After zero attempt of learning Dutch, my conclusion is that one can speak decent Dutch if good effort is made to pronounce the "r" "g" "sch" like a native speaker. Other than learning the vocabulary of course, I think that is the key to achieve breakthrough. Grammar wise - we all forgive and forget mistakes so that the learners will get there. Come on, be forgiving to non-natives! =)
Anyway, another key to master the language is also to be adventurous to explore new ways of expressing my thoughts in Dutch. I sound like a pro, huh? Not really, I'm the one that thought "floobedekking" is a curse word, while it actually means "floor cover" or "carpet". Martijn, I'll remember this word forever, thanks to you!
So, long way to go for me, once I ever register myself for Dutch language course. This is because learning Dutch is more of a winter activity for me when there is nothing more fun to do =) Until Winter, ciao~
Every year in this unknown, but cosy student city Almere, there is a huge redhead-festival :D Clueless? As the name explains, it's a weekend which is filled with a program and discounts only for red-heads. Where ever you look, you'll see people with -natural- red hair, an experience which I think, you don't want to miss.
Red head is not in my genes, and not in my people's genes either. So, tadah~
If you want to share the football craze in Netherlands, take this tip from me - Learn the lyrics of this song. I'm memorizing the lines the best I can despite the fact that I understand only 3 words out of 10 what it's saying.
This is one of the many epic football celebration songs that will be played whenever Dutch team scores a goal. Then you will see everybody in the pub dancing and spraying beer all over the place.
I was told that the origin of this song somewhat had to do with Germans. There was a parody German song about Dutch, so later on the Dutch composed another song just for themselves. Wait, that's a totally different song.
Old version
2010 Edit version
De Tijd Is Weer Gekomen, Tijd Voor Een Groot Feest, Dat Wil Je Echt Niet Missen, Hier Moet Je Zijn Geweest, Samen Heffen Wij Het Glas, Een Ode Aan Het Bier, We Proosten Op Een Leven Vol Plezier, Feesten Doen We Hier
We Zijn Er Weer Bij En Dat Is Prima, Viva Hollandia, We Houden Van Het Leven, De Liefde En De Lust, We Feesten Door Tot 's Avonds Laat, Nog Lang Niet Uitgeblust
Geniet Van Alle Mensen, Ze Gaan Van Tent Naar Tent, Iedereen Is Uitgelaten, De Stemming Is Ongekend, De Kraan Die Stroomt Op Volle Kracht, We Drinken Er Nog Een, Oktoberfest Dat Is Voor Iedereen, Niemand Alleeen
We Zijn Er Weer Bij En Dat Is Prima, Viva Hollandia, We Houden Van Het Leven, De Liefde En De Lust, We Feesten Door Tot 's Avonds Laat, Nog Lang Niet Uitgeblust
We Zijn Er Weer Bij En Dat Is Prima, Viva Hollandia, We Houden Van Het Leven, De Liefde En De Lust, We Feesten Door Tot 's Avonds Laat, Nog Lang Niet Uitgeblust
Gaan Staan En Laat Het Klinken, Ein Prosit Tot Het End, We Zullen Samen Drinken, Je Bent Hier Wie Je Bent
En We Zingen Nog Een Keer
We Zijn Er Weer Bij En Dat Is Prima, Viva Hollandia, We Houden Van Het Leven, De Liefde En De Lust, We Feesten Door Tot 's Avonds Laat, Nog Lang Niet Uitgeblust
We Zijn Er Weer Bij En Dat Is Prima, Viva Hollandia, We Houden Van Het Leven, De Liefde En De Lust, We Feesten Door Tot 's Avonds Laat, Nog Lang Niet Uitgeblust
We Zijn Er Weer Bij En Dat Is Prima, Viva Hollandia, We Houden Van Het Leven, De Liefde En De Lust, We Feesten Door Tot 's Avonds Laat, Nog Lang Niet Uitgeblust
We Zijn Er Weer Bij
===========================
Now I found the German song about Dutch! It's Wir Sind Die Holländer by De Toppers. The song was commemorating FIFA World Cup 2006 in Germany.
