Typically Dutch!
Cosy, snug and pleasant. Dutch people love the happy-all-together cheerful feeling. Understand the Dutch and feel at home in the low countries with this big ABC of Dutch homeliness.
Aardappeleters [Potato eaters]
This is, of course, the name of the famous Van Gogh painting, portraying a farmer’s family eating home-grown potatoes. The scene depicts the poverty of a rural family at the end of the nineteenth century. These days, cooked potatoes are still more or less a fundamental component of a traditional Dutch meal. The true Dutch farmers mash their potatoes with the vegetables, and use their fork to make a little hole in the middle, to pour gravy into. Enjoy your meal!
Boer zoekt vrouw [Farmer seeks a wife]
The Dutch farmers who participate in this television show are arduously in search of a wife, since they apparently are unable to find one by themselves. Millions of Dutch viewers tune in every Sunday evening to follow the actions of the somewhat eccentric and bashful farmers (some of them even still live with their parents). Thousands of women write love letters and would love to meet the man of their dreams amidst the cow dung and tractors.
Chocolademelk [Chocolate milk]
Nice and cosy near the fireplace with a mug of hot chocolate. Hands wrapped around the mug to warm yourself up a little. Highly recommended for those who arrive home after a winter stroll. Dutch people love it. The chocolate milk must be very hot when served, so you have to blow it to cool off. Don’t forget to inhale the wonderful aroma of the cocoa while waiting.
Dutch design
The Delftware tiles and pottery are characteristically Dutch of course, but there are many examples of more modern Dutch design! Rectangular forms and lines and a simple layout are characteristic of Dutch design. A large group of talented designers is putting Dutch design in the picture. Consider for example the accessories and furniture designed by Hella Jongerius, Gispen, Rietveld and Marcel Wanders.
Etenstijd [Time for dinner]
Dutch people eat at 5 o’clock! This was customary in the past in any case. The younger generation often arrives home from work later, but in the traditional households a hot meal is still served late in the afternoon. Arriving unexpectedly around dinner time is still not desirable in all households. Usually, the food prepared is merely enough for the family, so spontaneously joining the family for dinner will often be a hassle.
Fondue
Dutch people really relish sitting at the table to enjoy a meal together. The favourite options are the stone-grill and fondue Bourguignon. Dipping your bread, meat or vegetables in the same pan as everyone else. The greatest fun of all is when someone loses their food and is left somewhat perplexed with an empty skewer.
Gezelligheid [Cosiness]
The Dutch people have problems defining the exact meaning of this word, but everyone feels a certain sensation when they experience it: Dutch ‘gezelligheid’. For example, the standard Dutch birthday celebration with two cups of coffee and a piece of cake, followed by a drink with pieces of sausage and cheese. This is a prime example of an evening that people refer to as: ‘a gezellige (cosy) evening.’
Haring happen [Eating herring]
Eating herring is a fixed tradition after carnival (a Catholic celebration, particularly popular in the southern half of the country, at which time people wear fancy costumes during a three day “pub crawl” where the beer runs freely). People traditionally eat herring on Ash Wednesday, the first day after carnival. Herring is a raw fish; you eat it by holding the fish by the tail above your head and letting it slide into your mouth. Herring is available from all fishmongers. The tradition of eating herring after carnival stems from the fact that the Catholics were not allowed to eat meat during Lent.
IJs [Ice]
Dutch people cannot wait to see it every winter: ice in the ditches! They especially hope for the Elfstedentocht to be held, which only occurs if the winter is harsh enough – and thus there is a deep layer of ice. The Elfstedentocht is a skating marathon, along a fixed route with a length of almost 200 kilometres, which passes through eleven Frisian towns. The last time the Elfstedentocht could be held was in 1997. It was a national event and it was broadcast live on television. Many people are afraid that the winters will never be harsh enough again on account of climate change, and that the continuous frost needed will not happen.
Jan(tje) Smit
One of the most famous Dutch-language singers. He became famous as a young boy when he scored a Top Forty hit for weeks on end with a song about his dead grandmother (who was actually still alive and well and very proud of her grandson). In the meantime, Jantje Smit has changed his name to the more grown up Jan. Everyone sings along to the catchy Dutch hits. His friends Nick and Simon from Volendam (the snug fishing village where Jan Smit grew up) are also scoring hits these days.
Kussen [Kissing]
We kiss three times in Holland! Dutch people kiss each other three times on the cheek at ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’. They say you should start with the left cheek, but this is not obvious to everybody. So be careful that your lips do not accidentally end up on Aunty Annie’s nose or that there is a major clash of noses!
