photo session in such a location is a great idea for the memory treasure trove – something that Vinita Salome can help you with but be quick because those blooms are gone before you know it.