Correction: The song has a mix of German lyrics and Dutch lyrics. Mainly it's about teasing German stealing bikes ( wikipedia about this, German was claimed to steal Dutch's bikes to cycle back to Germany during WW2 ), and Dutch strikers with horny legs. Don't ask me. It's just funny!
There goes 2 songs that will rule my head in 2010.
My colleagues told me about the cycling path that connects one end of Netherlands all the way up north to Amsterdam and maybe further. So, this piece of information has inspired me to cycle ( not to Amsterdam of course ) to Noordwijk. I also found a good excuse to drive me completing this mission, by visiting a friend that stays there currently. However, due to the weather ( yes, weather dictates a lot of activities in m life these days ), I have been postponing this trip and also conveniently replacing it with the many parties, weekend activities, excursions, picnics, beach walks, lazing in the many parks in The Hague.
Finally, I had this great weekend where I really wanted to commit to this trip despite my slumping fitness from too much vacation. Also, a colleague's invitation almost seduced me off the track. Come on, to learn pottery ?? How interesting is that! Thanks to me strong will, I disregarded the weather forecast this time, and headed straight to Scheveningen, Wassenar, Katwijk then finally to Noordwijk.
Given that the destination "sounds" very close by, I had my muesli and headed off without food and water supply. Silly idea. As I started cycling, I couldn't stop cursing for not doing it sooner because it could have built my endurance for so many things else that I wanted to do in near future. Let's say, kite-surfing, surfing, marathon running and many other things in my list! My assumption about the cycle path was wrong - I initially thought that Netherlands, being Les Pays-Bas, should be flat and ... easy to cycle. In reality, there were a good mix of slopes and winding roads passing through the dunes.
When I hit Wassenar and almost lost my way at the many cross junctions in the woods, the situation motivated me to keep on going instead. Then I reached Katwijk, which was 70% of the journey. The part from Katwijk to Noordwijk was a struggle for me given that my energy was well spent without hydration and my endurance was just lacking. No, I neither saw God, nor the guiding light. I was just merely enraged that I swore to myself to finish the whole trip since so many others ( even elderly folks! ) could have done it. I was not going to give up because I only had a lousy city bike with single speed gear to get past the slopes in the dunes.
At the end of the day, the amazing scenery was the best payback I could ever ask for. Then, there were also discoveries in Noordwijk when I visited my friend - beautiful garden flea markets, tiny towns with lighthouse and churces, bungalows and the mansion belonging to Heineken's owner. You do know Heineken, the green label beer that tastes horrible? Not mentioning, I was even in a Swimming Camp for kids. How did I end up there? Until next post.
1. There is no pet shop in The Hague. You can only get dogs as pets through animal shelter or breeder service. Hah!
2. Car mechanic service is utterly exquisite here. Beware that you might need to go to another city just to get your 30 years old car fixed. Lesson learned from Steven.
Just in case you did not click on the link in my previous post. Here is what the Flag Day is all about. Remember? The Herring thing.
I have never tried one yet. Perhaps, it should be my goal for the month of June.
Herring, the sushi of Holland
The passion for raw herring is one of the rare things that visitors to Holland (and, whisper it quietly, many Dutch people too) often fail to appreciate. Yet, while herring may lack the sophistication of sushi, it is similarly central to this country’s culture, and entwined with its history and custom. One ritual pertaining to herring is Vlaggetjesdag Scheveningen. Like so many other things in the Netherlands, the herring seems routine at first glance, with its indistinct size and shape and unceremonious manner of preparation and consumption. Scratch the surface, however, and you find a rich history and many exotic rituals connected to this fish. For instance, herring has traditionally been eaten salted in Holland; this includes a special gutting process which, according to tradition, was invented by Willem Beukelszoon in 1380. When herring is gutted, the pancreas is not removed, so that special pancreatic enzymes let the fish ripen. Yes, that sounds good doesn’t it! The composition and taste of salted herring changes through the year, as the individual fish put on a layer of fat through the summer. Other traditional ways to prepare this Dutch staple food include pickling in vinegar and serving with pickles (in a so-called “rolmops”), and smoking. Smoked herring becomes red and was supposedly used to throw bloodhounds off the trail of fugitives in the old days; this is why a decoy from the main issue in a discussion, for example, is still called a red herring.
