My Little Dutch ABC Book E

My Little Dutch ABC Book

E

 Engles ~ English

Engles, my favorite language because I’m fluent. Of course this is because I was born and raised in a country where English is the primary language. But living in The Netherlands has given me such an amazing appreciation for different languages. In The Netherlands, Dutch is the primary language but most of the country can also speak English fluently as well. Beginning at the age of around 10 years old English is taught to children.

When speaking to someone here, I usually ask if English is ok… or do they speak English? The response is usually the same… either yes, of course…. Or yes, a little. But after a few sentences I discover they are pretty much fluent. I always make sure to compliment the person on how good their English is and I make sure to thank them for speaking English to me.

My funniest story about the word Engles was when after a year of living here one of my daughters was here visiting and we had gone to the movie theater. Two of my kids went off to get popcorn, candy and drinks and as they came back, the movie attendant at the door said something to them. While my older daughter looked at him with a blank stare, my youngest, who was living here and attending Dutch classes at school said…  “spreekt u engels?”… Which of course he started speaking English. My older daughter came back with a huge smile on her face explaining that the younger one had spoken Dutch to the guy… and was saying something about bagels! Well…. Not quite a bagel … but close enough to communicate.

It upsets me whenever I hear back in my home country that people are upset by the amount of people that speak Spanish. To me, it’s an incredible a gift to be able to speak more than one language. I’m truly grateful that the people of The Netherlands have compassion with me and help me with my Nederlands. 

My Little Dutch ABC Book D

My Little Dutch ABC Book

D

Dames ~ Women

This is a great word to know… especially if you are needing to use the restroom. One of my first “emergencies” happened while pleasantly shopping at the mall in Eindhoven. At first, I was just casually looking for the little sign pointing me in the right direction. Then I decided to go into a store and ask for directions. As this was one of my very first weeks in The Netherlands, I had zero Dutch to my knowledge. So I politely asked the sales attendant if she spoke English. She said she spoke a little. Which I came to learn is a common answer when the Dutch are asked if they speak English. So I began my request….

Me: “Can you tell me where the restroom is?”

Sales attendant: Blank Stare

Me: Fumbling... Thinking... And getting a little panicky… “Can you tell me where the bathroom is?

Sales attendant: Blank Stare

Me: Now I’m embarrassed, smiling, and a tad nervous about my request. So I begin just using one word sentences. “Restroom, bathroom…Ummmm toilet?”

Sales attendant: AHHHHH TOITLET!!!  Yes! Go this way, make left right left.. blah blah blah.. and you’re there.

Me: “Thank you so very much!” I slink out of the shop mortified that someone knows I’ve asked for a toilet.

I still haven’t gotten used to boldly asking where the toilet is when I’m lost, but I do make sure I’ve got my coins ready to pay the attendant in the restroom. And I make sure I open the door that says DAMES (Women) not Heren (Men). 

My favorite Toilet sign

at Piet Hein Eek

My Little Dutch ABC Book ~ C

My Little Dutch ABC Book

C

Calendar ~ Kalender

Here’s a little information for those wonderful days of the week and months of the year. When at the doctor or government office or people that ask your birthday…. Always give the number of the day first, then the month, then the year you were born. So for example if your birthday is July 4^th, 1976… then you would say 4, July, 1976 or 4, 7,76. A tad confusing if you’re used to doing it the other way. But it gets even more fun when you go back home for a visit and you have to switch all over again. People usually just stare at you with disbelief that you would not know your own birthday.

And make sure you hang you Kalender in your bathroom. The Dutch have a great tradition of doing this and marking friends and loved ones birthday’s on their special birthday kalender. I love this tradition. Also, try to avoid the temptation to add your own birthday to their kalender, apparently it is not very polite.

 I read one very funny story of a lady whose mother in-law wrote her birthday in pencil and another daughter in-law in ink. I guess the mother is hoping the son will come to his senses.

Monday	maandag
Tuesday	dinsdag
Wednesday	woensdag
Thursday	donderdag
Friday	vrijdag
Saturday	zaterdag
Sunday	zondag

January	januari
February	februari
March	maart
April	april
May	mei
June	juni
July	juli
August	augustus
September	september
October	oktober
November	november
December	december

My Little Dutch ABC Book ~ B

My Little Dutch ABC Book

B

Bitterballen ~ smooshy fried balls that are delicious

Bitterballen or bitterbal if you are only going to have one, is a great snack to have while you are in The Netherlands and you are out at a pub or just sitting along a canal enjoying a glass of wine. They taste kind of like a meat, gravy, butter, flour with other spices that have been whipped into a smoothie consistency and then shaped into balls and deep fried. Throw in some toothpicks and mustard to dip them into….grab a bier and you got yourself a little party!!

My Little Dutch ABC Book ~ A

My Little Dutch ABC Book

A

Aardappel ~ Potato This is a great word to know as you will see and use it often. My most favorite part about the aardappels in The Netherlands is that apparently the people listened when Vincent van Gogh painted his famous paintings

The Potato Eaters in 1885

 and his painting 

The Potato Peeler 1885

  These painting were part of his famous series of Peasant Character Studies. When Vincent said peel and eat potatoes… the people of The Netherlands did… and so I have not had to peel any potatoes while I have lived here. 

I love it! They come in a variety of shapes 

Boiled

and sizes 

Mashed

and delicious dishes ready to be heated and served. 

Au gratin

But what ever you do... don't forget the frietjes and mayo!