Dutch Infrastructure: Why We Should Be Thankful for It

Noah Bloem

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September 21, 2017

It’s now been about a month since I packed my bags and left Rotterdam, Holland’s ‘Manhattan on the Maas’, for New York City, the real Manhattan (Let’s be honest, Rotterdam has a very long way to go still if we’re comparing skylines). Being back in the U.S. is a strange feeling altogether. It always is when returning to an old, familiar place and finding everything and nothing has changed. More than anything else, however, being here causes me to be constantly reminded of the fact that people are spoiled when it comes to Dutch infrastructure.

The Americans have a long way to go

While I hope I don’t offend any Americans too much by stating this, I’ve always thought of the U.S. as the world’s most glorified developing nation. At least, that’s the case when it comes to their infrastructure. Wires are above the ground everywhere. Streets are littered with potholes and irregularly paved splotches of tarmac (It’s honestly almost worse than driving in Belgium). Tap water in most states must be filtered before it’s safe to drink. Little reminders are constant and just when I think I’ve seen it all, another hint pops up. It’s not quite as bad as Jakarta, for example, but it’s lightyears behind the Dutch infrastructure.

At least the bison don’t mind rough roads.

The Dutch will be Dutch

Nevertheless, I seem to find that the Dutch will always find another point to complain about, even if it’s their wonderful Dutch infrastructure. In Rotterdam, for example, there is always a street under construction. It’s not that strange, when one section is done, they move on and update the next part. It’s a constantly modernizing, growing city. I don’t think that Dutch residents don’t know the reason for the consistent roadworks, but for those two weeks that their commute to work is delayed by ten minutes, you’ll be sure to hear it.

And I know the feeling. Just a few weeks ago the train tracks between Rotterdam and The Hague were shut down for two weeks to allow for new tracks to be laid. People had to take the bus. The bus. Anybody who knows me knows just how much I hate riding buses (I’m not quite sure why, but it always just gets to me). So there I was, along with everyone else, annoyed and frustrated that I would have to stand in line only to be shoved into a bus along with thirty others.

Dutch Infrastructure is a national treasure

But despite all the interruptions to travel (and forcing people to ride buses instead of trains #trainmasterrace), it’s all worth it, I just feel those responsible for upholding our nation to such high standards could occasionally get a pat on the back instead of an annoyed glare and an angry muttering.

And look, I’m not saying it’s a perfect system, but it’s worth appreciating. Much like Mao Zedong, Dutch Infrastructure can be seen as 2/3 good and 1/3 bad, and isn’t that enough to be celebrating?

There’s still plenty to do in Scheveningen in the fall!

Kees van Dooren

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September 20, 2017

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There’s still plenty to do in Scheveningen in the fall!

So you’re sitting in your rented home in Amsterdam wondering what to do with yourself. It’s fall in the Netherlands which means going outside will likely leave you wetter than an otter’s pocket. Even when it’s not raining the wind may well blow you off your bike and into a canal. It’s been weeks of dreary grey clouds and you find yourself wondering whether you just imagined the sky being blue. Maybe it was never blue and the sun is just an image created by the sheer power of your mind, protecting you from the depression that comes with living here in autumn. You run outside only to realize you have no idea what to do now.

That’s where we come in to tell you about some killer events in Scheveningen coming in the next few months!

23-24/9 International Kite Festival

This weekend, the International Kite Festival will see the skies over Scheveningen beach fill with kites of every shape and colour! And yes, the sun is also making an appearance – what else is there to wish for?

30/9; NorthSea Watermen Challenge

Events in Scheveningen — source: buitengewoonscheveningen

This one is only for the bravest and most physically fit among you. The NorthSea Watermen Challenge is a yearly event where some insane people swim, paddle and run along the North Sea. There are sprint and long variants, as well as a team competition. Despite what the name may imply women are more than welcome to join and compete!

Prices for enrolling are pretty low, because let’s face it, few people would voluntarily put themselves through swimming in the North Sea in fall so the entry bar needs to be set pretty low. For those of you who do not feel the need to pointlessly put yourself in harms way, it may well be fun to watch other people do it. The event will take place on the 30th!

22/10; Dog’s at Sea

This could be the simplest and simultaneously best concept for an event in the history of events. During the summer in the Netherlands all dogs need to be leashed when on the beach to avoid them starting doggo gangs and mugging tourists. Don’t laugh, it used to be a massive problem. Now on October 1st this rule ends and your precious canine is allowed to roam the sand freely once more!