Vlaggetjesdag ScheveningenVlaggetjesdag (“flag day”) has celebrated the arrival of the first herring (“Hollandse Nieuwe”) in the southern coastal towns of Vlaardingen and Scheveningen for years. Hundreds of thousands of people gather in Scheveningen for the festivities, and the fishing boats are decorated especially for the occasion. In addition to the omnipresent herring, this day also features a number of activities unrelated to fish, for both young and old. In Scheveningen, the first barrel of herring is traditionally sold at an auction on the Thursday preceding the official Vlaggetjesdag Scheveningen, and the proceeds go to charity.
During Vlaggetjesdag Scheveningen, visitors are invited to watch spectacular demonstrations by rescue teams, participate in old Dutch children’s games, admire famous artists, watch the Royal Navy, tour boats and old fire engines, enjoy demonstrations of old crafts, watch famous chefs perform their magic, sing along with shanty choirs and enjoy the many colourful traditional costumes. Orchestras, bands, artists, artisans and old sailing luggers all contribute to the fun, which also includes miniature ships, sailing tours and sampling of all kinds of fish. And if visitors want a break from the action, they can always make a pit stop at one of the many sidewalk cafés or go exploring the historical Scheveningen village.
An ancient traditionVlaggetjesdag Scheveningen as such is not very old – it was only made official in 1947. The festive tradition around the beginning of herring season is much older, however. In the 18th century, the villages along the coast, including Scheveningen, were forbidden to gut the caught herring. Since herring was most appropriate for smoking around September, most fishing boats fished flatfish or round-bodied fish during a part of the summer so as to avoid a surplus of fresh herring. Only eight or ten boats fished for herring in those days.
A poem from Scheveningen commemorating the departure of fishing boats on 14 September 1781, for instance, notes that there were only ten boats present. Stadtholder William V was present during the departure, as was customary for him on this day of the year. The poem notes that the fishermen were very appreciative of their prince’s gesture, and emphasises a number of familiar aspects. For instance, the boats would fly their flags, and two of the vessels would come back after sailing out to pay homage to the prince – both elements recognisable to us today. Finally, the best herring caught was for the ruler, very similar to the ceremony of reserving a koninginneharing for the Queen. A tradition that unfortunately does not exist anymore today.
Herring in ScheveningenFishermen from Scheveningen did not fish for herring much until the middle of the 19th century, the monopoly of gutting and salting being reserved for the cities along the river Meuse. Various small-scale festivities around the beginning of the herring season were recorded in the first half of the 20th century. Although photos from this era show harbours full of different boats, usually flying their festive pennants, this was by no means Vlaggetjesdag yet. On 10 May 1947, however, the press reported that “[…] the fleet [was] ready. Hundreds of flags fluttered from the rigging of the luggers in Scheveningen yesterday. It was ‘Vlaggetjesdag’ [...].” This is the first time this word was used by the press, still carefully between quotation marks, for the beginning of the herring season at Scheveningen. This ceremony would soon develop into the Vlaggetjesdag that we all know and love today.
Source: Yacht Valley Magazine
Another article for you if you're interested -> here
I came back to Netherlands in total relief from the intense dramatic atmosphere back there. People are just crazy! I would safely conclude that it’s a cultural thing where simple things tends to be complicated by human beings ourselves. Anyway, I stepped off the train 7am early in the morning, and bogged down by my 17KG backpack and 8KG hand luggage. The chilly breeze at 16 degrees and beautiful sun were there welcoming me with such grace. The whole city was also invaded by orange flags that I had no clue what it was about.
“ It probably is one of the many carnivals they have again…” I thought of that naturally since the Dutch know how to party so well.
Then as I was heading on the tram back home, again, I saw concert props being set up close to my place with ferris wheel operating in the distance by the harbor.
“Apa ni…concerts again? That’s why I love this country sooo much.”
