Meet the Oranjes: The Dutch Royal family
Did you know that the Netherlands is one of the seven koninkrijken (kingdoms) in Europe? Het Koninklijk huis (The royal house), as the Dutch royal family is referred to, is very popular in the Netherlands, but also sometimes a topic of discussion. Some love the tradition of a monarchy, some think it is a bit […]
The Paashaas is coming to town! Celebrating Easter in the Netherlands
Easter is around the corner, and in the Netherlands this festivity usually marks the beginning of spring time. The first rays of sunshine have broken through, flowers start to bloom and more and more time is spent outdoors. Easter is a widely celebrated family holiday in the Netherlands and it comes with some century old […]
Giving compliments in Dutch: our DIY guide
Whoever’s lived in the Netherlands for a while, knows: the Dutch are not particularly lavish with giving compliments. That’s probably because traditionally in the Netherlands, being normal (and thus not standing out) is considered to be a virtue. This, however, doesn’t mean that the Dutch don’t love to receive compliments. After all, compliments make people […]
When the lockdown is over we’re going to celebrate our birthdays!
From circle talks to felicitaties: a survival guide to Dutch birthdays Have you ever wondered how the Dutch celebrate their birthdays? When the lockdown is over there will be plenty of birthdays to celebrate! So let’s prepare you for what lies ahead, because the traditional Dutch way of celebrating a verjaardag (birthday) is a very […]
Oranjekoorts: Why the Dutch have orange blood running through their veins during sports events
Did you know that the Netherlands are a real sports country? Although we are such a small country, our orange-clad sportsmen and women have set many world records and have won many medals over the years. From voetbal (football) to schaatsen (ice skating) to the typical Dutch korfbal, the Dutchies are of all trades. Have […]
From ice skating to rainy days: what winter weather in the Netherlands looks like
January has arrived, and it has brought cold winter weather with it to the Netherlands. Although we are still waiting for the sneeuw (snow) to fall here, temperatures are getting closer and closer to freezing. Did you know that talking about the weather is a typical Dutch trait? Let’s follow this Dutch tradition and talk […]
Goede voornemens: How the Dutch envision a happy new year
New year, new me. Or as they would say in the Netherlands: ‘Nieuwe ronde, nieuwe kansen’ (new round, new opportunities). It is 2021, and with the start of a new year come the new year’s resolutions. In Dutch, we call them goede voornemens (good intentions). Curious about some of the most popular goede voornemens in […]
Oliebollen and DIY fireworks: The Dutch way of celebrating the new year
Gelukkig Nieuwjaar everyone! Yesterday, we said goodbye to 2020 and toasted to a new year to come. In the Netherlands there are few evenings that are more widely celebrated than Oud en Nieuw (Old and New, that’s how the Dutch refer to New Year’s eve). Of course, things looked slightly different than usual this year, […]