On the 22nd of October there is a festival to celebrate this, with doggy obstacle courses and stands where you can buy the prettiest dog accessories the Netherlands has to offer. Love dogs but don’t have one yourself? This may be the perfect event for you. Just try not to steal one of the dogs. The doggy community frowns on that sort of thing.

Every First Sunday of the Month; Hudson Jazz Sessions

If you enjoy Jazz Scheveningen has quite a bit to offer you. Every first Sunday of the month will see a live Jazz band perform at the Hudson Bar and Kitchen. The lineup is traditionally quite good and so is the food! They serve “honest American cuisine” so you may want to check it out if you’re feeling a bit homesick as well. I’m not entirely sure what “honest American cuisine” is, though I assume it means they deep fry everything and then don’t lie about it. Take a look at the lineup here!

6/10 – 8/10; VISSCH FESTIVAL

VISSCH is a yearly festival held in Scheveningen which, surprisingly, is all about fish. You may have been able to guess as much from the title. During the festival top chefs give cooking demonstrations to teach you all about the proper way of cooking fish. You can have a beer, learn how to make sushi and even participate in the Dutch tradition of pealing shrimp. It takes place on the 6th, 7th and 8th of Oktober and, easily best of all, entry is completely free! VISSCH is perhaps the most worthwhile of the events in Scheveningen this fall.

22/10 WE closing party

One of the better places to spend your summer on the beach is in front of the beautiful beach pavilion WIJ. Unfortunately this year summer was only a single week long, but WIJ has decided to celebrate it’s end on the 22nd of October anyway. Enjoy an evening on the beach while getting absolutely plastered celebrating a summer that scientists say never even existed in the first place.

10-12/11; Glow in the Dark Beachvolleybal

Do you enjoy the beach, volleybal and things that glow in the dark? What terrific luck you have! The 10th, 11th and 12th of November will see a Glow in the Dark Beachvolleybal tournament. Why? No-one knows. There’ll be quite a few different divisions so you, your kids, your husband and his young gay businessmen lover can all participate without ever having to meet!

18/11; The Arrival of Sinterklaas (as well as the yearly discussion on his racist overtones)

Ah! the yearly arrival of Sinterklaas and his not-at-all-ethnically-inspired friends which are all called Black Pete. He’ll be arriving in the Scheveningen harbor on the 18th of November and this year will surely see more protests arriving with him. Have a fun time!

I’m not kidding – Goat Yoga really is a thing!

News

Maria Smith

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September 20, 2017

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We are all into yoga now aren’t we? We take classes on a weekend and practice at home after stressful days behind a desk or the handlebars of our chariots. No? I didn’t think so either. In fact, I’m not sure if anyone genuinely frequents classes or if people just stand around in coffee shops wearing tight trousers talking about it. Undeniably yoga is the new craze that has gone from being only for hippies on a retreat up a mountain to millennials eating clean and actually enjoying kale smoothies. The fact is – what would sway you to practice those downward dogs and perfect that majestic eagle pose? The answer may be right under your crouching dragon or sphinx flex!

Goat Yoga

Ridammerhoeve Goat Farm in Amsterdamse Bos is offering yoga classes with goats, yes – goat yoga. Anyone with a cat or a dog who is even mildly affectionate will know that lying on the floor near them is never a good idea, you are the island on their lava floor, the comfy cushion that beats the laminate – you get the picture. It turns out that goats are equally as affectionate.

Do more of what makes you happy!

Nearly half in the Dutch population (according to CBS) indicate to suffer from at least one chronic disorder in the Netherlands. More common amongst older than younger people as would be expected. Chronic disorders can be anything from high blood pressure to degenerative joint problems. Self help and self care are the strongest most talked about methods in terms of looking after the parts of your health that aren’t caused by unavoidable medical complaints and holistic therapies do have a proven record in being effective.

Does goat yoga make us happy?

Perhaps yoga is the answer. In 2016, 88 percent of Dutch adults saw themselves as happy. We all remember those visits to the farm as a child right? I was stress free and loving life petting a llama. If we aren’t practicing the ascetic discipline maybe we should be as nearly 40% of work related illness are stress related, yoga has been pegged as one of the best stress bursting treatments. We may still see the day that our bosses will start insisting on animal yoga. Who knows! You heard it here first!

