Category Archives: Uncategorized

No. 44: White leggings

Posted on June 2013 by

Spring has finally sprung in the Netherlands; the birds are chirping, the sun is shining and the skies are an unfamiliar blue colour. People on the streets are actually smiling at each other in passing and less elbows are being … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 44 Comments

No.9: Queen’s Day (Koninginnedag)

Posted on April 2013 by

For a nation which often insists on “normal” behaviour and the following of rules, Queen’s Day is truly nothing of the sort. It’s one day of the year where the Dutch break all their self-imposed rules and let loose in … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 40 Comments

No.15: Natural birth

Posted on February 2013 by

There is no denying that Dutch people like to do things the natural way, the “real way” and the “normal” way. In fact, I would say the majority of them are downright obsessed with making sure their behavior (oh and … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 100 Comments

No.43: Speaking in expressions

Posted on October 2012 by

I used to have this colleague who almost exclusively spoke to me in Dutch expressions. Now of course, some would see this as charming, perhaps even educational, or a nice throw back to the times when our grandmothers spoke of … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | 153 Comments

No. 12: Lekker

Posted on September 2012 by

If you’ve lived, toured, visited, or really spent any amount of time in the lowlands and you haven’t heard this word…well, then I’d suggest you get your ears checked – and quick! This seemingly innocent word is ubiquitous in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 76 Comments

No.28: Friet & mayo (Dutch French Fries)

Posted on September 2012 by

Call ‘em what you will – friet, friets, patat, Vlaamse Frieten – but one thing is sure, the Dutch can’t seem to get enough of ‘em!  In fact, they love ‘em so much they eat over 41 million kilos of … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | 95 Comments

No. 35: Impossibly steep stairs (aka: the death “trap”)

Posted on September 2012 by

After 2 years of living in the lowlands our expat-provided accommodation ran out, so we naively embarked on a Amsterdam house-hunting mission. Even though it was a good 6 years ago, I remember it well, as we visited not 5 … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 53 Comments

No. 1: Bicycles

Posted on August 2012 by

You may have noticed more than a few wheeled contraptions whizzing by you in this town. In fact, it sometimes seems impossible to separate where the Dutch begin and their bicycles end. Rain (or rain or rain) or shine, the … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 93 Comments

No.39: Cows that say “boo” (and other animals lost in translation)

Posted on August 2012 by

The other day, while out exploring the Dutch countryside (a.k.a. endless fields & windmills), I overheard a Dutch mother speaking to her child while we were taking a pit stop next to a field of cows: “Kijk” the mother pointing … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 52 Comments

No. 31: Keeping it real

Posted on June 2012 by

The Dutch like to keep it real. They are big fans of authenticity and take pride in the genuine. This behaviour is a close cousin to the infamous “do normaal” and is often used to justify their directness. Speak to … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | 156 Comments