A month ago, the harbor played host to North Sea Regata Concert, a tribute to a sailing competition kicking off that weekend. I wasn’t there, but I didn’t have to be there anyway. The music was so loud that I could hear it from my apartment located 5 minutes walk away from the concert. On the other hand, I was in fact busy hosting dinner for friends, as usual.
Bah. Back to the story. There’s no story. I just want to ramble.
After crashing a stranger’s party, I headed on my bicycle that Saturday night through the eerie woods. I kept my eyes straight not straying my gaze into the darkness. What a habit I have after growing up in a bedroom facing a graveyard with mysterious oil lamps. It was so cold, as opposed to the pleasant weather during the day, that it drove me cycling like a robot going haywire to get home as soon as possible. Then I had a flashback of my day.
- Woke up at 5am and had my 4 hours exam in Utrecht - Came home in the afternoon to clean my apartment - Had friends over after their afternoon by the beach - Crashed a party by accident – the place was so far away and the people were uptight. I brought in spices!
- Dropped by my friend’s new apartment to wait for them getting ready for Gay Parade after-party. I was not in the VIP list due to my friend having only few free tickets...How is this possible? Joss, you need to reflect :p - I bailed and turned in for the day and headed home. - Then, this flashback happened.
As a result, I love Netherlands even more because things I did up there are usually what I would do over a weekend back in Malaysia. The transportation system and distance between places were not as flexible as it is over here for me to go to so many places in a day. Also, how could I have crashed people’s parties? Gay Parade party? I probably had to sneak through some Fridae dudes so that I can join some orgy parties somewhere. Even if I got a Fridae dude friend, I might be stopped by police for summons or bribes due to drinking and driving, whichever come first.
At that moment, all I had to do was cycling slowly, passing by the greenery, enjoying the breeze and my beautiful ride home.
Then, my friends told me, it’s world cup season, thus the orange flags and hyper fans everywhere. Also, it’s vlaggetjesdag, thus the concerts! I’ll write about that separately because it’s quite a unique festival that I want to go next year!!
Winter swim is a tradition that I thought to be widespread only in Scandinavian countries. That is the huge mistake! After seeking help on New Year's Eve from my best friend - Google, I realized that the most happening version for winter swim is the New Year’s Dive (Nieuwjaarsduik). The amazing part is that it would take place at a location 20 minutes away from where I stay. Every 1st of January, the Pier at Scheveningen Beach bears witness to some 10,000 people that will fulfill their annual tradition by diving into the North Sea at 12 noon sharp!
This morning, the streets appeared cold and quiet with the aftermath of firecrackers littered all over the city. It was really beyond my imagination to think how anyone would really go and dive in the icy cold water. Like...how? In fact, the sunny weather was just great for cuddling in bed! So, there goes another mistaken assumption.
20 minutes later, I arrived at the pier and walked into an excited crowd. Some were wearing orange beanie with the word Unox embroidered in front. Guess what does Unox do? Unox, the event's annual sponsor, is a sausage factory and they provided a canned pea soup in the goodie bag. How thoughtful.
Prior to the kick off, DJ blasted upbeat music with usherettes leading the crowd for a warm up party dance. It was just another lively post NYE street party. There were families, friends, couples, grannies, grandpas, children and puppies. Occasionally, I walked into some swimmers with impressive outfit - the kings and queens, policemen and pole-dancers or both, superheroes and alike. I was truly inspired by the madness and courage of these people. So, my new year resolution for 2010 includes getting fit for the cold and my new year resolution 2011 is topped with doing the new year's dive!
Unox rocks
Sisterhood
Headstart!
Make it twice
According to holland.com:
The dive began in 1965 at the initiative of Jan van Scheijndel, who was an English Channel swimmer. In that year seven people took part in the plunge. Over the course of time the New Year’s Dive has grown into a massive event and is sponsored by the Unox sausage factory. In 2007 the event had to be cancelled for the first time in 39 years due to bad weather conditions.
He made it, did you?
For more information visit: www.unoxnieuwjaarsduik.nl.