This craze could take off. Students, young professional, midlife crisis folk, they say the benefits of yoga are astronomical put with that some cute four legged friends and that 88% happiness score could just sky rocket!

So you tell me, am I wrong and yoga really is the answer? Maybe if someone offered me a hour petting a little old Billy I might feel the benefits too!

Mestreechs Immersion: But what exactly is Mestreechs?

Tiffany Leung

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September 19, 2017

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Mestreechs Immersion: But what exactly is Mestreechs?

Dialect? Regional Language? Does it matter?

As I wrapped up my yet another session of immersive Dutch courses recently, I was feeling pretty proud as I began feeling more relaxed, less self-conscious and more ready to integrate Dutch into my daily social and work interactions. Nonetheless, I still find myself puzzled at times in the Limburg community, wondering whether something I hear that I don’t understand is truly because I just don’t know that part of the Dutch language yet — or if it’s a dialect.

Mestreechs (a.k.a. Maastrichts or the Mestreechter taol) is uniquely influenced, like its peer Limburgish languages by the history of the region, with elements of French, Dutch, and German influence. And yes, there are other Limburgish languages in very close proximity, varying as closely as the neighboring villages and towns — 61 more of them! To make matters more confusing to the non-native Dutch-speaker, there’s also a Limburg province in neighboring Belgium to the west of the Dutch Limburg province, where there’s also a version of Limburgish spoken. In Germany, a Limburgish variant is spoken as well.

Screenshot from https://maasgeluide.nl/en/about-us

In official terms, Mestreechs is actually a regional language spoken in Maastricht, which has a population of about 120,000. Other forms of Limburgish are also recognized as regional languages, which don’t have the same status as either a language or a dialect. Thus, all of these languages live in limbo: they are not separate languages from Dutch, but they are not dialects of Dutch either. In other words, they are spoken by a region of the country and sort of recognized, but not recognized at a higher level like, for example, West Frisian. West Frisian is spoken by about 453,000 Nederlanders and Limburgish as a whole is spoken by about 850,000. (For comparison, the population of Limburg is about 1.2 million, or 7% of the population of the Netherlands, which is 17 million; the number of Dutch-as-first-language speakers is about 23 million, with another 5 million as a second language.) The level of recognition matters in terms of provincial government’s responsibility to support the use of the language, and also inhabitants choose which is their official first language.

Lost and Confused

So as a monolingual expat, confusion is inevitable due to the array of languages possible in and around Maastricht. But, appropriately, my focus is still traditional Dutch as learned through standard texts and courseworks. In the meantime, locals and transplanted locals (Nederlanders who have moved to the Limburg province from elsewhere in The Netherlands) have shared their thoughts about Mestreechs, although independent verification, refutation, or additional anecdotes by locals potentially reading this are readily welcome!

Yeah, [Mestreechs] is weird, isn’t it?!
You start to hear Limburgish as you start traveling south of Eindhoven, and the language continues to change every 10-15 minutes of travel further southward.
With the new bus company Arriva providing public transportation services in Maastricht since December 2016, there had been complaints from locals that the buses didn’t make announcements in Mestreechs in addition to Dutch. (I haven’t taken the bus in a while — and when I did, I wouldn’t have been able to tell if I was hearing Dutch or Mestreechs anyway — so can’t confirm this.)
Most Nederlanders who relocate to Limburg from other parts of the country eventually learn to comprehend the dialect, especially in service jobs where they encounter Mastrichtenaars regularly (e.g. in the hospital), but typically speak in Dutch in response.
In social groups, Maastrichtenaars may tend to speak Mestreechs with one another in the group and switch to Dutch only when interacting with non-Mestreechs speakers in the group (or English, in my case so far). (Fairly, this one seems pretty normal with another other languages known by social subgroups…)

Want to learn Mestreechs?

Are you interested in learning more about Mestreechs? Lucky you! While there are not (yet?) formal curricula or lessons to learn it, there are several online resources to get started.

