Happy New Year and Learning Dutch Resolutions

Posted by heather 1 Comment
Dec 29 2011

It was a bit odd realising that today’s post would be my last post in 2011 for the Transparent Language Dutch blog.  The year has really gone by very snel (fast).  Today I wanted to tell you about some of the things that happen in the Netherlands for the New Year’s celebration and hear about your Dutch language goals for 2012.

 

Oud Jaar/Nieuw Jaar (old Year/New Year)

In Dutch, the phrase for New Year’s Eve is actually Oudejaarsnacht, meaning old year’s night.  Rather than it being the eve before the New Year, you have an old year and new year.  I really like the phrase.

Oliebollen

We have already touched on the topic of oliebollen in a previous post, so I won’t go into too much detail here but it is quite a Dutch tradition to make and/or eat oliebollen on Oudejaarsnacht.  If you stay at a hotel for the celebration, you might even find one in your room.

Vuurwerk (Fireworks)

As of today, it becomes very noisy outside because everyone has begun to collect their fireworks from the shops.  In the Netherlands it is technically illegal to have fireworks before December 29th.  In fact, it is even illegal to set them off until a specified time on December 31st.  And while, naturally, fireworks do still get set off before the allocated day and time (there are even some going off nearby as I write this) it is on December 31st that loud explosions and bright displays can be heard and seen across the country.

New Year’s Phrases

In case you want to wish people a happy New Year, here are some handy phrases for you:

  • Gelukkig nieuwjaar – Happy New Year
  • Beste wensen – Best wishes
  • Fijn uiteinde – Happy/good ending

New Year’s Resolutions

Of course, a new year is usually the time many people review their goals and set resolutions for the coming twelve months.  Will you be setting some Dutch related New Year’s resolutions?  If so, we would love to hear about them.  Some ideas might include:

  • Learning 100 new vocabulary words
  • Reading a book in Dutch
  • Following a Dutch TV programme
  • Mastering all the Dutch tenses

And with that, I think there is nothing more for me to do then to wish you a gelukkig nieuwjaar!!

See you next year!

Transparent Language Dutch Blog – 2011 Review

Posted by heather No Comments
Dec 27 2011

It is around this time of year that people start to review the year that is about to end. The top songs of 2011, the best memories you made or the favorite photos you took, they are all up for review and who would we be at Transparent Language if we didn’t do a spot of reviewing ourselves. So here we go with a review post of some of the things we covered this year on the Dutch blog:

And as an added bonus, here are some of the topics that have been covered before but that are still popular:

Plus, don’t forget what we have been up to in the Facebook group – questions about what you ate during the day, if you wanted a white Christmas or not and if you were on team kruidnoten or team pepernoten were all part of the group.  Not to mention the general conversation and photo sharing.

Who knows what 2012 will bring!

The Glass House – Leiden

Posted by heather No Comments
Dec 22 2011

Last year around this time I told you about an event that was happening in the Netherlands.  The event was 3FM’s Serious Request and involves three DJ’s being locked in a glass house for six days.  During this time they eat nothing but fruit and vegetable juices (often in jaw-dropping combinations), provide 24/7 music coverage and raise lots and lots of money for good causes.

Every year the good cause has a different theme and each year the house is located in a different Dutch city.  This year the glass house can be found in the city of Leiden.  Some information about this year’s event written by the Expat Centre Leiden…

“Leiden is well-known for its canals, and so in 2011 the Glass House will be situated on the water at the Beestenmarkt! A unique situation and a first for the Glass House. Various activities centred around the Glass House will be organised the entire week, with the main focus on the Beestenmarkt. You will find the Serious Request theme all over Leiden. Activities will take place at various central locations which will make it extra interesting to explore the city.

