Blog 61 – A Bit of a Lesson in Dutch

Goedemorgen, iedereen. Het gaat nog steeds een beetje traag rond Amsterdam. Nog geen reis, maar we kunnen nu naar een buitenrestaurant gaan en tot 20:00 uur blijven. De vaccinaties zijn gestegen en de ziekenhuisopnames zijn gedaald, dus we zijn optimistisch over de verdere opheffing van de beperkingen binnenkort.

Or, in English:

Good morning, everyone. Things are still a little slow around Amsterdam. No travel yet, but we can now go to an outside restaurant and stay until 8:00 pm. Vaccinations are up and hospitalisations are down, so we are optimistic for the further lifting of restrictions soon.

After six months of Dutch lessons I wish I could say that I wrote that first paragraph all by myself – but, I did not. In fact, I wrote the English first and then had Word translate it. I can read the translation, which I consider a major accomplishment on my part, but I could not write it correctly; and my pronunciation is sorely lacking. Which begs the question: What little bit of Dutch might I share with you that will be of potential use?

You may want to know the most common phrases, such as:

  • Hallo! Hallo! (hah-low)
  • Hi! Hoi! (hoy) / Hi! (hay)
  • Good morning! Goedemorgen! (khoo-der-mor-khern)
  • Good afternoon! Goedemiddag!(khoo-der-mi-dakh)
  • Good evening! Goedenavond!(khoo-der-aa-font)
  • See you later! Bye! Tot ziens! (toat seens) / Dag! (dakh) Hoi! (hoai)
  • Here you are! Alstublieft (als-stuw-bleeft)
  • Please? Alsjeblieft? (als-yer-bleeft)
  • Thanks! Bedankt! (ber-dahnkt)
  • I am sorry! Neem me niet kwalijk(naym mer neet kvoa-lerk) /sorry!(sor-ree)

Taken from Dutch for Dummies: https://www.dummies.com/languages/dutch-for-dummies-cheat-sheet/

To actually hear some common Dutch phrases, a YouTube video could be helpful. https://youtu.be/9-XHgxwCN9k

Or, possibly, you would like to learn some idioms that our tutor shared with us not long ago:

  • Brood op de plank hebben (Have bread on the shelf)
    which means they have just enough money.
  • Hij heft pijn in zijn haar (He’s got pain in his hair)
    which means he has a hangover.
  • Huilen met de pet op (Crying with the hat on)
    which means they still have dignity (hat) but outcome was sad.
  • Een sloddervos zijn (Being a slob)
    which means, being messy.
  • Het oog is groter dan de maag (The eye is larger than the stomach)
    which means taking on too much
  • Uit de doppen (ogen) kijken (Looking out of the eyes)
    which means Watch out!
  • Ieder huisje heft zijn eigen kruisje (Each house raises its own cross)
    which means each house has its own cross (issues) to bear.
  • Water bij de wijn doen (Do water with the wine)
    which means: Compromise.

And, my personal favorite:

  • Het is kermis in de hel (It’s a fairground in hell)
    The tutor says to translate hell loosely. It is a phrase that covers when bad things can lead to good outcomes. The rain may keep you at the bar, but you are having a good time with your friends; or as I see it, a pandemic lockdown may keep you in a foreign country, but it is beautiful and charming and giving you plenty of time to work on your language skills, and then on your blog.

Here is a video with 10 more phrases, and how to pronounce them. https://youtu.be/RLM76QzW_78 The Dutch do have a way with words.

The pictures for this posting are Amsterdam; slowly coming out of lockdown, spring 2021:

If the sun is out, the Dutch are out; walking, biking, shopping, eating, and of course, drinking.
I call this picture ”A day in the Dutch life”
Remember the allotments at Westerpark? Another pic, taken a few weeks later.
There are whole books on the Bridges of the Netherlands,; what’s new are the outdoor restaurants popping up on barges along the canals. (No intdoor eating is allowed)
Another bridge, this is one over the Amstel River, not far from the National Opera House
A lot of interesting things go by on the canals – even dogs out for a paddle ride on a sunny afternoon
Nothing beats the sight of red umbrellas indicating the outdoor dining is open.
This Michelin starred restaraunt does not have umbrellas. They have taken over half of the sidewalk with their tent and chandeliers.
No umbrellas or tents here. This is serious socially distanced seating – everyone gets their own greenhouse.
Red Light District. Phases 3 of the lockdown easing will allow sex workers to return. In the meantime it is a beautiful part of the city. Next week, many of those windows will have workers in them hoping to begin making money again. And, the streets will be filled with gawkers, again.
Zuidekerk (South Church)
One last picture of a canal. I call this one “houses and house boats”.

Tot ziens!