For the casual learner, follow the official Facebook page of the Tourist Center of Maastricht to learn Mestreechs in context with their “Dialect op Dinsdag” audio/video. You can learn such useful tibits every week like: Geiste mèt eine pitse? (Dutch: Ga je me een biertje drinken? English: Like to join me for a beer?)
One step up is mijnwoordenboek.nl, which has about 250 Dutch to Mestreech phrases or words, and also samplings from the other 61 Limburgish languages! Unfortunately, no audio here though.
Want to get a bit more serious about learning Mestreechs? Of course there’s an app for that! Check out the Mestreechter Taol app, also available for Android OS, which is the official city-funded Mestreechs dictionary. Plus, the website provides more info on etymology, phonology, grammar, and of course general information about the service (in both Mestreechs and Dutch). Again, a drawback here is no audio. On the other hand, as a local you can join the taolpanel.nl to join the team and help them improve the resources they offer!
Another way to contribute to research on Mestreechs (and Eèsjdes — a Limburgish language from the town less than 11 km south of Maastricht)? Check out MaasGeluide.nl (in English and Dutch) which was launched on September 1, 2017 by professor dr. Leonie Cornips, endowed professor of Language Culture in Limburg at Maastricht University and the Meertens Institute in Amsterdam. The web app has some basic phrases and words, and if you’re a local of Maastricht or Eijsden, contribute to the platform by recording your pronunciation of them!

Hoge Brug, Maastricht by night (taken from Sint Servaasbrug) Photo by Tiffany Leung

What do you think?

What do you think about learning Mestreechs? Share your comments!

Wat denken jullie van het leren van Mestreechs? Delen jullie opmerkingen!

…and however that’s said in Mestreechs!

New Breakthrough in Breast Cancer Treatment announced in Amsterdam

International

Lachlan Campbell

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September 19, 2017

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New Breakthrough in Breast Cancer Treatment announced in Amsterdam

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women throughout both the developed and less developed world. Estimates from WHO says that over 508, 000 women worldwide died in 2011 due to breast cancer. And although it is thought to be a disease of the developed world, almost 50% of breast cancer cases and 58% of deaths occur in less developed countries.

Metastasizing Cancer Cells — Metastasizing cancer cells

At times, it seems like conquering all forms of cancer is a Sisyphean task. Made even more pronounced by the fact that since the refinement of modern medicine, we’ve successfully controlled smallpox, measles, tuberculosis, polio and other potentially fatal diseases. Cancer however, seems to always rear its ugly head like some kind of unassailable whack-a-mole.

The role of breast cancer awareness and treatment of breast cancer in the Netherlands is especially significant, given the fact that in 2012, it ranked fourth from the top out of 20 countries on a chart that recorded the age-standardised rate of breast cancer per 100,000.

Perhaps, the prevalence of breast cancer in the Netherlands and in fact, the world, is about to take a hit. If you’ve planned on moving to Amsterdam you now have another great reason to live in this great city. You will get world-class medical attention if you’re ever in a battle with breast-cancer.

Research recently presented by Professor Nigel Bundred at the European Breast Cancer Conference in Amsterdam revealed that the effectiveness of two types of drugs known as Herceptin and Lapatinib had been tested, and results looked promising.

Breast cancer awareness. An ongoing battle for the greater good.

This pair of drugs is commonly used in breast cancer treatment at the moment, but this is the first time they had been combined and used both before surgery and chemotherapy. Some types of breast cancer were eliminated in just 11 days.

Cancer Research UK funded the study and testing. They aimed to use these drugs to combat a protein called HER2 (human epidermal growth factor receptor 2), which affects the growth and division of cancer cells. It’s also more likely to return than other cancer types.

An artist’s depiction of a breast cancer cell.

This treatment is also being deemed a success due to that fact that it may render chemotherapy unnecessary. 257 women with HER2 positive breast cancer were chosen for the study. Half of the 257 women were put on the drug combo while the other half was the control group. What they found was that of those on the drug:

11% had no cancer cells remaining within two weeks, and;
17% of cases featured dramatically shrunken tumors.

Compared to the control group who were only given Herceptin, they were found to have:

0% with no trace of cancer cells, and;
Only 3% showed a drop in tumor size.

Clearly, the two drugs combined have a major effect on breast cancer cells as opposed to being used on their own.

Following this, they will need to run clinical trials to see if these women really can avoid chemotherapy treatment and if the current standard of care for some HER2 positive breast cancer patients can and should be changed.

It’s certainly one to keep an eye on, although there’s still a lot of work to be done by the scientific community.