Serious Request is an annual Red Cross (Rode Kruis) fundraising event which is organised by 3FM (Dutch radio channel). Three radio DJ’s will be locked in the Glass House without food, they’ll live on fruit- and vegetable juice for six days. During their stay in the Glass House, the DJ’s will play musical requests 24/7. When your request is played, you are asked to make a donation. A number of famous Dutch people will visit the Glass House in order to help raise money. In addition, an auction of various goods will be organised.

Every year Serious Request is devoted to a different theme, a so-called ‘silent disaster’. This year Serious Request will be raising money for mothers who have been affected by war or conflict.”
 

Below is a quick clip from the house:

YouTube Preview Image

The DJ’s will be released on Christmas Eve so you still have a few days to visit if you want to request a song, push money through the postbox or just want to take a look at what the glass house looks like and see the DJ’s up close.  You can also find further information and donate online via the website.

Did you visit the Glass House this year?

A Pound of Flesh for Christmas

Posted by Elena 2 Comments
Dec 21 2011

The hosts of the Dutch talk show “Proefkonijnen,” which translates literally to “test rabbits,” but means something more like what we mean when we use the phrase “guinea pigs,” say that the concept of their show is to “answer easy questions.”  But the question they’re answering this week is inarguably complicated.

Today, an episode airs in which the two hosts will taste one another’s cooked flesh.  One of them chose to sacrifice butt-flesh (bilvlees), another, belly-flesh (buikvlees?).  One wonders how this was all decided, and how the surgical operations were performed.

YouTube Preview Image

In the preceding clip, there are any number of remarkable moments.  The way that these dudes look into each others’ eyes as they watch little bits of themselves bubble in sunflower oil on the stove (the chef keeps his poker-face–probably for the best), and then, just before fork meets mouth, is pretty deep.

Would you taste human flesh, given the opportunity?  And furthermore, is this legal?

 

Christmas in the Netherlands

Posted by heather 1 Comment
Dec 20 2011

Kerstzegels

Are all your Christmas decorations up?  Are there presents under your tree?  There are only five more days to go before the big day.  I hope you are ready.  To get you into the Christmas mood, Dutch style, here are some things you might like to know about Christmas in the Netherlands.

Christmas Days

In the Netherlands there is Eerste Kerstdag and Tweede Kerstdag (First Christmas Day and Second Christmas Day).  It is quite common to spend one Christmas day with one side of the family and the other day with the other side, although every family is different of course!

Christmas Greetings

These greetings (with rough translations) will get you through the holidays, sounding like a native Dutch speaker:

  • Vrolijk Kerstfeest or Vrolijk Kerstmis (Happy Christmas party/feast)
  • Prettige Kerstdagen or Prettig Kerstmis (Enjoyable Christmas Days/Merry Christmas)
  • Fijne Dagen or Fijne Kerstdagen (Nice Days – can be used for other holidays)
  • Gelukkig Kerstmis – (Happy Christmas)

Christmas Stamps

Christmas may result in a general post slowdown what with all those extra letters and packages that have to be delivered.  But the post service in the Netherlands has tried to alleviate your pain a bit with a little something known as “Decemberzegels” or “Kerstzegels.”  These special post stamps are only valid from November 22nd tot en met (to and including) January 6th.  Each stamp is at a discounted rate and every year they look different (this year they are really cute!).

Pas Op! (Watch Out!):  The stamps are only valid for items that weigh 0-50 grams and also only for post sent within the Netherlands.

Christmas Wrapping

A tradition that appears in the Netherlands around Sinterklaas and Christmas time is the gratis (free) gift wrapping.  When you head up to the check-out with your purchases, you will often be asked, “is dit een kadootje?” (is this a gift?).  If you answer ja (yes), your item will be transformed into a present fit for presenting directly to the receiver without a single request for money.  It is possible that the text en/of (and/or) stickers will give away where your gift was purchased and you may wait quite some time with a large queue forming behind you because the cashier is typically the same person with gift wrapping responsibilities but still a nice touch, especially if you are late with buying your presents!

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