Lingo
The formula of this TV game show has remained the same for years. Candidates have to guess a six-letter word (it used to be five-letter words, but they inevitably had used them all at one point). The candidates guess at the word and are shown which letters they guessed correctly or if there are any correct letters in the wrong position. When they guess a word correctly, they can rummage around in a ball pit for one of the balls with a number on it. The numbers must correspond with those on a bingo card. You score ‘Lingo’ as soon as you have five balls in a row!
Máxima
The wife of our crown prince Willem Alexander. She is Argentinean and researched the Dutch identity. ‘The Netherlands are big windows, without curtains, so everyone gets a good view of the inside. The Netherlands are one biscuit with your coffee’, were her words during the presentation of the research report. The Dutch people are very proud of their royal family and closely follow all of the experiences of the ‘Oranjes’. The Princess has visited Utrecht University on several occasions. She is the chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of the Prins Claus Chair in Development and Equity, a chair for developmentstudies.
Nederland in beweging [The Netherlands on the move]
This is a TV show presented by two over-enthusiastic presenters every morning. They perform all sorts of gymnastic exercises and the viewers at home are supposed to join in. The less mobile viewers are advised to use a chair for support to stop them from falling over!
Open haard [Fireplace]
There are plenty of forests in this country and the fire has to burn! With a group or on your own, sitting around a smouldering fireplace. Slippers on, rug in front of the fire, a glass of nice red wine in your hand; start enjoying!
Pakjesavond
As long as the children still believe in Sinterklaas, people pretend that the holy man has brought all of the presents on this festive evening (5 December). But not only children celebrate ‘pakjesavond’. Groups of adult friends and families also gather on this special evening and are entertained with homemade poems and so-called ‘surprises’, a traditional custom at pakjesavond to give presents hidden inside a self-made novelty gift box. You need a thick skin, because teasing each other is all part of the fun.
Quiz
Taking part in a quiz is a popular activity world wide, especially in cafés. The pub quiz phenomenon has spread to the Dutch pubs. The sitting room atmosphere can now also be enjoyed around the bar. Pub quizzes are often held on set evenings, and the competition is often fanatic. Get a beer and bust your brains at the same time!
Roken [Smoking]
Smokers in Ireland and Spain were the first; Dutch smokers followed reluctantly last year. Indoor smoking was banned from pubs and restaurants, hence forcing incurable smokers into the open air. Many people complain that the cosy intimate atmosphere in the pub is ruined because people keep going outside for a smoke.
Staatsloterij
This national lottery is very popular, especially on New Year’s Eve. Millions of Dutch people hope for a rich start of the New Year, but the majority simply has to seek consolation in the champagne and lukewarm, greasy oliebollen (fried doughnut balls). After all, despite the famous Dutch polder model we cannot all win the jackpot.
Theeleuten [Tea fans]
A true tea fan puts the kettle on the stove or switches the electric kettle on after school each afternoon! This is a standard habit for many people. The English may turn it into quite a happening with scones and sandwiches. In the Netherlands however, you are lucky when you are offered a biscuit. Tea-time is the perfect time to take a moment for yourself to contemplate the events of the day.
Uitwaaien [The wind in your hair]
A visit to the beach with the whole family when there is a fierce gale, to feel the wind blow in your hair and to get a breath of fresh air. It is one of the best things you can do in the Netherlands: welcome the bitter winter weather and defy the cold during a sturdy walk. With a steaming mug of hot chocolate waiting for you when you get back (See under C).
Voetbal [Football]
National sport number 1. At home, on the sofa, on the stands in the stadium or cursing on the pitch yourself. Dutch men can barely live without it. The only task for the lady of the house during football is providing the beer! Switching channels during ‘Studio Sport’ with the summaries of the football matches can cause a high level of domestic violence.
Wendy van Dijk
The perfect daughter-in-law, and one of the best known TV presenters. Reduced many people to tears with her programme ‘Hart in Aktie’ by fulfilling people’s fondest wishes. Van Dijk gets chronically ill people (or other pitiable people) to cry miserably before surprising them with things like a new kitchen or bathroom.
Xplora
You don’t quite have your slippers on, but the floor covering, dimmed lights and warm colours at Xplora make the atmosphere quite homely. You can stretch out, relax and study for your exams, surf the Internet or agree to work on a paper with your project group.
Yahtzee
Another fun multi-player game. The required ingredients are inexpensive; all you need is a notebook and a cup with five dice in it. Everyone around the table: roll those dice! Young people particularly like to use dice for drinking games, whereby you have to consume a drink after every round you lose.
Zaklopen [Sack race]
It takes place during every Koninginnedag (Dutch National Holiday on 30 April to celebrate the official birthday of the Queen). There are two candidates and two big jute sacks. Put both legs into the sack and keep on jumping until you reach the finish line. Good luck!
Source: Punt, Magazine of Avans Hogeschool