A farewell by Mayor Van Der Laan of Amsterdam

News

Abuzer van Leeuwen 🇳🇱

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September 18, 2017

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Mayor Van der Laan has resigned all his duties effective immediately, he did so by means of a farewell letter. He was diagnosed with severe lung cancer a little while back but decided to stay on for as long as possible. Just recently he and our King conquered the hearts of our readers with this picture:

Here’s the translation of this letter. I did my best, but it will never be as impactful as the original. That ‘little while’ is poosje in Dutch.

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Dear Amsterdammers,

In January, I wrote to you that I had received bad news from my doctors, but that for a ‘little while’, I hoped to stay on as your mayor. For the past eight months, I have done so with a lot of fun. Your support has helped me greatly.
This ‘little while’ has come to an end as today I received from my doctors the message that they can not treat me any longer. I have reported myself sick to Remkes; the Commissioner of the King. For the time being my duties will be taken over by deputy-Mayor Kajsa Ollongren.

It was a great privilege to be the mayor of the most beautiful and dearest city in the world. Thank you for your trust, for your involvement and for all the support and contradiction I received from you over the past seven years.

Take care of our city and of each other.

Farewell,

Eberhard van der Laan

No words, the ending has many of us cutting onions – what a mayor…

Woman still needs to pay fine for peeing in public in Amsterdam

News

Abuzer van Leeuwen 🇳🇱

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September 18, 2017

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Aaaaah this is a jolly headliner right?

The fine that a 23-year-old woman received in 2015 because she was caught for public urination on the Leidseplein in Amsterdam, is maintained. The woman went to court because she found it unfair that there were more public restrooms for men than for women. However, the amount will be reduced by 50 euros to 90 euros, as it took a long time before the case came to court as it turned out after the court meeting in Amsterdam on Monday.

The Case

The woman, Geerte Piening, could not hold it up anymore after a night of drinking and according to her, everything at Leidseplein was already closed and the nearest public toilet was two kilometers away (seems do-able?). She then decided to make a move for it. She was caught and received a 140 euros fine. She fought this decision last Monday because she found it discriminatory that there were 45 urinoirs for men and only a few public restrooms for women.

The judge agreed with her that there aren’t that many public restrooms for women, but that if she wanted to then the urinoir for men was also a way to go…

So we ask you proud women (but also sometimes drunken women) at DutchReview. Really? Is that an option?

Dutch Kids These Days… (are actually quite upright)

Frank Kool

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September 16, 2017

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How Dutch kids are actually not that much into drinking, smoking and drugs

“Kids these days…”

Whenever you hear that phrase, you know that it will be followed by statement about how the current generations of teens and young-adults are always up to no-good. You know, the kind of accusation that is simultaneously a complaint about how just much damn fun kids are having these days! According to the hit-song, (delightfully translated into terrible German, no less!) all the teens are saying “ja to MDMA”… but the facts say otherwise.

Warning: this song will melt your brain.

Dutch kids: the facts and stats

Because the facts say that Dutch kids have become more and more upright over the last few years. An in-depth study by the Trimbos institute asked several tens of thousands of Dutch teenagers about their ideas and habits regarding drugs and sex (sadly, there is no data on how much rock ‘n roll they’re listening to). Below are some of the results:

Between 2003 and 2015, the percentage of 12-16 year olds who had (at some point) drank alcohol decreased from 84% to 45%.
Over the same period, the percentage of smokers decreased from 44% to 23%.
Cannabis use declined from 17% to 10%.
In 2005, roughly 25% had already had sex by the age of 15, this declined to 16% by 2013.

More recent studies showed that this trend has been continuing over the last few years.
Looking at it from a broader perspective, the trend towards a more docile, easy-going new generation also falls in line with a society that is becoming more and more peace-full. Crime rates have been going down for decades, both in The Netherlands as in the rest of Western-Europe. And as much talk as there is about the verharding (tr.: ‘hardening’) of society, people actually seem a lot more wary of physical violence than they were before. What is also remarkable about this change of norms is how quickly is has taken place. Even when only looking at changes in life-style since 2003, we already see a huge difference, and that’s less than half of a generation.

Why Dutch kids are a-okay

Several explanations for these developments have been given. A closer relationships between children and parents means more honest communication and more trust. Effective campaigns have informed people about the risks of smoking and substance abuse. What is also telling is that smoking is ‘out’: it’s no longer cool to smoke, and is now in fact even something that a lot of young people look down on.

What is perhaps most striking about all this is the difference between theory and practice. If you were to look at pop-culture, you’d think that drugs and sex are as a routine part of everyday life as having breakfast. Songs celebrate partying and drinking while mainstream movies often contain sex scenes, yet despite this bombardment of the wild life-style, most of this remains in the realm of fiction to teenagers. Even the unfathomable amount of pornography on the Internet, now readily available whenever you want it, has not increased sexual activity among young people. It is almost as if indulging in the fantasy is more rewarding than pursuing the real thing. This might actually explain a lot: it’s easier to click on a link than it is to approach a potential partner.

So for whatever reason, Dutch kids these days… might actually be more civilized than the generations that came before them. Almost makes you wonder if that’s a good thing or a scary thing.

Liked this post? Here’s one why Dutch kids are happier than American kids

5 things to enjoy during autumn in Amsterdam

Alexandra Huetter

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September 15, 2017

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5 things to enjoy during autumn in Amsterdam

All right, summer is officially over. No more endless terrace sessions at your favourite bar and/or sunbathing in Vondelpark (during those 72-hours of summer) with your friends. Summer in Amsterdam is a very special time, no doubt about it. Positive vibes all around and everyone seems to be out on the streets and in the parks soaking up those beautiful rays of light, but hear me out: Although nights are getting colder and you have to put on a warmer jacket, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to dig a hole and only come out in six months’ time. This season has its perks too, believe me. Here’s a list of five things to look forward to this autumn in Amsterdam when the thermometer goes down but the cosiness level climbs way up.

golden leaves - autumn in Amsterdam — Golden leaves decorating a canal in Amsterdam

Gaze at the sky and enjoy the colourful carpet of crunchy leaves

Autumn has its magic too, especially when you look at the beautiful golden and red leaves on the streets. Don’t think you have to stay inside once it gets colder. Put on a jacket and go outside. Kick around some leaves in the park and watch the clouds travel across the sky, as its painted by the warm colours of the autumn sun. You can sit down on a terrace, wrap yourself in a cosy blanket and watch some leaves dance across the cobblestones while sipping on a steamy cup of tea.

Let loose on the dance floor like there’s no tomorrow

You think the city will fall into a coma after summer? Think again! October is the month when renowned DJs and industry types post up in the Dutch capital for five days to celebrate electronic music in all its glory with thousands of fans. Numerous venues all over the city take part in the Amsterdam Dance Event, short ADE, and music fans can enjoy interesting talks at conferences as well as dance dance dance at crazy parties and concerts.

indulge - autumn in Amsterdam — Cosy up in a brown café for a creamy latte and gossip with your girlfriends

It’s time to indulge again without feeling guilty

There’s another bonus to chillier days and longer nights during autumn in Amsterdam. Not only can you wear your fluffy jumper you got for Christmas last year, but you can also feel less guilty for indulging in fresh apple pie and hot chocomel. Summer is fun but let’s be honest, who didn’t dream of a hearty meal followed by a creamy cheesecake and some hot chocolate in July? But how to fully enjoy this avalanche of calories when you have to squeeze yourself into a teeny tiny summer dress or your bikini the next day? Exactly. Rokjesdag is long over so you can order your cake and have it too. Go out on a rainy Saturday afternoon and meet your girlfriends in a cosy brown café for a creamy latte, strawberry tart and endless hours of gossip.

apple pie - autumn in Amsterdam — What’s better than apple pie and chocomel during autumn in Amsterdam?

Autumn in Amsterdam is film festival season

Who doesn’t love watching a good movie? Even better when it gets a bit chilly outside and you can cosy up in a comfortable cinema chair with a bucket of buttery popcorn. Between the months of September and November you’ll get to see interesting screenings during the International Documentary Film Festival (IDFA) as well as animated movies at KLIK. Even kids get their movie fix at the Cinekid Festival.

Your excuse to visit museums (at night)

Autumn in Amsterdam means that cultural season is in full swing. You don’t have to feel guilty anymore to spend time indoors like during summer. Go and visit the different museums Amsterdam has to offer to make the best of a rainy day. All right, but what if you are a night owl that only becomes alive after dark? Then you’ll feel right at home during Museum Night that takes place every November. With one single ticket you’ll get access to more than 50 museums in the city. You can stay until 2am enjoying some snacks and drinks while satisfying all your cultural needs.

museum - autumn in Amsterdam — Museumplein in Amsterdam – when it’s cold outside just go and visit one of the many museums

There you go. Whether you feel like dancing the night away, walking through an exhibition at night, watching a thought-provoking movie or simply want to indulge in the sweeter things Amsterdam’s cuisine has to offer – go out and enjoy yourself during autumn in Amsterdam. And we haven’t even mentioned Sinterklaas (St. Nicholas) and Halloween…

Going Global: Speaking Dutch (Flemish?) in Belgium

Ross McQueen

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September 14, 2017

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Broaden your horizons and speak Dutch outside the Netherlands! And is Flemish the same thing?

So you thought Dutch was only useful in the Netherlands? Wrong! Dutch is a global language. You can also speak it in Belgium.*

I found proof of this when I moved to Brussels almost a year ago. It was nice to find out that all those hours spent learning Dutch in Amsterdam were not wasted! Throughout the whole of Flanders, I could continue saying mag ik een biertje with impunity. So much the better, as Belgium is home to many top-notch beers.

Dutch-speaking Flanders, in yellow. Basically the top half of Belgium.

The following is a meander through the findings of my undercover Flemish investigations.

Dutch or Flemish?

The Dutch that is spoken in the Belgian region of Flanders is known as Flemish or Vlaams. It is compatible with Netherlands-Dutch. Like UK/US English, there are some differences in pronunciation and word choice. Mostly though, native speakers from Belgium and the Netherlands are able to understand one another without much effort.

Flemish is only one of Belgium’s three official languages. The others are French and German. Brussels itself is mostly French-speaking. But hop aboard a train to Leuven, Ghent or Bruges and suddenly you’re back in the Dutch-speaking world, able to try out all your favorite Dutch phrases on the unsuspecting Flemish population. Lucky them!

Flanders is full of interesting-sounding places that you just can’t wait to visit

Formalities

Remember when you spent all that time learning the differences between formal u and informal jij? Forget them! In Flanders, you can say u to anyone. Even close family members.

This doesn’t mean that the Flemish are more uptight, though. Similarly, in English the formal you has become the universal form of address, while the informal thou has died out. This makes talking to people in Flanders much easier, because you only have to know how to conjugate the u form of the verb. (I won’t mention those parts of Flanders where they use ge as a whole separate form of address…)

Making It Cute

We all know that adding the diminutive –(t)je to a word in Dutch makes it small or ‘cute’, right? Well in Flemish you can add –ke instead. Liefje becomes liefke, stukje becomes stukske, balletje becomes balleke. You can stick it on the end of most words. Try it. Do it now.

French Fries?

One thing a Dutch speaker should never do in Belgium is order a serving of patat. Belgian fries are called friets or frietjes, and you buy them at the frietkot. Asking for patat will get you a glare.

Where does the term ‘French fries’ come from? One theory is that the name was invented by American soldiers stationed in Wallonia. These soldiers started calling them ‘French’ fries, because the people selling the fries spoke French. In fact, they were actually Belgian fries.

Vlaamse frietjes. Eat them with anything. Slap some mayonnaise on them.

And Finally…lekker

In Flanders lekker is used with much more discretion than in the Netherlands. In Flanders, do not describe the weather as lekker, or a song as lekker, or your weekend in Bruges as lekker. In Flemish, lekker is only used to describe food or drink or, apparently, sex.

Lastly, if you end up falling for a Belgian, you can tell them so with the typically Flemish phrase ik zie u graag. This means ik vind je leuk. Aww.

Want to learn some more Dutch, or Flemish?

I’m not sure if they can teach you all the subtilities of Flemish, but the good people at Flowently sure can teach you proper Dutch.

Don’t want to look like a fool in Belgium while juggling between Dutch and English? Don’t want to sit in a classroom and boringly learn when to use ‘Frieten’ or ‘Patat’? Flowently might be the way to go then. They’ll take you into the wide Dutch/Flemish world and teach you to speak proper Dutch in a realistic context.

That’s all for now, more fun Flemish facts next time!

*And Aruba, Curacao, Sint Maarten and Suriname.

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